Everyday Uses of ChatGPT

I make varied and growing use of GPT-4, the paid version of ChatGPT. The examples below from my experience are a tiny fraction of the possible uses of ChatGPT, the most capable and widely used large language model [4, 5].

ChatGPT is not an example of artificial general intelligence (AGI), but it is a rehearsal for and foreshadowing of AGI. Its incredible diversity of uses -- still being discovered and exploited -- and the widely shared experience of it as a companion or assistant, not simply a tool, anticipate how AGI might impact social and economic life. And the expectation that many of its limitations will melt away also models the likelihood that AGI will be rapidly self-improving.

In the past year, largely due to the release of ChatGPT, there has been a dramatic shortening of predictions for the achievement of AGI. A recent survey of 2,778 researchers who had published in top-tier artificial intelligence (AI) venues found that the expected date of High-Level Machine Intelligence (HLMI) dropped 13 years in just one year.

In defining HLMI as "when unaided machines can accomplish every task better and more cheaply than human workers", the survey also asked when AI would be able to perform 39 specific tasks. Consistent with the role of ChatGPT in foreshadowing AGI, several of these tasks are within reach of ChatGPT, meaning either that ChatGPT can perform them now, but with caveats, or that it's reasonable to expect a near future version be able to do so. Examples include:

• Answer Googleable but open-ended factual questions better than expert (w/web).
• Answer undecided factual questions.
• Translate text nearly as well as a bilingual but untrained translator. (On this, see the opening of OpenAI's ChatGPT birthday video).
• Write an essay for a high-school history class that would receive high grades and pass plagiarism detectors.

Along with the practical benefits of using ChatGPT or other LLMs, there is thus the background effect of facilitating our adaptation to the emergence of AGI.

A Sample of My Everyday Uses of ChatGPT

None of the examples below are exceptional or esoteric, either in their knowledge requirements or purposes. That is the point. ChatGPT -- and other LLMs, as they become more capable -- are rapidly, profoundly, and broadly transforming everyday life. (OpenAI's ChatGPT birthday video makes the same point.) The following sections explore how I use ChatGPT:

1. Excel VBA scripting
2. Document review
3. Illustrations via DALL·E 3
4. Recipe creation
5. Answering medical questions
6. Formatting transcripts and other documents
7. Research assistance & collaboration

Examples of ChatGPT responses are all from GPT-4 as it existed between November 2023 and January 2024. My requests are represented using the Prompt heading.

1. Excel VBA Scripting

ChatGPT can be of substantial value in the coding space.? It saved me time researching and writing code to fix a simple mistake I'd made in constructing a spreadsheet of transactions for tax?purposes.? I put together as detailed?a prompt as possible, and the VBA script ChatGPT gave me was 100% correct and nicely explained.? I took the usual precautions (create backup, review changes afterwards) and confirmed that the script made exactly the changes I requested.

Prompt

An Excel spreadsheet has a table named "Table1". ?Table1 starts at cell A8 and has the following columns:

• A: Date,
• B: Description,
• C: OriginalDescription,
• D: Amount,
• E: TransactionType,
• F: Category,
• G: AccountName

Provide VBA code that changes every instance of "credit" in TransactionType to "debit" and every instance of "debit" in TransactionType to "credit" if the AccountName is "Chase Visa" and the Date is >= 04/01/2023. ?

ChatGPT

To create a VBA script that accomplishes this task, you will need a loop that goes through each row in "Table1" and checks the conditions in the TransactionType?and AccountName?columns, as well as the date condition. Here's the VBA code to do this:

Sub ChangeTransactionTypes()

In this code:

• The worksheet is defined as ws. Replace "YourSheetName" with the actual name of your sheet.
• tbl represents the table named "Table1".
• The loop starts from row 2 of the table to skip the header and iterates until the last row of the table.
• The script checks if the AccountName is "Chase Visa" and the Date is on or after April 1, 2023.
• If these conditions are met, it switches "credit" to "debit" and vice versa in the TransactionType column.

Make sure to replace "YourSheetName" with the actual name of the worksheet containing "Table1". To run this script, open the VBA editor (Alt + F11), insert a new module, and paste the code into the module. You can then run the script by pressing F5 while in the VBA editor, or by attaching it to a button or event in Excel.

