What is ChatGPT?

Okay, let’s start with the basics – ChatGPT is a prototype chatbot model created by AI firm, OpenAI. It interacts in a conversational manner (read: very much like a human) and responds to prompts that you, the user, input. It’s currently in its very early stages and is described by OpenAI as a research project, although no-doubt the next step for the business will be to effectively monetise it.

I know what you’re thinking “AI’s something that’s been discussed loads and that is already being used by businesses, why is this different?” You’d be right to be suspicious. We’ve long been familiar with the concept of AI, whether it’s what’s portrayed in sci-fi movies, or hit the headlines like Microsoft’s ‘Tay’ bot back in 2016 which was shut down within mere hours after it turned racist and sexist. For me, the staggering difference with ChatGPT is how… human it all seems. Every task I’ve given it, no matter what level of detail provided, has been written in such a way that I genuinely wouldn’t have been able to tell you that a programme wrote it. That’s equal parts concerning and amazing.

How does it work? What can it do?

You know what? Rather than try and explain this, let’s look at some short examples.

Let’s try a basic one first (I’m MA in purple, the AI is in green).

 

Okay, pretty good. Let’s try something more complex…

 

Impressive – but how does it handle a more creative ask?

 

Alright, let’s see what AI thinks about one of PR’s most talked about topics.

 

Phew, job’s safe for a while. N.B. please don’t take communications advice from ChatGPT.

In all seriousness though, I think we can all agree that these answers are eerily good – and these are only very basic asks. Engineers and developers have been getting ChatGPT to write working code, fix bugs and literally build websites, all from a few short prompts. And don’t get me started on what happens when ChatGPT gets inception-levels deep.

So what does this mean? How will this technology impact me?

The short, cop-out answer is that nobody truly knows. In my mind, this technology has the potential to completely change entire sectors almost overnight. Education is perhaps the most obvious use-case. What happens when students can literally input an essay subject and get ChatGPT to do all the work to a more than passable standard?

Very few industries will be unimpacted by the rise of intelligent AI and I think we’re going to see upheaval like we’ve potentially never seen before as this technology continues to mature. What happens when AI can design houses from scratch better than humans and in mere seconds? What happens when AI can build a website from a few short prompts? What happens when AI can write you a personalised diet and exercise plan, giving you instructions on what food to buy and how to prepare it? (that one it can already do – I tried it)

The more you play around with ChatGPT the more you’ll find opportunities for it to shorten tasks and provide learning situations. It’s basically Jarvis from Iron Man, but accessible to everyone at any time.

Let’s remember, this is only the v1 product, the equivalent of those giant machines from the 1970s that connected to an early version of the internet. The more people use ChatGPT, the more advanced it gets. I’m writing this 6 days after its launch… just think how much progress it’ll have made in a year. The possibilities are literally endless – see for yourself, it’s free.

Communications professionals, much like those in pretty much every other sector, are going to find their roles changing as this technology becomes more advanced. Strategy, relationships and creative thinking are going to become even more important than ever before, while menial tasks can be left to the AI and just given a sense check by a human for any glaring errors.

A final thought

One last experiment with this… after finishing this article I gave ChatGPT the following basic prompt to see how its blog compared to mine. I think you’ll agree the final product, while not perfect, is scarily impressive. A true game-changer.

The AI revolution has arrived… and it’s completely changed the game.

Just a few short years ago, the concept of artificial intelligence (AI) was still largely relegated to the realm of science fiction. But today, AI has become a pervasive presence in our daily lives, transforming industries and providing us with new tools and capabilities that were previously unimaginable.

The AI revolution has arrived in full force, and it’s changing the way we live and work in ways that are both exciting and profound. Here are just a few examples of how AI is transforming our world:

• Improved healthcare: AI is being used to improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, as well as to develop new drugs and therapies. For example, AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data to identify patterns and trends that can help doctors make more accurate diagnoses. AI is also being used to develop personalized treatment plans for patients, based on their unique characteristics and medical histories.
• Enhanced security: AI is being used to improve the security of our homes, businesses, and public spaces. For example, AI-powered surveillance cameras can be trained to recognize suspicious behavior and alert authorities, while AI-powered security systems can be used to detect and prevent cyber attacks.
• Improved transportation: AI is being used to improve the efficiency and safety of our transportation systems. For example, self-driving cars and trucks are being developed and tested, with the goal of reducing accidents and improving the flow of traffic. In the future, we may see AI-powered transportation systems that can coordinate the movements of vehicles in real time, optimizing routes and reducing congestion.
• Enhanced customer service: AI is being used to improve the customer experience in a variety of industries. For example, AI chatbots can be used to answer customer questions, provide product recommendations, and resolve issues quickly and efficiently. In the future, we may see AI-powered virtual assistants that can handle more complex tasks, such as scheduling appointments or making reservations.
• Improved education: AI is being used to improve the way we learn and educate ourselves. For example, AI-powered tutoring systems can provide personalized instruction to students, adapting to their individual needs and learning styles. In the future, we may see AI-powered educational platforms that can provide personalized curricula and support for students of all ages.
• Enhanced entertainment: AI is being used to enhance the entertainment industry, from video games and movies to music and art. For example, AI algorithms can be used to generate new content, such as music or visual art, or to create personalized experiences for users. In the future, we may see AI-powered virtual reality systems that can provide immersive and interactive entertainment experiences.

The AI revolution has brought with it many exciting possibilities, and it’s only just beginning. As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more amazing and transformative applications in the years to come.

But with every new technology, there are also potential drawbacks and challenges to consider. For example, as AI becomes more advanced and capable, it raises concerns about job displacement and the ethical implications of AI decision-making. It’s important that we carefully consider these issues and develop responsible and thoughtful approaches to the use of AI technology.

Overall, the AI revolution has arrived, and it’s changing the way we live and work in exciting and profound ways. From improved healthcare and security to enhanced transportation and entertainment, AI is providing us with new tools and capabilities that were previously unimaginable. As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more amazing and transformative applications in the years to come.