Elvira Burgo

There’s some gadget, app, or the next thing that changes how we operate and live.  ChatGPT is the latest technology.

What is ChatGPT? 

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot created by Open AI, an AI and research company.  Launched on November 30, 2022, it’s a natural language processing tool trained to respond to questions in a human-like way.  

ChatGPT stands for Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer. 

Fashioned after the human brain, the transformer, as a neural network, processes a considerable amount of information.  Incredibly, it can even make decisions and solve problems. 

Ask ChatGPT any question, and it will create instant feedback.  

Since its release, millions have used ChatGPT to enhance their work.  In the writing world, people use it to help produce high-quality writing.  Students use it to study, hospitals benefit from its support, and more recently, it assists firefighters in putting out fires.

Versions of ChatGPT, such as GPT-3, have come and gone.  More continue to develop.  GPT-4, and GPT-5.  We recently have Microsoft Bing Chat, although slightly different from ChatGPT, yet still an AI bot that claims to boost the imagination.  Other adaptations, such as Google Bard, have also been released.  And who knows what’s next? 

Used right, ChatGPT will assist people in so many ways and for years to come.  Sure, there are ethical implications, such as plagiarism.  Writers know to refrain from plagiarizing or writing a book using ChatGPT. After all, the beauty of writing is using the imagination.  In academia, students are aware of plagiarism, which carries stiff consequences.  

ChatGPT is meant to assist and not to serve as a substitute for writing.  

That said, students should check with their educational institution regarding its use.  

As someone wary of technology, the more I talk to people about ChatGPT, the better the response I get.  Optimistic ones say good things and recognize the benefits of ChatGPT.

Such benefits include efficiency in data retrieval.  Users can quickly get the needed information, saving them so much time. Writers can perfect grammar, analyze a response, and compare it to their writing.  In this way, writing is improved.  One writer I met shared that the tool helped him determine a story's theme. 

Some people believe ChatGPT will harm humans by taking away jobs. However, such fears will hold us back.  Jonathan Paul, a leader in the healthcare industry, states, “ChatGPT as a basic start-up idea would accelerate the progress to advance in science and arts.”  Jonathan thinks ChatGPT will advance beyond our understanding and adds,

“I see STAR WARS in the near future.  This is J A R V I S in the making - Iron Man.” 

Others assert data safety concerns and the potential for perpetuating bias.  The AI Act was approved in June to regulate the use of AI globally.  Although regulations won’t entirely go into effect until 2026 (www.mwe.com), worrying about artificial intelligence worsens things and can interfere with the quality of life if chronic.  That’s anxiety.  It’s surprising to learn that according to the app Calm, “Nearly a third of adults (29%) are feeling anxious about AI.” (www.uk.finance.yahoo.com)

Grant it; there are disadvantages.  There isn’t up-to-date data, as ChatGPT was trained to provide information from 2021.  In addition, sometimes, things don’t make sense.  This is where the human mind comes in.  Thankfully.  One person who chooses to remain anonymous claimed ChatGPT was “out of whack” on one occasion, which was a first.  While beneficial, ChatGPT should be evaluated for accuracy by comparing its responses to other sources and ensuring the answers are relevant.  

Artificial intelligence is here to stay and will only improve over the years.  We can either embrace it or avoid it altogether.  Used in the right way, ChatGPT can make a world of difference.  Computer expert Luis Curet is excited about ChatGPT and finds it most valuable to humankind.  “Anything that helps a person is good,” he said. 

Something to think about:

·  What’s your thinking on artificial intelligence?

·  Have you used ChatGPT? How has it helped you?

Thanks for reading, 

Elvira