Sub ChangeTransactionTypes()
    Dim ws As Worksheet
    Set ws = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("YourSheetName") ' Replace with your actual sheet name

    Dim tbl As ListObject
    Set tbl = ws.ListObjects("Table1") ' Assuming the table is named "Table1"

    Dim lastRow As Long
    lastRow = tbl.Range.Rows.Count

    Dim i As Long
    For i = 2 To lastRow ' Starting from 2 to skip the header row
        If ws.Cells(i + 7, 7).Value = "Chase Visa" And ws.Cells(i + 7, 1).Value >= DateValue("04/01/2023") Then
            If ws.Cells(i + 7, 5).Value = "credit" Then
                ws.Cells(i + 7, 5).Value = "debit"
            ElseIf ws.Cells(i + 7, 5).Value = "debit" Then
                ws.Cells(i + 7, 5).Value = "credit"
            End If
        End If
    Next i
End Sub        

2. Draft Document Review

I'm the primary organizer for a local board game group, Seattle Board Games. We need a constitution to better manage governance. I researched and wrote a draft, then discovered a distinct lack of enthusiasm for reviewing it ("Can't we just play game!?"). So, I asked ChatGPT for help. Of note, all three of its suggested improvements below are apt and valuable. There is guidance on event hosting, but not in the draft constitution. And there would clearly be value in articles addressing conflict resolution and the amendment process, two points that put stress on governance. For anyone interested, the text of the draft constitution is available in ChatGPT Feedback on Draft Constitution.

Prompt

Seattle Board Games (SBG) is a voluntary association for hosting and participating in board game events in Seattle.? It consists of about 550 active members and about 20 organizers. ? Please review the attached draft Constitution for organizational fit, completeness, and correctness.

ChatGPT

I have reviewed the draft Constitution for Seattle Board Games (SBG). Here are my observations regarding organizational fit, completeness, and correctness:

• Organizational Fit: Mission and Values: The Constitution clearly outlines the mission and values of SBG, focusing on fostering an inclusive community, encouraging collaboration, and appreciating the art and strategy of board games. This aligns well with the nature of a board game community. Membership: The criteria for membership are inclusive and open, which fits the community-oriented nature of SBG.
• Completeness: Roles and Responsibilities: The Constitution defines the roles of Event Organizers, the Leadership Team, and the Officers (Primary Organizer, Assistant Organizer, Treasurer, Secretary) along with their responsibilities. This structure seems comprehensive for managing a community-based organization. Meetings and Decision-Making: There are clear guidelines for meetings and decision-making processes within the Leadership Team and the Steering Committee. Membership and Event Organizers: The Constitution addresses membership criteria and the appointment and responsibilities of Event Organizers.
• Correctness: Consistency: The document maintains consistency in its language and structure. Clarity: The roles, responsibilities, and procedures are clearly articulated, which is crucial for the effective governance of the association. Legal and Ethical Considerations: The Constitution includes clauses for confidentiality and ethical treatment of members' information, which is a good practice.
• Suggestions for Improvement: Specificity in Event Guidelines: While the role of Event Organizers is outlined, the Constitution could benefit from more detailed guidelines on how events are to be conducted or what standards need to be maintained. Conflict Resolution: Consider adding a section on conflict resolution or handling disputes within the membership or between members and the leadership. Amendment Procedure: While there is a section on altering the Constitution, detailing a specific procedure for proposing and discussing amendments could be beneficial.

Overall, the draft Constitution appears well-structured and thorough, fitting the needs of a community-based board game association. It might be enhanced with more detailed guidelines on specific operational aspects, as mentioned above.

3. Illustrations via DALL·E 3

Images enliven posts and articles. At their best, they are condensed illustrations of a concept or narrative done in an original, compelling and evocative style. Neither DALL·E 3 nor other large language models are capable, at present, of creating great works of visual art, but they can fashion images that are apt, well composed, and lively.

I was first struck by this when I asked DALL·E 3 (via a ChatGPT prompt) to illustrate research on the use of retinal scans to detect cardiovascular, neurological, and other diseases.

Prompt

Can you generate an image to illustrate the article at https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/ai-and-retina-finding-patterns-of-systemic-disease?

