What is ChatGPT?
Chat GPT is a natural language processing tool driven by AI technology that allows you to have human-like conversations and much more with the chatbot. The language model can answer questions and assist you with tasks, such as composing emails, essays, and code.
Also: How to use GooGPT: What you need to know now
It’s currently open to use by the public for free because Chat GPT is in its research and feedback-collection phase. A paid subscription version called ChatGPT Plus launched at the beginning of February.
Who made ChatGPT?
ChatGPT was created by OpenAI, an AI and research company. The company launched Chat GPT on November 30, 2022.
OpenAI is also responsible for creating DALL-E 2, a popular AI art generator, and Whisper, an automatic speech recognition system.
How big a deal is Chat GPT?
It’s a big deal — think internet-level disruption.
“ChatGPT is scary good. We are not far from dangerously strong AI,” said Elon Musk, who was one of the founders of OpenAI before leaving. Sam Altman, OpenAI’s chief, said on Twitter that Chat GPT had more than one million users in the first five days after it launched.
According to analysis by Swiss bank UBS, ChatGPT is the fastest-growing app of all time. The analysis estimates that ChatGPT had 100 million active users in January, only two months after its launch. For comparison, it took nine months for TikTok to reach 100 million users.
How can you access Chat GPT?
You can access Chat GPT simply by visiting chat.openai.com and creating an OpenAI account.
You can also still use the old URL for the chatbot, which is chat.openai.com/chat. OpenAI simplified the original URL for user convenience.
Once you sign in, you can start chatting away with Chat GPT. Get your conversation started by asking a question. Because ChatGPT is still in its research stage, it is free to use and you can ask as many questions as you’d like.
For step-by-step instructions, check out ZDNET’s guide on how to start using Chat GPT.
As of May 18, you can also access Chat GPT via an app on your iPhone.
How much does ChatGPT cost?
ChatGPT is free to use, regardless of what you use it for, including writing, coding, and much more.
There is a subscription option that users can take advantage of that costs $20/month. The paid subscription model guarantees users extra perks, such as general access even at capacity, faster response times, and access to the internet through plugins.
However, the free version is still a solid option as it has mostly the same technical abilities, with the exception of access to the latest version of the large language model (LLM), known as GPT-4, and the internet, which the subscription model guarantees.
I tried using ChatGPT and it says it’s at capacity. What does that mean?
Chat GPT is still free to use. Because of the stir its advanced capabilities have created, many people are flocking to use it. The website operates using a server, and when too many people hop onto the server, it overloads and can’t process your request.
This popularity doesn’t mean you won’t ever be able to access it. It just means you should try visiting the site at a later time when fewer people are trying to access the server. You can also keep the tab open and just refresh it periodically.
If you want to skip the wait and have reliable access, there is an option for you. OpenAI’s ChatGPT pro plan, known as ChatGPT Plus, allows users to have general access even during peak times, experience faster response times, and have priority access to new features and improvements, including OpenAI’s most advanced LLM, GPT-4. The premium services cost $20 per month.
You can also try using Bing’s AI chatbot, Bing Chat. This chatbot is free to use, runs on GPT-4, does not have wait times, and has access to the internet.
How are people using ChatGPT?
The model has many functions in addition to answering simple questions. Chat GPT can compose essays, describe art in great detail, create AI art prompts, have philosophical conversations, and even code for you.
My personal favorite use is asking the chatbot for help creating basic lists for chores such as packing and grocery shopping, and to-do lists to make my daily life more productive. The possibilities are endless.
ZDNET has published many Chat GPT how-to guides. Here are some of the most popular.
- How to use Chat GPT to:
- Write an essay
- Create an app
- Write code
- Build your resume
- Write Excel formulas
- Summarize content
- Write a cover letter
- Start an Etsy business
How does ChatGPT work?
Chat GPT runs on a language model architecture created by OpenAI called the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT). The specific GPT used by Chat GPT is fine-tuned from a model in the GPT-3.5 series, according to OpenAI.
However, with a subscription to Chat GPT Plus, you can access ChatGPT with Chat GPT-4, OpenAI’s most advanced model.
Generative AI models of this type are trained on vast amounts of information from the internet, including websites, books, news articles, and more.
The language model was fine-tuned using supervised learning as well as reinforcement learning. The use of Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF) is what makes ChatGPT especially unique. Through RLHF, human AI trainers provided the model with conversations in which they played both parts, the user and AI assistants, according to OpenAI.
What is the difference between ChatGPT and a search engine?
ChatGPT is a language model created to hold a conversation with the end user. A search engine indexes web pages on the internet to help the user find the information they asked for. The free version of Chat GPT does not have the ability to search the internet for information. It uses the information it learned from training data to generate a response, which leaves room for error.
