ChatGPT was about to destroy this startup, but We saved it!

AI can sometimes be scary when it comes to achieving the best results. A few months ago, while we were consulting one of the startups with their product, we found a daunting issue that could have destroyed the startup.

Let's accept the fact, that ChatGPT can't be used everywhere. I know it might be fascinating for most non-tech guys to see the magic of ChatGPT. But always remember that ChatGPT is just a robot, they don't have human-level intelligence.

In today's blog, we will discuss why ChatGPT shouldn’t be used everywhere. I will embed my personal experience in this blog so that things are relatable. This is a read blog for those who think that ChatGPT can do everything.

Relying solely on AI like ChatGPT in all scenarios can indeed pose risks, especially when navigating critical decisions for startups. Here’s a recount of an incident where an overreliance on ChatGPT nearly led to a catastrophic consequence for a startup — but with timely intervention, disaster was averted.

How it All Begins?

It all began innocently enough, a developer within the startup, let’s call him Max, was tasked with building a crucial feature for their flagship product. He was a developer who was in his beginner stage. Eager to expedite the process, Max turned to ChatGPT, relying on its seemingly boundless knowledge to guide him through the labyrinth of coding intricacies.

I was reached out by the CEO, he wanted to fix the issues in his product. The product was never stable, developing a new feature caused the other to break.

Oops He used the wrong Code

ChatGPT, with its vast database, seemed like an omnipotent mentor, always ready to assist. Max frequently sought guidance from the AI, particularly referencing what he thought were official documentation links provided by ChatGPT. Unbeknownst to Max, these documents were outdated — a perilous oversight that was about to unravel the foundation of the startup.

As a result, the code was outdated. So most of the things had compatibility issues with the package.

As Max diligently proceeded, he unknowingly implemented obsolete methods and deprecated functions into the core structure of the product. With every line of code, the product inched closer to a catastrophic breakdown. The impending disaster became evident when the QA team flagged critical issues during testing, sending shockwaves through the entire startup.

Asking ChatGPT to generate Microservices Architecture:

If you ask ChatGPT to generate a microservice architecture, the first thing it would ask you to do is spin up an Ec2 instance.

Upon closer inspection, it was revealed that Max’s reliance on ChatGPT had led him astray. The AI, while an incredible resource, wasn’t designed to replace official documentation, especially in a swiftly evolving tech landscape. The erroneous path taken due to outdated guidance threatened the very existence of the startup.

Fortunately, recognizing the gravity of the situation, the startup swiftly assembled a crisis management team. Recognizing the root cause — misguided dependence on ChatGPT — the team immediately halted further implementation based on AI-generated information.

The Solution Phase: How we fixed the problem

At this point, I had a call with the CEO to make him understand the excessive and careless use of ChatGPT. The call was necessary because the CEO didn't provide the help of a senior developer to his newly hired novice developer. The CEO insisted on using ChatGPT.

My team embarked on a rigorous manual review of the codebase, identifying and rectifying discrepancies caused by following outdated advice.

The team’s efforts were compounded by engaging subject matter experts, sourcing up-to-date resources, and conducting intensive validation tests. It was a race against time, and every corrected line of code was a step closer to salvaging the sinking ship.

It was a humbling lesson that reaffirmed the limitations of AI in critical decision-making processes.

The aftermath of this ordeal led to a paradigm shift within the startup. While they continued to value the capabilities of ChatGPT and AI-driven solutions, they implemented stringent guidelines. They decided to hire consultants who can help them build stable and scalable products. We are glad that we are still helping that startup to build the best.

The lesson here is crystal clear — ChatGPT, while a marvel of technology, isn’t infallible. Its role must be delineated, and its guidance should be treated as a supplement rather than a substitute for verified up-to-date information. Only through a symbiotic relationship between human intelligence and AI can startups navigate the tumultuous waters of technological innovation.

At Surge Startup , we help companies in building their Software Products and consulting them with their toughest product challenges. If you think there’s a match between your requirements and our services. Then feel free to email me at [email protected] or reach out to me at https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/abhishekpatnaik77/