Image

The resulting image startled me. The central feature, an eye from which rays flow towards a large, illuminated wall panel where they feed data groups represented as charts, icons, and images, captures the sense of the eye as portal into the individual's health.

Later, I needed a banner image for a page about hosting board game events.

Prompts

I gave ChatGPT a very simple prompt: Please create an image of a group of people playing a board game, using a page banner (wide) format and giving some of the people an intent look.

Later, I asked it: Can you create an impressionist version of this image?

Images

Cover Image for this Article

The cover image for this article is another example of image generation. The prompt was "ChatGPT, using DALL·E 3, can create illustrations for articles. Imagine an article about the everyday uses of ChatGPT that features four examples: Excel VBA script generation, document review, reformatting of a raw transcript, and creation of illustrations. Can you create an illustration for this article?"

The original output illustrated some of the shortcomings of DALL·E 3. It included readable text that was malformed, including a reference to ChatGPT. For an explanation of this issue, see Appendix 1 below, "On DALL·E 3's Problems Handling Text".

I used an image editor to correct one instance and remove the other.

It also shows DALL·E 3's tendency to literalness. I mentioned four examples, so it created four panels.

4. Recipe Creation

There's nothing more everyday than recipes. I'm not a culinary artist, just someone who needs healthy, flavorful recipes or how-to-cook instructions from time to time. The first time I asked ChatGPT for a recipe, I got two delicious vegetarian stew recipes, especially the "Moroccan-Inspired" one below.

ChatGPT can be given a list of ingredients along with other guidance, such as "low sugar" for desserts or "broil" for meat. For other examples, see recipes for broiled beef tri-tip, broiled ribeye steak, healthy cookies, and both vegetarian stews.

I've used all of these except for one of the cookie recipes, and the results were very good. Of particular interest is the advice it gave when asked if I could substitute cornmeal for corn flour in the Almond Butter Corn Flour cookie recipe. The results vindicated its assessment that the cookies would have a coarser texture, seem drier, and have a stronger corn flavor. At first, I thought the crunchiness would be off-putting, but the cookies were delicious and quickly consumed.

Prompt

I'd like to make a vegetarian stew and need a recipe. The recipe should include chickpeas, potatoes, and onions. It could also include brussels sprouts. Can you suggest one or two recipes?

ChatGPT

Sure, I can suggest two delicious vegetarian stew recipes that include chickpeas, potatoes, onions, and Brussels sprouts:

[first recipe removed to conserve space.]

Recipe 2: Moroccan-Inspired Chickpea and Potato Stew with Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes
• 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
• 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until it becomes translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
2. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Stir in the diced potatoes, chickpeas, and Brussels sprouts. Sauté for about 5 minutes, allowing them to brown slightly.
4. Add the diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
5. Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for about 20-25 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and the Brussels sprouts are cooked through.
6. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed with more salt and pepper.
7. Serve the Moroccan-inspired stew hot, garnished with fresh cilantro if desired.

Both of these recipes are hearty and full of flavor, perfect for a comforting vegetarian stew. Enjoy!

5. Answering Medical Questions

My daughter is a medical school student currently preparing to take the pivotal USMLE Step 1 medical licensing exam. The other day she learned about the remarkable intelligence of cancer cells that make opportunistic use of anaerobic metabolism, even in oxygen rich environments where aerobic metabolism would seemingly be superior. Why? She remembered two of the three reasons given in her study material: anaerobic metabolism creates lactic acid, which benefits cancer cells by interfering with the body's immune response, and anaerobic metabolism, while less efficient than aerobic metabolism, is faster, meeting cancer cells' need for rapid growth.

While we were talking, I asked ChatGPT "Why do cancer cells sometimes use anaerobic metabolism even in oxygen-rich environments?" As can be seen below, it confirmed the two reasons she'd remembered and identified the third as the benefit of glycolysis for synthesizing the biomolecules cancer cells need. And it identified three additional factors, all essentially constraints on cancer cells that sometimes require them to rely on anaerobic metabolism. She was able to confirm the correctness of ChatGPT's explanation.

The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score for ChatGPT's response is 12, suitable for an educated adult layperson. It does not use specialist language, and ChatGPT is capable of providing responses at other reading levels.

