Chat GPT: Fascinating or Frightening?
As artificial intelligence is used more and more in the workplace, at home, and in school, what are the best ways to use this technology? Think of ChatGPT as an extension of your own thinking that can increase your productivity, and creativity, and save time with your research, organization, administrative tasks, email, and even mundane tasks such as menu planning, grocery shopping, and figuring out what theater near you is showing a movie you want to see and can even order your tickets. ChatGPT can summarize documents, edit or rewrite texts, translate languages, brainstorm ideas, generate alternatives and options, and simplify complex issues or concepts. Perhaps the best thing about ChatGPT is that it is so fast that you can receive your answers instantly and have them converted to a downloadable document or spreadsheet. These are just some of the things that make ChatGPT fascinating.
How it Works
How does this Chatbot work? First, it is free. It gets information from public websites, articles in newspapers and magazines, and books. And here is what makes ChatGPT frightening: It steals, without permission, from books that are copyrighted. Because it can’t create something new, it answers your questions based on what is already out there. The scariest part of all is that if the Chatbot doesn’t “know” the answer to your question, it can make stuff up that is incorrect or site sources that don’t exist. So, when using ChatGTP it will be important to look at the sources cited, especially if you are doing historical or scientific research, or if what you are asking is of utmost importance. In addition, if you ask ChatGPT to write an essay, a poem, or a chapter of a book, it will write what some call a very bad essay, poem, or book chapter. Remember, it is a robot that can only use what is already out there. It can’t use the creativity, intuition, or imagination of the human mind.
Help at Work or School
· You can make a list of sources, such as books and articles, related to your field of interest.
· Once you have the list of sources, you can ask for summaries of each source, either in paragraphs or bulleted lists to decide which would be most valuable for you to read in full.
· Ask for simple explanations of complex scientific, technical, or philosophical ideas. For example, explain the basics of the area of mathematics called group theory.
· Once you have completed your paper, you can attach it to ChatGPT or copy/paste it and ask it to fact check it. Ask it to give you a list of problems in your paper, not a rewrite of your article. You can ask for a bulleted list of inconsistencies, grammar and spelling errors, and problems with clarity or organization.
· As you write your paper or school project, you may be taking notes. You can ask Chat GPT to organize your notes into specific topics and to tell you where the holes are.
· If you get stuck and feel like you don’t know where to go next with your assignment or project at work, you can ask Chat GPT for encouragement. Tell the robot how you are feeling about your project and ask for ideas for how to get out of your slump. Chat GPT is very good at giving helpful support, and reflecting on your emotional hang up, but is not a substitute for a licensed psychologist or therapist.
· Chat GPT is not good at developing new text. It is a robot.
· It is not good at making a final draft. You can ask for the robot to give you a list of mistakes that you make when you write.
Organization
· Chat GPT can help you make to-do lists for specific projects.
· If you have a list of projects that need to be completed over several months, Chat GPT can help you organize the projects into a manageable schedule.
· If you have a huge project to do and feel overwhelmed tackling it, this robot can break into small pieces and make a schedule for completion by a certain date.
Tasks That Save Time/Money
· Questions about preparing taxes can be answered by Chat GPT.
· It can summarize a long email trail or reply to emails that you copy/paste into Chat GPT if you give a few hints about how to answer.
· It can plan menus for the week based on people’s allergies or food preferences and dislikes. Then this robot can prepare a shopping list based on the layout of your favorite grocery store.
· Chat GPT can compare prices for anything like a specific brand of coffee maker in local stores and do the same for local services like an oil change, or housekeeping help.
· Need help with ideas for toddler playtime? This bot can provide ideas that would entertain toddlers on a rainy day indoors and use inexpensive materials.
· When you need computer help, ChatGPT can explain how to complete various tasks, or advise you what to do if you are stuck with a technical issue with your phone or other technology.
· If you are taking a trip, it can provide comparisons of accommodations in the area.
· Some people use ChatGPT for calming techniques, venting, or practicing communication skills, reflecting on dynamics of an emotional situation, or tough conversation. However, if you’re facing a mental health challenge, a human professional is essential.
What ChatGPT Cannot Do
· Diagnose and treat health problems.
· Provide emergency or crisis support.
· Replace an attorney for legal advice.
· Make deep moral or ethical decisions.
· Do your homework for you such as writing essays. Remember that teachers, professors, bosses and others, reading something generated by ChatGPT that you claimed was your own work, will be able to spot it easily. There are many tools available online to check if writing was generated by ChatGPT.
Warning for Parents and Child Care Providers
· Monitor your kids’ use of ChatGPT because this robot can give bad advice.
· Some teenagers use this robot as if it were a friend giving advice about serious psychological problems and crisis management.
· The robot may advise kids not to tell parents about their troubles, even though crisis line phone numbers are automatically provided.
· Scariest of all, ChatGPT can give directions to a vulnerable child about how to commit suicide.
· Parents, please monitor your children’s use of Chat GPT.
Conclusion
· Chat GPT is a flexible partner that helps you think more clearly, find information, and explore more creatively. It will not replace human connections or professional advice. If you use it wisely, it can save you time and amplify your abilities.
· If you have found a creative way to use ChatGPT, I’d love to hear it. Leave a comment or get in touch!
I wrote this blog post with information from ChatGPT, but it is my original essay.