OpenAI's ChatGPT: What is the buzz about this artificial intelligence chatbot?

Over the past few months, ChatGPT has gained so much traction in the technology, artificial intelligence and business community for its instant response and text generating ability from a variety of questions. Many people, such as consultants, data engineers, researchers, content creators, students and even those in the legal profession, have been leveraging this tool for both personal and professional uses. While this is beneficial, many also see this as a potential disruptor to jobs, learning, education, research etc. depending on its use. What exactly is ChatGPT, how is it being utilized currently and what concerns have been expressed on its capabilities.

Open AI's ChatGPT

ChatGPT or Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer is an artificial intelligence chatbot that provide responses to questions and prompts using its own intellect. It has the ability to generate text in a conversational way from a given prompt or context. This beta technology was created by Open AI, an artificial intelligence research and deployment company in 2015, with Microsoft being their top investor since 2019. Their goal is to ensure AI benefits all of humanity. During its beta testing process, OpenAI released an early version of ChatGPT late last year which attracted tech folks who wanted to see what exactly it can be used for, which then influenced the public to explore for themselves. This exploration led to more and more professionals discovering what they can do with the tool. Additionally, ChatGPT has been programmed with large amounts of data that allows it to understand and generate human-like texts and responses.

Many users have shared across various platforms how they have been leveraging ChatGPT in their profession and daily lives.

General Uses:

• It can generate responses to questions needed to supplement essay writing and research, especially in various styles

• it can summarize difficult texts into simple context

• it can correct grammar and punctuation in sentences and essays

• it can assist with resume generation and formatting

• It can assist with the design and creation of PowerPoint presentations

Data Engineers, Data Analyst, Engineers, Coders

• It can output codes in various programming languages such as React, C#, Python, etc.

• it can fix bugs in various coding languages

• it can create apps in different coding languages

Website Developers, UX Designers

• it can generate texts, logo, and UX design ideas from simple prompts

• it can build websites via HTML and CSS

• it can be leveraged for website Search Engine Optimization (SEO) improvement

Marketing, Content Creation, Copywriting

• it can provide business ideas based on certain prompts and key words e.g. asking for business name ideas, social media content, blog

• it has the capacity to write ads, saving one's time and energy that would have been used during the brainstorming process

• it can be used for copywriting and assist professionals that rely on copywriting

Business Analyst, Business Management, Consulting

• it can compose and reply to emails

• it can generate meeting notes and personalized meeting templates via Microsoft Teams premium

• it can generate feedback for employees/work team with little to no effort

• it can identify business and market trends, providing a quick summary on key topics

• It can assist with the design and creation of PowerPoint business presentations

• it can assist with developing points and arguments for presentations

These are just a few uses of this tool that have been shared by many. As ChatGPT gains traction, more professionals across industries will reveal how they have and plan to leverage this tool if necessary for their professional and learning development. OpenAI is working on future deployments of this tool with more capabilities, especially since Microsoft increased their investment and interest in their work.

Causes for Concern

While ChatGPT has many uses, concerns have been expressed about its potential negative impact now and in the future as the tool develops. Journalist and media personnel are wondering if this tool has the potential to replace their writing jobs. Given how easy it is to get a response from ChatGPT, it could have the potential to generate an entire article from just a simple prompt and some more programming.

Professors and educators have expressed concerns over ChatGPT being leveraged by students to write their essays, do their homework and generate a full research paper with little to no effort. Some are now curious about the possibility of this tool helping students take various exams and bypass anti-cheating software. An MBA professor from the Wharton Business school reported that ChatGPT was able to pass the final exam of the MBA program. He wrote that the bot "shows its remarkable ability to automate some of the skills of highly compensated knowledge workers in the jobs held by MBA graduates, including analyst managers and consultants". Additionally, educators are worried that this tool might provide inaccurate information and further diminish student's critical thinking skills.

As with other open AI technology and software, ChatGPT can be leveraged by those who seek to spread misinformation and cause malicious act with the intent to hurt and divide.

Only OpenAI truly knows where they will take this tool as they further develop and deploy it. It's their duty to ensure that ChatGPT does not spread misinformation and is programmed with factual information that its users may seek to supplement their various needs. To be of best help, the tool should be programmed with the most up-to-date and factual information, with as much limit to providing opinions on controversial topics.. i.e. politics

The hope from the public is that this tool can be a supplement to what has been the current norm and not a replacement of people, skills and key jobs.