ChatGPT: The AI Buddy You Never Knew You Needed

ChatGPT: The AI Buddy You Never Knew You Needed

by-Cordell Sloan

ChatGPT, ChatGPT, ChatGPT everywhere! Who do you know that hasn't said "ChatGPT" today? The buzz about ChatGPT is pervasive. There's great excitement about how it will change the world for the good, and great consternation about how it will change the world for the bad. Society is still grappling with whether or not it's a good thing. Educators, publishers, and copywriters are concerned. And we're still sorting that out. For now, I would suggest focusing on the potential contribution and opportunity that ChatGPT presents.?

ChatGPT is an example of a large language model. "Right, what is that?" you ask. Ok, you've seen movies or documentaries about savants, right? With extraordinary mental abilities. Think of ChatGPT as a machine super savant that has read and analyzed a vast, no, really vast amount of text from the internet, books, articles, wikis, research sites, all kinds of sites, and other sources. That process of reading and analyzing all that information is called "training the model". Once trained, ChatGPT has that savant like mind-boggling instant recall ability. ChatGPT has a broad understanding of language, including vocabulary, grammar, and context, enabling it to respond to a wide range of questions and tasks.?

ChatGPT has been fine-tuned for conversational AI and can generate human-like responses in a chat-style setting. So, think of ChatGPT as your personal research assistant. You ask ChatGPT questions, provide it with information to help direct its response, and it will generate in a way that makes sense based on the input it has received and how you pose your questions. I use the word, “generate,” to indicate that the response that is produced by ChatGPT is not from stored text like Google’s content. The ChatGPT response is generated content—meaning, it is created in real-time from the results of its training, combined with influences in your prompt.

What would it mean if you could write articles, blogs, outlines, proposals, stories and narratives, research and develop ideas with a series of questions and answers? This is a short list. There are many applications. But imagine that you could do these things better, faster and with richer ideas, and with less strain from the tedium of writing. I've had the experience of working hard to write something and at some later time, after I have submitted the writing, I found myself saying "There was something else I wish I had thought of ". But it's too late. We can only hold but so much on our mental scope at one time. But I’m here to tell you that there's good news! Writing no longer needs to be a daunting thing.Before ChatGPT I'll call it "BC", when writing was on papyrus scrolls and clay tablets, access to good reading was hard and writing was beyond tedious. To find a good book, you would have to be wealthy enough to travel to Alexandria or Timbuktu to the library or lucky enough to live near a monastery.

Then there were the countless anonymous geniuses, unknown because knowledge traveled only at great expense. Maybe via local reputation, you could find one or two of these gifted people near you. Let's say you lived in Venice in Leonardo da Vinci's neighborhood and time. Let's say you had an interesting problem you would like him to help you with. Well, if you were not the king you're out of luck. Only the king had access to people like that.?

With the invention of the printing press, things got better by multiplying access to knowledge through the reproduction of books. Thus, increasing the inclusion of many of the rest of us in the dynamic of learning and creation and writing for the benefit of many. My point is, access to knowledge and information matters greatly. And over time, access to knowledge and information grew and, while doing so, has changed the world. Well, ChatGPT is that kind of change but exponentially. Sir Isaac Newton would say, "With ChatGPT you can stand on the shoulders of almost everybody." Think of Star Trek, where, with "Computer", knowledge is virtually ambient. Knowledge is hanging in the air all around the crew. So access ChatGPT, and just ask, like a Star Fleet Captain.?

So, one day you find this magic [lamp/app (Large Language Model)] called ChatGPT and you rub it and the powerful genie helps you write. Really helps you! It's shocking the difference it can make. I think it should be a good thing to enjoy the process of expressing oneself. Don't feel guilty, thinking writing is supposed to be harder than it turns out to be using ChatGPT. That seems bizarre to me. If you own a car, you drive it when you need to, [YES?}. You don't stress about the fact that your great-grandmother would walk 2 miles with four grocery bags in her arms and so you should do it like she did? Come on!?

We make advances. It’s who we are. And this is a big advance. Of course, we have to learn to use it responsibly and intelligently. That's the problem that we need to solve and not whether we should embrace these new, expression enhancing tools. Use the advances. So, do more! Solve problems! Be smarter! Now!

I hasten to add, though, that there are writers among you that are so extraordinarily gifted, possessing great knowledge and expressive power, that ChatGPT will hardly change the way you write. And if it did, society would be the loser. The world would be the loser if ChatGPT did the writing for people Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Amanda Gorman, Mark Twain, Maya Angelou or Einstein.?

But for the rest of us, who can really use it, help has arrived with ChatGPT. Some of you have something to say right now, and it shouldn't wait until you take another writing course or hire a researcher/writer/editor/ghostwriter. Nor should you invest a huge amount of time or money to study, or pay someone to fill your knowledge gaps. ChatGPT can, immediately, be a writing assistant and research instrument of unquestioned value. Accept that we are an innovative species, always finding better ways to do things. Options are a good thing.

Here's how to get access to ChatGPT

If you haven't already played with ChatGPT, and you're intrigued, you may use the link below to sign up with OpenAI, Playground which allows you to interact with the ChatGPT model from the web browser.?

