I used ChatGPT to apply Warren Buffett’s ‘two-list’ rule — and it changed how I set goals

TL;DR

A productivity technique attributed to Warren Buffett — the "two-list" rule — can be effectively implemented using ChatGPT to transform goal-setting from a vague exercise into a concrete, prioritised action plan. This matters now because AI tools are making high-level strategic frameworks accessible to anyone, not just billionaires or executives.

What Happened

A Tom's Guide writer used ChatGPT to apply Warren Buffett's "two-list" prioritisation rule — and reported that the experience fundamentally changed how they approach goal-setting. The technique, which forces ruthless elimination of non-essential objectives, was turned into a structured AI prompt that generated a ranked, actionable list of priorities.

Key Facts

• The "two-list" rule is a goal-setting method attributed to Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, that involves writing down 25 goals, circling the top 5, and actively avoiding the remaining 20 as distractions.
• The article, published on Tom's Guide on Monday, April 27, 2026, describes using ChatGPT (developed by OpenAI) to apply this framework to personal and professional goals.
• The writer prompted ChatGPT to first generate a broad list of 25 goals, then used follow-up prompts to force the AI to rank them by impact, feasibility, and alignment with long-term values.
• ChatGPT was instructed to challenge the user's assumptions, asking questions like "Why is this goal on your list?" and "What would happen if you never pursued this?" to simulate Buffett's ruthless prioritisation.
• The final output was a two-list document: "Top 5" goals to pursue immediately and "Avoid at All Costs" goals to consciously deprioritise.
• The writer reported that the AI-assisted process took under 30 minutes, compared to the hours or days typically needed for manual self-reflection on priorities.
• Tom's Guide is a technology and consumer electronics publication owned by Future plc, with an average monthly readership of over 15 million visitors.

Breaking It Down

The core innovation here is not the "two-list" rule itself — that framework has been in circulation for decades, often cited in business books and executive coaching sessions. What is new is the democratisation of strategic thinking through large language models. Buffett's method requires brutal honesty and self-awareness, qualities that are difficult to summon alone. ChatGPT acts as a neutral, tireless coach that can ask uncomfortable follow-up questions without emotional bias.

"The AI forced me to justify every single goal I listed, something I would never do on my own." — This single observation from the Tom's Guide writer captures why AI-assisted goal-setting is more than a gimmick. Traditional self-help methods rely on willpower and discipline; AI introduces accountability through interrogation.

The process described in the article mirrors a technique used by Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, who advocates for "radical transparency" and systematic decision-making. By encoding Buffett's framework into a ChatGPT prompt, the writer essentially created a decision-making algorithm that surfaces priorities the user might otherwise avoid confronting. The 30-minute time frame is particularly striking — it suggests that AI can compress what would normally be a multi-hour reflection session into a focused, productive interaction.

However, there is a risk. ChatGPT is a language model, not a certified life coach or psychologist. Its "challenging questions" are based on statistical patterns in its training data, not genuine understanding of the user's life circumstances. The Tom's Guide writer acknowledges this limitation but argues that the speed and structure of the AI process outweigh the lack of human empathy. For routine goal-setting, this trade-off appears acceptable; for deeply personal or high-stakes decisions, human guidance remains irreplaceable.

What Comes Next

1. OpenAI is expected to release GPT-5 in late 2026, which will likely include enhanced personalisation and memory features — potentially allowing ChatGPT to track goal progress over weeks or months, not just a single session.
2. Google and Microsoft are racing to integrate similar "AI coach" features into their productivity suites (Google Workspace and Microsoft 365), with beta versions expected by Q3 2026.
3. The two-list rule will likely be packaged as a pre-built GPT (customised ChatGPT version) by third-party developers, available on the GPT Store within months.
4. Expect a wave of "AI-assisted goal-setting" templates and courses from productivity influencers, potentially flooding platforms like YouTube and Substack by mid-2026.

The Bigger Picture

This story sits at the intersection of two powerful trends: AI as a personal coach and the commoditisation of elite knowledge. The two-list rule was once the domain of Buffett's inner circle and a few thousand executives who could afford top-tier coaching. Now, anyone with an internet connection can access it through ChatGPT. This mirrors how AI is democratising other formerly exclusive domains: investment advice (via AI financial advisors), legal counsel (via AI document review), and medical triage (via AI symptom checkers).

The broader implication is that strategic thinking — the ability to prioritise, eliminate distractions, and focus on high-impact activities — is becoming a commodity skill. The competitive advantage will shift from knowing what to prioritise (since AI can generate that list) to having the discipline to execute the priorities. The Tom's Guide article is a microcosm of this shift: the writer didn't need a mentor or a guru; they needed a well-crafted prompt and 30 minutes of honesty.

Key Takeaways

• [AI as a Coach]: ChatGPT can effectively simulate the Socratic questioning of a human coach, making high-level prioritisation frameworks accessible in under 30 minutes.
• [Ruthless Elimination]: The two-list rule's power lies not in choosing the top 5 goals, but in consciously avoiding the remaining 20 — a step AI can enforce through structured prompts.
• [Speed vs. Depth]: AI-assisted goal-setting is fast and scalable, but lacks the emotional nuance and contextual understanding of human guidance for deeply personal decisions.
• [Commoditisation of Strategy]: Strategic frameworks once reserved for billionaires are now available to anyone, shifting the competitive advantage from knowing what to do to actually doing it.