How ChatGPT Revolutionized My Learning and Work

I realized today that next month will mark a year in my new role. Reflecting on the journey of learning over the last 11 months fills me with pride, something I believe we can all benefit from feeling more often.

I consider myself quite fortunate to have made this transition, especially as I manage content in an era when generative AI is becoming an integral part of our daily lives.

Looking back on various moments from the past year, I feel as if I was a completely different person before having access to tools like ChatGPT. I cannot emphasize enough how important this tool is for both the eternally curious and those who want to learn about a diverse array of topics quickly.

Initially, I used ChatGPT like Google, with a touch of fun nuance. However, after taking a course on researching and writing with Generative AI tools right here on LinkedIn, it has become one of the most important tools in my learning arsenal. Of course, care must be taken when using a tool that can potentially provide false information. This is where the skill of understanding how to decipher and verify sources comes into play—an incredibly important skill in the world of GenAI.

Prompt Engineering for the Curious

If you're new to ChatGPT or have used it but haven't yet learned about the power of prompting, I encourage you to take some time to explore this skill . It unlocks much more powerful ways to engage with GenAI. I think of prompt engineering as starting a conversation with the tool by first setting boundaries for its knowledge base. When I need help with education-related tasks, I usually frame my prompt with as much detail as possible about my thought process and then pose my question within the scope of the explanation.

Imagine telling the AI who it is and how to think before asking it to complete tasks. The difference in AI responses is like night and day, significantly reducing our "discussion" time.

For my content area, AEC, this tool has expanded my vocabulary and understanding of the industry in ways I didn't think possible, at least not at this rate. I'm no expert, but I can now hold a conversation with the experts I work with and have a level of understanding that the "pre-GPT" me would not have thought possible. Of course, I work for LinkedIn, specifically on the LinkedIn Learning side, so technically, I can watch our courses, which I do frequently. However, as an instructor I met with last week put it, ChatGPT is like having Cliff Notes if you know how to get the tool to help you decompress information as needed.

More Random Acts of ChatGPT Fueled Curiosity

Aside from work-related research, I have been using ChatGPT for all sorts of fun things and extended my learning to YouTube and TikTok. Here are a few interesting things I do with ChatGPT, as well as additional learning resources.

1. As a Sims 4 gamer, I enjoy playing with community-created scenarios in which players are given a character type, characteristics, and gameplay ideas to start from. ChatGPT can create these as well, but there's a trick. You have to "teach it" about new packs and features from 2021, which is easily done with a cut-and-paste. Doing this has made my gameplay much more interesting!
2. Anyone who follows me on platforms other than LinkedIn knows that I listen to a lot of Korean pop, specifically BTS. Did you know that ChatGPT is an excellent translator? One of my favorite things to do now is to paste the lyrics, ask it to translate them into English, and also explain any significant cultural references in the songs I listen to.
3. I've talked a great deal about prompts, but ChatGPT can create them as well. So if you're stuck, simply ask it to make one for you. This is quite helpful when looking for prompts for GenAI imaging.
4. Matt Wolfe, a YouTuber and creator of an extensive list of AI tools , has some quick videos on prompting worth checking out (here and here ).
5. I know that my last newsletter questioned GenAI art, but I must reiterate how powerful Adobe Firefly is and how committed they are to leveraging AI in support of creatives. The header of this newsletter was created using that tool, and I genuinely love it.
6. If you reach the end of this without encountering spelling or grammar issues, it's because I asked ChatGPT to proofread my writing for me and provide a list of changes or suggested changes after writing. It's one of my favorite things to do now!