For years, my weekly routine involved manually downloading CSV files from an investment research website and processing data to track the investments of a firm I trust — ARK Invest. Even though I had written code before, my skills were very limited, so the process was slow, repetitive, and error-prone. What revolutionized my workflow was the realization that I didn’t have to read or write any code to get the job done — all thanks to the incredible coding abilities of Large Language Models.

The Turning Point: Embracing AI for Automation

Frustrated by the manual process, I started exploring ways to automate my weekly tasks. I turned to ChatGPT and similar AI tools, which can generate working code simply from a plain-English description of the task. I explained my routine—downloading CSV files, extracting key data like company names and investment amounts, and updating my spreadsheets — and within seconds, the AI provided multiple coding options.

While I briefly experimented with Google Apps Script due to its seamless integration with Google Sheets, the real breakthrough was realizing that the entire process could be done without manual inputs. I no longer needed to update my spreadsheets weekly; I simply had to provide clear instructions, and the AI did all the heavy lifting.

Harnessing the Power of Large Language Models

The magic behind this automation lies in the remarkable capability of Large Language Models. These AI tools not only generated the code to download and parse CSV files automatically but also the code for a comprehensive dashboard that consolidated all the investment data into an organized, interactive web app. With a single click, what used to take me half an hour now happens in seconds — without me having to write or debug any code.

The AI even guided me through integrating the solution into my website by creating the necessary database schema and SQL commands. Every step, from downloading the data to automatically updating visual dashboards with detailed insights (including percentage changes, buys, and sells), was streamlined by the AI’s ability to understand and execute my requirements.

Overcoming Challenges with AI’s Help

Like any brand-new project, there were challenges along the way. One of the tougher issues was dealing with inconsistent date formats between different data sources, which initially led to errors in calculating percentage changes. With the help of the AI, I identified the problem and got the model to adjust the code to ensure consistent date formatting — troubleshooting is still needed sometimes however, it can still be achieved with the AI's help.

This project wasn’t just about automation — it was a testament to the transformative power of AI-assisted coding. By leveraging the expertise of Large Language Models, I was able to overcome my limited coding skills and build a fully functional web app that delivers accurate, real-time investment insights.

The Result: A Seamless, AI-Powered Dashboard

Today, I enjoy a robust web app that provides a neatly organized list of holdings from ARK Invest, complete with detailed performance metrics. The process is as simple as clicking a button to refresh the data, instantly giving me the information I need to make informed investment decisions—no coding required.

This journey highlights how far AI has come. Even with no coding knowledge, we can transform a tedious, manual process into an automated, efficient workflow. The revolution here isn’t about replacing developers but empowering everyone to achieve more by harnessing the power of AI.

If you’re tired of repetitive tasks and want to explore the potential of AI-powered solutions, I highly recommend giving it a try. The future of automation is here, and it’s accessible—even if you’re not a coding expert.

Happy automating!