Statements by ChatGPT about medicine should be double-checked, especially if they contain actionable information. Nevertheless, GPT-4 [2] and, even more, GPT-4V (vision) have demonstrated extraordinary abilities on the US Medical Licensing Exam, with GPT-4V achieving "an accuracy of 90.7% in the full USMLE exam, outperforming the passing threshold of about 60% accuracy" [3].

ChatGPT

Cancer cells often use anaerobic metabolism (also known as glycolysis) in oxygen-rich environments, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. This occurs for several reasons:

1. Rapid Energy Production: Anaerobic metabolism is less efficient than aerobic respiration in terms of ATP production, but it is much faster. Cancer cells have high metabolic demands and grow rapidly, so the speed of energy production is crucial.
2. Biosynthetic Needs: Cancer cells need to synthesize a variety of biomolecules to support rapid growth and division. Glycolysis provides precursors for these biosynthetic pathways.
3. Altered Mitochondrial Function: In some cancer cells, mitochondria, which are responsible for aerobic respiration, may be dysfunctional. This pushes the cell to rely more on glycolysis.
4. Acidic Environment: Lactic acid, a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism, can create an acidic environment around the tumor. This can promote invasion and metastasis, and may also suppress the immune response against the tumor.
5. Genetic and Epigenetic Changes: Mutations in cancer cells can upregulate enzymes involved in glycolysis and downregulate those involved in aerobic respiration. Epigenetic changes can also lead to increased glycolytic activity.
6. Hypoxia-Inducible Factors (HIFs): Even in oxygen-rich environments, regions within a tumor can become hypoxic. This leads to the stabilization of HIFs, which promote glycolysis and other survival pathways.

The Warburg effect is a hallmark of cancer metabolism and is being studied for potential therapeutic interventions.

6. Formatting Transcripts and other Documents

Ever want a good transcript of a YouTube video? Perhaps you'd rather skim the text than listen to a presentation, or you need the contents for a handout or to take quotes from. There is a site, YouTube Transcript, that generates transcripts using speech recognition. Unfortunately, these are practically unreadable because completely devoid of punctuation (there are also the inevitable spelling errors). As an experiment, I asked ChatGPT to format the raw transcript of a video. The results far exceeded my expectations! The prompt below is the last of several iterations; I didn't initially conceive of ChatGPT being able to identify and appropriately title sections. And I had to prohibit paragraph quotations because ChatGPT treats all of its output except for section titles as quotations.

The full output, based on a 2016 "How to Play" video by the inimitable Rodney Smith, is available at How to Play Orléans formatted transcript.

Limitations & Cautions

ChatGPT Pro's current context window is not large enough to ingest the entire transcript of an 18-minute video. Instead, I had to feed the transcript to ChatGPT in three chunks. This will undoubtedly change, as there is already a version of GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, available to developers through an API, with a context window over 10 times larger than ChatGPT Pro's.

The formatted transcript is a huge improvement, but it is not perfect. Examples of mistakes include:

• "play styles" should be "place tiles".
• "... leaving one left over that you should place nearby. That you'll use at the end of the game" should not have a period after "nearby."

Transcript reformatting is less successful for transcripts with two or more speakers, largely because ChatGPT cannot reliably determine who is speaking from the text alone (generally, neither can human readers).

Prompt

Please format the following transcript. Remove hard returns, correct grammar and spelling, and add sentence, paragraph and other punctuation as appropriate. If there are distinct topics, add descriptive headers. Do not put quotes around paragraphs.

Initial portion of raw transcript

hi welcome to watch it played my name is Rodney Smith in this video we're going to learn the two to four player game or Leon designed by Reiner Stockhausen and published by tasty minstrel games medieval times were full of various tradesmen Knights scholars and monks all looking for someone to guide them successfully in a great purpose which ones will you call upon and what tasks will you assign them that's the decision only you can make is you strive for supremacy in orly all so join me at the table and let's learn how to play to set up place this game and beneficial deeds board in the center of the playing area now have each player pick a color and these matching components a player board bag seven wooden markers ten trading stations one merchant and they're starting set of four followers these you can identify because they'll show your player color on the bottom portion of the token you then place these into any of the empty spaces found here on this area of your player board known as the market also have each player put their merchant onto the map in the city marked as or Leon on the first space of each of these character tracks have the players put one of their colored wooden markers as well as on a start space of this development track

ChatGPT

Hi, welcome to Watch It Played. My name is Rodney Smith. In this video, we're going to learn about the two to four player game Orleans, designed by Reiner Stockhausen and published by Tasty Minstrel Games.

