What is ChatGPT? 11 things you should know about the artificial intelligence program

Chat what?

No, we're not talking about the form of speaking to each other that requires sounds to pass back and forth (remember that?). And if you're a member of generation (pick one), where tapping on a screen is your definition of chatting, we're not talking about that either.

The topic of interest — or concern, depending on who you are or what you're using it for — is the artificial intelligence program ChatGPT.

So what is it and why is there such a kerfuffle over it?

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Here's what you should know about a topic that's evolving, literally, as we "speak."

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer. No wonder we're not chatting; that's a mouthful. What that means is that a company named OpenAI created an artificial intelligence computer program that can answer questions. Not only can it write answers back to you, but it can also write stuff — think homework assignments — for you. See what makes educators worried?

OpenAI describes ChatGPT as a model that "interacts in a conversational way.

"The dialogue format makes it possible for ChatGPT to answer followup questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises and reject inappropriate requests." This sound like a teenager to anyone, except for the mistakes part?

How does ChatGPT describe itself?

“ChatGPT is a computer program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to understand and respond to natural language text, just like a human would. It can answer questions, write sentences, and even have a conversation with you. It's like having your own personal robot that can understand and talk to you!”

Is ChatGPT free to use?

Yes, after you register on OpenAI's website.

However, OpenAi also offers a premium version, ChatGPT Plus, that costs $20 a month and provides faster response speed, availability even during times of high demand, and priority access to new features. To upgrade, log into ChatGPT wth your free account and look for "Upgrade to Plus" in the menu.

How long has ChatGPT been around?

ChatGPT launched as a prototype to the public on Nov. 30, 2022. Within five days, more than a million people were using it. So yes, it's still just a "baby."

Why is ChatGPT so popular?

ChatGPT's popularity with the general public can be attributed to its ease of use, versatility, intelligence and ability to engage in human-like conversations, according to C#Corner.

So what can ChatGPT be used for?

Aside from being amazed as you type in random questions and see how it responds, ChatGPT's future can only be imagined.

“Very quickly, AI will make not only finding information (much easier) but understanding it — reshaping it and making it useful — much faster, ” said Neil Voss, co-founder of augmented-reality startup Anima.

ChatGPT could reinvent everything from online search engines like Google to digital assistants like Alexa and Siri, which are examples of how artificial intelligence is already in our homes helping us and answering our questions. It could also do most of the work when it comes to information writing, content creation, customer service chatbots, research and legal documents.

Other possible uses include health care, “for things like diagnostics, drug discovery, and personalized treatment plans,” and content creation for, “human-like text, audio, creative writing, news articles, video scripts, and more.”

Buzzfeed has said it will partner with ChatGPT to create content, and CNET is under fire for using AI to create informational articles in its Money section without disclosing it was doing so.

Is ChatGPT accurate?

ChatGPT responds to questions after searching for content online that seems to answer your question. And it's all done at lightning speed. Even though it sounds good, it can also be totally wrong. Also at lightning speed.

As ChatGPT itself put it, "It's essential to remember that ChatGPT is an AI program and cannot replace human expertise or independent thinking. It's essential to use ChatGPT as a tool to supplement and enhance one's own learning and research rather than relying on it solely."

It's important to remember that despite being called "artificial intelligence," ChatGPT and similar programs such as Google's Bard and Microsoft's new supercharged Bing do not actually think. They take in information relating to your question and produce predictions of what they determine, based on that information, what the answer should be.

The artificial intelligence program also can't tell the difference — yet — between fact and fiction.

Granted, many humans have the same problem.

Why are people concerned about ChatGPT?

“In the past, AI has been used largely for predictions or categorization. ChatGPT will actually create new articles, news items or blog posts, even school essays, and it’s pretty hard to distinguish between them and real, human-created writing,” said Helen Lee Bouygues, president and founder of the Reboot Foundation.

She’s worried new tech like ChatGPT could spread misinformation or fake news, generate bias, or get used to spread propaganda.

"Take social media. People click, post, and retweet articles and content that they have not read. ChatGPT will make this worse by making it easier for people not to think. Instead, it will be far too easy to have the bot conjure their thoughts and ideas," Bouygues said.

Another complaint about ChatGPT is that doesn't say where it got its answers. There are no links to sources it used to answer your questions. Some have said prompting ChatGPT to provide URL sources for its answers can provide links you can check. Special note: many of the links were found to be invalid and inaccurate.

What about students using ChatGPT for assignments in school?

A recent survey of 1,000 college students in America by Intelligent.com reports nearly 1 in 3 have used ChatGPT on written assignments, even though most think it’s “cheating.”

Another survey, by the Walton Family Foundation and conducted by Impact Research, found 22% of students use the chatbot to help them with coursework or in extracurricular activities "on a weekly basis or more."

Over half of the teachers surveyed reported using ChatGPT at least once since its release. Forty percent of teachers used it "at least once a week."

New York City and Seattle school districts recently banned ChatGPT from their devices and networks, and many colleges are considering similar steps.

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Leaders at APSU and other colleges, and school districts nationwide, are monitoring and discussing what should be done about ChatGPT and other tools. OpenAI told USA TODAY earlier this year it created a tool for teachers to catch students who use it to answer questions on tests or assignments.

Can ChatGPT content be detected?

An OpenAI a spokesperson said the company is working on a tool to help identify text generated by ChatGPT. It’s apparently similar to “an algorithmic ‘watermark,’ embedded into ChatGPT’s writing that can identify its source.”

Others are also working on apps and AI detectors to see whether ChatGPT wrote an article being questioned.

However, the concern is that AI’s ability to mimic humans will move faster than our ability to police it.

Are lawmakers trying to regulate artificial intelligence?

In April, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he wants to see more rules around artificial intelligence.

The senator said the effort is to establish a framework of rules to address concerns about AI's potential risks to the economy, society and national security. He acknowledged the proposed AI policy needs to be flexible enough to adapt as technology advances.

Contributors: Jennifer Jolly, Chris Gadd

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: ChatGPT: What is it, is it free, how do you use the AI program?