28 Gigabytes of Chaos: How Claude Cowork Fixed My Messy Database
I was terrified of the Terminal, but I was more tired of my own digital clutter. Here is how an AI agent did the heavy lifting for me.
Last week I downloaded Claude Cowork.
And entered the shocking next stage of AI magic.
People all over the Internet were raving about Anthropic’s latest AI application. ChatGPT has been my workhorse since its introduction in 2021. Gemini, NotebookLM and a few other tools joined my portfolio over the last few years. But I avoided Claude, not the least because Claude was one of the playground bullies in my hometown. But after all the hubbub, I was compelled to try Claude.
The Magic of Coding
ChatGPT’s Codex and Claude Code are amazing generators of programming code, the instructions that tell computers what to do. These tools eliminate much of the grunt work of coders and software engineers. But for a normal person a few pages of hieroglyphics is useless unless you know what to do with it.
My File Conversion Dilemma
Here is an example of how coding can help with work tasks.
Apple’s Pages has been my word processor for many years and my database is filled with .pages documents. But…my colleagues and colleagues use Microsoft Word, so I routinely translate active documents from .pages to .docx formats. Also, none of the AI tools use the .pages format. Searching my storage of active documents relating to my AI work yielded 677 Pages files that I needed to convert.
There is probably a program somewhere on the Internet that can mass convert the files, but I couldn’t turn it up. So, I decided to invent it in my computer.
I formed a prompt for ChatGPT Codex asking for a conversion program. Within a few minutes, it responded with a step-by-step procedure that included the detailed code needed for my Apple Mac. Great, but where do I put the code? The answer: Terminal
OMG! Terminal!!!
Terminal is the scary place that contains all the instructions (code) needed for the computer to do its work. I’ve done some programming many years ago, but have consistently avoided opening the Terminal because of fear of screwing it up. But my day had come. Do I really want to do this? What happens if I mess up and my computer screen goes blank? But, OK. Here goes.
I posted the code from ChatGPT, followed the instructions and after a few back and forths with ChatGPT, got the application working. It converted the 677 documents in about 12 minutes. Amazing! How many hours did this save me?
OK. What now?
Now that I know how to invent time-saving applications for my computer, there are many other tasks I can automate. I’m in a new place–the next phase of my work life.
But take note here. The application to convert the files does not, in itself, use AI. AI only gave me the instructions and developed the code. Yet, to get the results, I had to learn how to use the code, put it in my computer, and use the resulting application.
But wait! There’s more.
Wouldn’t it be great if AI could simplify that whole operation; where I could do great things in my computer with its connections to other tools without ever having to mess around with coding?
Claude Cowork
(Download Claude for your desktop and sign up with your monthly fee.)
The Cowork screen popped up everyday on my screen for a week after installation. Every morning I stared at it like a visiting monster, not knowing exactly what to do with its power.
Then I thought about the 677 files. They are sitting in a folder and needed to be integrated into the topical format of my database where they initially came from. Hmmm. But my database is a mess. The folder structure is misleading and I spend time looking for documents or presentations; even repeating work because of my inability to locate files from past work. A few days ago I went searching for an updated PowerPoint I used a couple of months ago. Is it this folder? Or that folder? Where the hell is it? And Apple’s Spotlight app sucks at finding things.
So, let’s solve the real problem, restructure the database.
Can Claude Cowork restructure my entire 28 gigabyte database of AI materials?
With doubt enveloping me, I started writing my prompt, stating my problem, giving details on my needs, explaining the kind of work I do, my objectives for reconstructing the database, and giving Cowork access to my master file.
But this database is my treasure, the precious results of years of work and research. Do I trust this guy Claude with my treasure? I stare at my screen. Claude is waiting for my next move.
Finally, I suggested Cowork ask me questions if it did not understand my request and pushed the button. Proceed.
In a few minutes, Claude Cowork responded with a proposed structure for the database. And, after my approval, went to work analyzing the entire 28 gigabytes of folders, files, documents, presentations, and images.
I was tempted to grab a coffee, but honestly? I couldn’t look away. I could see this genie reading the file titles, shuffling them around, placing them into newly created folders; and I sat there staring; eyes focused, mouth wide open.
Examining the new database structure provided a fresh perspective on my past work–work I’d forgotten, obsolete files that should be discarded, some ideas for new explorations. Scanning the new folders, I found it! The errant PowerPoint that was invisible to me last week. Wow!
But wait, I still have those 677 MS Word files that need to be sorted into the correct folders. And, of course, I asked Claude Cowork to file them in the right place.
It was done in five minutes.
AI isn’t just augmenting me, it’s like a ghost in my computer doing my work.
Claude has:
Built a customer conversion tool
Converted 677 Pages files to MS Word
Scanned 28GB of data
Built a new data structure
Filled 677 documents while I watched.
The Next Stage
We’ve taken the next step to the next stage of AI where, instead of simply giving us messages and teaching us, it does real work employing the other tools we use everyday. Some call this the age of AI Agents. Whatever we call it, we can now understand how AI will actually take over our work tasks. There will be those who can manage and use this new capability and those who cannot. It is past the time when any of us can ignore AI.
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