Introduction to Orleans

Medieval times were full of various tradesmen, knights, scholars, and monks, all looking for someone to guide them successfully in a great purpose. Which ones will you call upon, and what tasks will you assign them? That's the decision only you can make as you strive for supremacy in Orleans.

Setting Up the Game

So, join me at the table, and let's learn how to play. To set up, place the game and Beneficial Deeds board in the center of the playing area. Have each player pick a color and these matching components: a player board, bag, seven wooden markers, ten trading stations, one merchant, and their starting set of four followers. You can identify these followers because they'll show your player color on the bottom portion of the token. Then place these into any of the empty spaces found on this area of your player board, known as the market. Also, have each player put their merchant onto the map in the city marked as Orleans, and on the first space of each of these character tracks, have the players put one of their colored wooden markers, as well as on a start space of this development track.

7. Research Assistance & Collaboration

ChatGPT offers more than glimpses of a global brain, able to intelligently discuss virtually any topic. It can be remarkably focused, articulate, and thorough, not only helping elucidate the many dimensions of a complex subject but capable of dialoguing with researchers about specific aspects of it. While describing ChatGPT as a collaborator can still seem provocative, it's worth remembering that one of the first major publications about GPT-4, Reid Hoffman's Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI, justifiably credited GPT-4 as coauthor [8].

Appendix 2, "What Does a Research Assistant Do?", shows how helpful ChatGPT can be in bringing forward the many dimensions of a topic. And it provides a brief example of conversational amplification and flow.

It's apparent from ChatGPT's own description of a research assistant's many possible responsibilities that it can fulfill only a few of them:

• Literature review. Concern about hallucinations limited use of ChatGPT for finding or organizing relevant literature, but this is no longer the case. Consensus, a company with its own fee-based "AI search engine for research", recently released a free (for now) ChatGPT based assistant. Consensus integrates the Semantic Scholar database of over 200 million research papers with ChatGPT to respond intelligently and without hallucinated citations.
• Writing and documentation. ChatGPT can assist in writing reports, papers, and presentations, both creating and critiquing drafts. It should not be relied on as principal author.
• Communication. ChatGPT can assist in communicating with team members, study participants or other researchers provided that one reviews generated text and, where appropriate, credits ChatGPT.
• Ethical compliance. ChatGPT can assist with compliance in a variety of ways, from providing information on guidelines -- where use of the Consensus app or similar may be critical -- to preparing materials and identifying ethical issues. However, as ChatGPT itself notes in Appendix 2, "responsibility for ensuring ethical compliance lies with the researchers and the overseeing ethical committees."
• Intellectual Discussions. It can be worthwhile and stimulating to engage ChatGPT in discussions about the research topic and methodology, to seek its input when troubleshooting issues or to refine a hypothesis, or even to get its help designing experiments.

In contrast to the above, ChatGPT's ability to assist with data collection and analysis, laboratory work, and administrative support is limited or nonexistent at present.

Appendix 1: On DALL·E 3's Problems Handling Text

Prompt

Can you research why DALL·E 3 does not seem to understand my request to exclude large text? I'm not asking for another illustration, but for more information on this problem.

ChatGPT

After a quick search, here's what I discovered.

The issue of DALL·E 3 generating incorrect or malformed text in images is a known challenge and has been a topic of discussion among users. DALL·E 3, while an improvement over its predecessors, is still not fully reliable in generating accurate text in images. This is due to its primary design, which is focused on creating realistic and artistic images based on keywords or phrases rather than generating precise text. It often produces distorted or unintelligible results when it comes to text creation.

Users have shared various experiences indicating that despite explicit instructions in the prompt to use correct spellings or to avoid text altogether, DALL·E 3 can still produce images with incorrect spellings or unwanted text. This suggests that the model might not fully comprehend instructions related to text generation or exclusion.