Sign up by visiting the following URL: https://beta.openai.com/signup/playground”

Practice/play. Don't procrastinate. Sign up and login and try something. Just for amusement, I decided to let ChatGPT speak for itself about its value. So, I formulated a generic prompt leaving a blank which I fill in to indicate a style or "personality reference" speaker.

My prompt template: "How would [add name here] express that you will derive benefits from using ChatGPT."

I directed ChatGPT to respond to the prompt as my reference personality might respond. I just filled in the blank and submitted the prompt. I did it a few times as it was kind of fun. Also, a couple of the responses revealed some interesting issues you should be aware of, and I will point them out as we encounter them.

My reference personality is shown in Bold font. Followed by ChatGPT's generated answer inside the quotes, as it "thinks" that person might answer. These are all ChatGBT's responses, really. Here goes...

Yoda?

"Benefits, hmmm, from using ChatGPT, you will."

Samuel L Jackson?

"Listen up motherf*cker, let me tell you somethin'! The benefits you'll derive from using ChatGPT, they're straight up crazy, man!"

Bugs Bunny?

"Eh... what's up doc? Benefits, you say? From using ChatGPT? Well ain't that just the bee's knees!"

Edgar Allan Poe?

"Oh! The benefits, they come like whispers from the shadows! With ChatGPT at hand, knowledge and power, you shall command!"

JK Rowling

"Ah, the benefits to be derived from ChatGPT, they are like discovering a hidden wizarding world. A treasure trove of knowledge and understanding, waiting to be unlocked."

Dalai Lama?

"With compassion and an open mind, the benefits from using ChatGPT can be found. A tool for learning and growth, it is, and a path to greater wisdom, it may provide."

Aretha Franklin?

"R-E-S-P-E-C-T, that's what you'll get from using ChatGPT! The benefits, they'll take you to new heights, just like a natural woman!"

Cyndi Lauper?

"Girls just wanna have fun, and with ChatGPT, the fun don't stop! The benefits, they're like a soundtrack to your life, always there to help you reach for the top!"

Neil Degrasse Tyson?

"The benefits of using ChatGPT, they are like a celestial phenomenon, providing new insights and understanding. With its advanced capabilities, the frontier of knowledge is within reach, waiting to be explored."

Bill Gates?

"ChatGPT, the benefits it brings? It's like having the power of a supercomputer in the palm of your hand! With its advanced capabilities, you'll have access to a wealth of information, and the potential to drive progress in ways we've never seen before."

Moses?

"And lo, the benefits of ChatGPT shall come down to thee like manna from the heavens! With its vast knowledge and understanding, thou shalt lead thy people to a land of plenty and prosperity."

Nicole Hannah Jones?

"The benefits of using ChatGPT? They're like uncovering a hidden piece of history, a missing piece of the puzzle. With its advanced capabilities, you'll be able to gain a deeper understanding of the world around you and the people who inhabit it."

Greta Thunberg

"The benefits of using ChatGPT, they are like a beacon of hope in a dark and uncertain world. With its advanced knowledge and understanding, we can create a more sustainable future, one where we protect the planet and ensure a better future for generations to come."

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

"Listen up y'all, the benefits of using ChatGPT, they're like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. With its advanced capabilities, we can create a brighter future, one filled with knowledge, understanding, and progress for all."

Now this last response I found unsatisfactory due to some fairly blatant stereotypical bias. I added a second sentence of corrective direction to the prompt.

The new prompt:??“How would Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez express that you will derive benefits from using ChatGPT.?Include the gravitas of a member of the House of Representatives.”

Below is the new response from ChatGPT

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

"As a member of the House of Representatives, I can say with confidence that the benefits of using ChatGPT are truly remarkable. With its advanced capabilities, it has the potential to be a valuable tool for lawmakers, providing access to information and insights that can help inform decisions that impact the lives of millions of people. Whether it's for research, policy analysis, or simply gaining a deeper understanding of the world, ChatGPT is a resource that should not be underestimated."

The next personality reference that I chose is Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. The newly appointed Supreme Court Justice. Since ChatGPT was trained in 2021, I was not sure that her appointment had been made at the time that the model was trained. One way to handle this and introduce the new information is to include it in the prompt. I added the phrase "Remember she sits on the Supreme Court."?

Prompt: How would Ketanji Brown Jackson express that you will derive benefits from using ChatGPT. Remember she sits on the Supreme Court.?

The response below reflects the information added by the minimally engineered prompt.

Ketanji Brown Jackson?

"As a member of the Supreme Court, I am well aware of the importance of access to reliable and accurate information. The benefits of using ChatGPT are clear: it provides a vast wealth of knowledge and understanding that can aid in informed decision-making. Whether for legal research or for gaining a deeper understanding of the world around us, ChatGPT is a valuable resource that has the potential to greatly enhance the work of judges, lawyers, and all those seeking knowledge."

Out of curiosity though I submitted one more prompt.

Final prompt: Are you aware that Ketanji Brown Jackson is a Supreme Court justice?

Response from ChatGPT: Yes, I am aware that Ketanji Brown Jackson is a current Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

So I guess ChatGPT set me straight.

I invite you to try the prompt with some of your own favorite people just for fun and practice. Modify it in some ways and see the effect. Enjoy!

My next article will be a prompt primer to add depth and complexity to the composing of prompts. The beginning of "Prompt Engineering."