Beginner’s Guide to ChatGPT: Must-Know Answers for First-Time Users
What is ChatGPT?
On Nov 30, 2022, OpenAI launched ChatGPT - a chatbot that can have human-like conversations in text, based on the input you provide.
It can engage in conversations, answer questions, provide explanations, teach subjects at various levels, and even help with writing tasks—all by processing the text you give it and responding in a way that mimics human communication. Pretty much like a sidekick ready to help anytime.
The release of ChatGPT is a major moment for technology , specifically artificial intelligence. It has democratized access to powerful language skills, making it available to everyone with the internet.
Since its release, it has taken the world by storm. People from all kinds of backgrounds are falling over themselves to see what this new-fangled toy of technology could do.
How does ChatGPT work?
ChatGPT is a chatbot based on a type of AI called a “Large Language Model” or an LLM.
The model has ingested and been trained on extremely large amounts of text from various languages, books, newspapers, blogs, Wikipedia, and other sources. It works by using patterns it learned from reading these texts from the internet.
Based on the frequency, closeness and and to some (limited) extent the context - of words, sentences, that it has ingested - it can generate legible output - that takes the form of the answer to your question.
For example:
If you ask a question like “What is the capital of India” it generates the relevant text “Capital of India is New Delhi”.
When you ask “What is Quantum physics” It generates something like “Quantum physics is a branch of science that explores the behavior of the tiniest particles in the universe, like atoms and subatomic particles (such as electrons and photons). Unlike classical physics, which deals with the predictable motions of larger objects (like planets or balls), quantum physics reveals that on a very small scale, particles behave in strange and often unpredictable ways.”
The Technology Behind ChatGPT - why does it have GPT in the name?
At the heart of ChatGPT is something called “GPT” which stands for “Generative Pre-trained Transformer”. This sounds fancy but let's break it down:
Generative: This means the model can generate text. It doesn't just pull pre-written sentences from a database; it creates new sentences based on the patterns it has learned.
Pre-trained: Before ChatGPT can chat with you, it goes through a process of “training”. During training the model is fed a massive amount of text from the internet and learns how words and sentences are used. This training allows it to predict and generate text that makes sense in different contexts.
Transformer: This refers to the architecture or design of the model. Transformers are a type of neural network - a computational system inspired by how the human brain works. They're particularly good at processing sequences of data, like sentences, which is why they're so good for language tasks.
How can I use ChatGPT?
You can start using ChatGPT at https://chat.openai.com/chat.
The list of things you can do with ChatGPT is huge, and we will cover it in a future post. However, these are some of the way people are using it today:
Creative: Writers and hobbyists find that ChatGPT can generate ideas and even write whole stories. Some users tried co-writing projects with ChatGPT to get past writer's block and bring new ideas into their work.
Customer Service: Businesses are looking into how ChatGPT could be used in customer service. It can improve efficiency and customer satisfaction especially during peak times when human agents are overwhelmed.
Education: Students and teachers are using ChatGPT as a learning tool. It can explain complex concepts, give study tips and even help with language learning by conversing in different languages.
Entertainment: Many just enjoyed chatting with the AI for fun. ChatGPT could tell jokes, play word games and have casual conversations. Some people even found comfort in talking to the AI, treating it as a non-judgmental listener.
Programming: ChatGPT can help debug code, or even write completely new programs.
What are the problems with ChatGPT ?
Inaccurate Information: ChatGPT sometimes generated incorrect or misleading text, raising concerns about its reliability for some high-accuracy tasks (e.g. medical, legal, scientific) .
Fact "Hallucination": The model sometimes makes up details that sound plausible. But are NOT based on real-world data, emphasizing the need for human oversight.
Ethical Concerns: there is a potential of misuse of ChatGPT to spread misinformation, or unethical outputs.