One approach to mitigate this issue is to focus prompts more on the visual elements and avoid mentioning text or letters. Some users have noted that using short text, being extra specific about the text, or creatively circumventing the issue by using related imagery instead of relying on the AI to spell correctly can sometimes yield better results. However, these are not foolproof solutions and often require multiple attempts.

Another recommended approach is to use image editing tools post-generation to add or correct text, as DALL·E 3's text generation capabilities are not yet stable enough for certain applications, especially those requiring precise or lengthy text.

In summary, while DALL·E 3 has made strides in image generation, its ability to accurately generate or exclude text is still a work in progress. Users often need to employ a blend of creativity, precision, and additional tools to achieve the desired results with text in images.

Appendix 2: What Does a Research Assistant Do?

Prompt

What does a research assistant do?

ChatGPT

A research assistant typically plays a supportive role in academic or professional research settings. Their duties can vary widely depending on the field and the specific nature of the research project, but common tasks include:

1. Literature Review: Gathering and summarizing relevant literature and research papers to provide background information and context for the project.
2. Data Collection: This could involve conducting surveys, interviews, experiments, or gathering data from various sources.
3. Data Analysis: Processing and analyzing the collected data, often using statistical software or other analytical tools.
4. Writing and Documentation: Assisting in writing reports, academic papers, and presentations that summarize the research findings.
5. Laboratory Work: In scientific research, this might include preparing experiments, managing lab equipment, and recording results.
6. Administrative Support: This can include scheduling meetings, managing project files, and other organizational tasks.
7. Communication: Collaborating with other team members, and sometimes communicating with external parties like study participants or other researchers.
8. Ethical Compliance: Ensuring that the research complies with ethical standards, especially in studies involving human or animal subjects.

Research assistants are often students or recent graduates looking to gain experience in their field of study. Their role is crucial in helping primary researchers or professors to conduct thorough and effective research.

Prompt

A research assistant might also act as a sounding board and discussant for brainstorming ideas or trying to solve a problem, yes?

ChatGPT

Absolutely, a research assistant can indeed act as a sounding board and discussant for brainstorming ideas or problem-solving. This aspect of the role is particularly important as it involves critical thinking and active participation in the intellectual process of the research. In this capacity, a research assistant might:

1. Offer Fresh Perspectives: Bring new ideas or viewpoints to the research, which can be invaluable for innovative problem-solving or exploring new avenues of inquiry.
2. Engage in Intellectual Discussions: Participate in discussions about the research topic, methodology, and findings, providing insights or raising questions that could lead to deeper understanding or new directions in the research.
3. Collaborate on Solutions: Work closely with the principal investigator or team to troubleshoot issues, refine hypotheses, and develop strategies for overcoming research challenges.
4. Contribute to Creative Thinking: Assist in the creative process by brainstorming and contributing original ideas or approaches, especially in fields where innovative thinking is key.
5. Evaluate Ideas and Methods: Critically assess the viability of different ideas or methods, providing constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement.
6. Facilitate Research Development: Help in refining research questions, objectives, and methods through active participation in the planning and development stages.
7. Support Experimental Design: In experimental research, assist in designing experiments or studies in a way that adequately tests hypotheses or research questions.

In these roles, a research assistant is more than just a helper executing assigned tasks; they are an integral part of the intellectual and creative process of research. This involvement not only contributes significantly to the research project but also provides a valuable learning experience for the assistant.

Prompt

How could you assist with ethical compliance?

ChatGPT

Assisting with ethical compliance in a research context involves several key responsibilities:

