Using ChatGPT specifically for YouTube channel work, what actually helps vs what's overhyped

There are a thousand posts about ChatGPT being useful for "content creation." I want to be more specific because vague advice isn't helpful. This is what it's actually done for my YouTube workflow.

Set design feedback. I uploaded a photo of my recording setup and asked for expert feedback on lighting, framing, and composition. It gave me specific, actionable suggestions, reposition one light, move a plant to add depth, change the background arrangement. Low-cost improvements that made a real visual difference. Didn't expect it to be useful for this.

Thumbnail analysis. You can drop in your thumbnail alongside a competitor's and ask which is more likely to get clicked and why. The reasoning it gives is actually useful for understanding visual hierarchy and contrast.

Title and description optimization. Give it your video topic and it'll generate title variations with different angles, curiosity gaps, specific numbers, different emotional hooks. Then you pick. Much faster than staring at a blank box.

Comment response drafts. I described my channel's tone and asked it to help draft replies to viewer questions. Works well once you've set the context.

Chapter timestamps. Paste your transcript or rough outline and ask it to suggest timestamps and chapter titles. Saves more time than you'd expect.