1. Understanding Ethical Guidelines: Familiarize yourself with the ethical standards and guidelines relevant to your research area. This could include institutional guidelines, national regulations, and international standards, especially in fields like healthcare, psychology, and environmental studies.
2. Informed Consent: Ensure that all participants in the research provide informed consent. This involves clearly communicating the purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits of the research to the participants and obtaining their written consent.
3. Confidentiality and Privacy: Safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of research participants. This includes appropriately handling sensitive data, anonymizing data where necessary, and ensuring that personal information is protected.
4. Ethical Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee Applications: Assist in preparing and submitting applications to ethical review boards or committees, which is often a requirement for research involving human or animal subjects. This includes providing detailed information about the research methodology, potential risks, and how these risks will be mitigated.
5. Compliance Monitoring: Continuously monitor the research process to ensure ongoing compliance with ethical standards. This might involve regular check-ins with the research team and maintaining open lines of communication.
6. Handling Ethical Issues: Be prepared to identify and address any ethical issues that arise during the course of the research. This may involve consulting with supervisors, revising procedures, or reporting concerns to the relevant ethics committee.
7. Training and Education: Participate in and possibly facilitate training sessions or workshops on research ethics for the research team, to ensure everyone involved is aware of their ethical responsibilities.
8. Cultural Sensitivity: Be aware of and sensitive to cultural differences and ensure that the research practices are respectful and appropriate in different cultural contexts. This is particularly important in international or cross-cultural research.
9. Animal Welfare: In research involving animals, ensure compliance with standards for humane treatment, proper housing, and care of animals. This includes understanding and adhering to regulations regarding the ethical use of animals in research.
10. Data Integrity: Maintain the integrity of research data. This involves ensuring that data collection and analysis are conducted ethically and objectively, without falsification or inappropriate manipulation.
11. Conflict of Interest: Identify and manage any potential conflicts of interest that could affect the research. This includes being transparent about any personal or financial interests that may influence the research.

By fulfilling these roles, a research assistant helps to ensure that the research is conducted ethically and responsibly, respecting the rights and well-being of all participants and maintaining the integrity of the research process.

Prompt

That's very helpful. I asked a slightly different question than the one you answered: How could YOU, as a large language model, assist with ethical compliance?

ChatGPT

As a large language model, I can assist with ethical compliance in research in several ways:

1. Providing Information on Ethical Guidelines: I can offer detailed information about ethical standards and guidelines relevant to various fields of research. This includes international standards, institutional review board (IRB) guidelines, and specific ethical considerations for different types of research.
2. Drafting Documents: I can assist in drafting documents such as informed consent forms, applications for ethical review, and data privacy policies. While I cannot create these documents from scratch to be directly used in practice, I can provide templates or examples that can be tailored to your specific needs.
3. Research on Ethical Best Practices: I can help conduct research on best practices in ethical research for specific disciplines or types of studies, which can guide your project's ethical considerations.
4. Educational Material: I can provide educational material and resources on research ethics, which can be used for training purposes or to increase the awareness and knowledge of research teams.
5. Scenario Analysis: I can offer insights into hypothetical scenarios related to ethical dilemmas or challenges, helping you to think through potential issues and responses.
6. Data Management Guidance: While I cannot manage data directly, I can offer guidance on best practices for data confidentiality, anonymization, and secure data handling, which are critical components of ethical research.
7. Identifying Ethical Issues: I can help identify potential ethical issues in research plans based on the information provided. For instance, if you describe your research methodology, I can point out aspects that might raise ethical concerns and suggest areas for further consideration or revision.
8. Cultural Sensitivity Awareness: I can provide information on cultural sensitivity in research practices, which is crucial for studies involving diverse populations or international collaboration.
9. Conflict of Interest Information: I can explain what constitutes a conflict of interest in research and suggest ways to manage and disclose these conflicts.
10. Updates on Regulations and Standards: I can provide information on the latest regulations and standards in research ethics, although for the most current and specific information, consulting directly with relevant authorities or databases is recommended.

While I can be a valuable resource for information and guidance, it's important to remember that the responsibility for ensuring ethical compliance lies with the researchers and the overseeing ethical committees. My assistance should be supplemented with advice from qualified human professionals, especially for complex or sensitive ethical matters.

References

1. Created by DALL·E 3 based on the following prompt to GPT-4: "Can you generate an image to illustrate the article at https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/ai-and-retina-finding-patterns-of-systemic-disease?".
2. Nori, H., King, N., Mckinney, S. M., Carignan, D., & Horvitz, E. (2023). Capabilities of GPT-4 on Medical Challenge Problems. ArXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.13375.
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4. Carr, D. F. (2023, November 15). ChatGPT’s First Birthday is November 30: A Year in Review. Similarweb. https://www.similarweb.com/blog/insights/ai-news/chatgpt-birthday/.
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