Another major difference is that Chat GPT only has access to information up to 2021, whereas a regular search engine like Google has access to the latest information. So, if you ask the free version of ChatGPT who won the World Cup in 2022, it wouldn’t be able to give you a response, but Google would.
If you are a ChatGPT Plus subscriber, you have access to Bing’s integration into Chat GPT, which gives the chatbot access to the internet. Since it has the ability to index the web, the major difference between ChatGPT Plus and a search engine is the chatbot’s ability to understand natural language prompts and provide conversational answers.
What are ChatGPT’s limitations?
Despite looking very impressive, Chat GPT still has limitations. Such limitations include the inability to answer questions that are worded in a specific way, as it requires rewording to understand the input question. A bigger limitation is a lack of quality in the responses it delivers — which can sometimes be plausible-sounding but make no practical sense or can be excessively verbose.
Instead of asking for clarification on ambiguous questions, the model just guesses what your question means, which can lead to unintended responses to questions. This limitation has already led developer question-and-answer site StackOverflow to at least temporarily ban Chat GPT-generated responses to questions.
“The primary problem is that while the answers that Chat GPT produces have a high rate of being incorrect, they typically look like they might be good and the answers are very easy to produce,” say Stack Overflow moderators in a post. Critics argue that these tools are just very good at putting words into an order that makes sense from a statistical point of view, but they cannot understand the meaning or know whether the statements it makes are correct.
Another major limitation is that ChatGPT’s data is limited up to 2021. The chatbot does not have an awareness of events or news that have occurred since then. Lastly, ChatGPT does not provide sources for its responses.
These two problems, however, were addressed through Chat GPT’s integration into Bing as its default search engine. A Bing plugin gives Chat GPT the ability to index the internet and provide citations. The Bing plugin is limited to Chat GPT Plus subscribers at the moment but will be free for everyone to use in the future.
Can I chat with ChatGPT?
Although some people are using ChatGPT for some elaborate functions, such as writing code or even malware, you can use ChatGPT for more mundane activities, such as having a friendly conversation.
Some conversation starters could be as simple as, “I am hungry, what food should I get?” or as elaborate as, “What do you think happens in the afterlife?” Either way, Chat GPT is sure to have an answer for you.
Can I chat with GPT-3?
The free version of ChatGPT runs on a model fine-tuned from the 3.5 series, an improved model from the original GPT-3. So if you want to chat with a model in the GPT-3 series, all you have to do is chat with ChatGPT’s free version.
If you want to use the more advanced LLM in the GPT series, GPT-4, you can become a ChatGPT Plus subscriber or use Bing Chat for free.
Why are some people worried about ChatGPT?
People are expressing concerns about AI chatbots replacing or atrophying human intelligence. For example, the chatbot can write an article on any topic efficiently (though not necessarily accurately) within seconds, potentially eliminating the need for a human writer.
The chatbot can also write an entire full essay within seconds, making it easier for students to cheat or avoid learning how to write properly. This has led to some school districts blocking access to it.
Another concern with the AI chatbot is the possible spread of misinformation. Since the bot is not connected to the internet, it could make mistakes in what information it shares.
The bot itself says: “My responses are not intended to be taken as fact, and I always encourage people to verify any information they receive from me or any other source.” OpenAI also notes that ChatGPT sometimes writes “plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers.”
Is there a tool that can detect ChatGPT text?
With concerns about students using Chat GPT to cheat, the need for a ChatGPT text detector is becoming more evident.
OpenAI, the AI research company behind ChatGPT, released an imperfect, free tool to target this problem. OpenAI’s “classifier” tool can only correctly identify 26% of AI-written text with a “likely AI-written” designation. Furthermore, it provides false positives 9% of the time, incorrectly identifying human-written work as AI-produced work.
Other AI detectors also exist on the market, including GPT-2 Output Detector, Writer AI Content Detector, and Content at Scale AI Content Detection. ZDNET put these tools to the test, and the results were underwhelming. All three of the tools were found to be unreliable sources for spotting AI, repeatedly giving false negatives. Here are ZDNET’s full test results.
Although tools aren’t sufficient to detect Chat GPT-generated writing, a study shows that humans might be able to detect AI-written text by looking for politeness. The study’s results indicate that ChatGPT’s writing style is extremely polite. And unlike humans, it cannot produce responses that include metaphors, irony, or sarcasm.
Is ChatGPT a good or bad thing?
Chat GPT is an advanced chatbot that has the potential to both make people’s lives easier and assist with everyday tedious tasks, such as writing emails or navigating the web for answers. However, certain technical details have to be figured out before it’s widely used to prevent negative outcomes, such as the spread of misinformation. In general, AI and machine learning (ML) models rely on lots of training and fine-tuning to reach a level of ideal performance.
So, is AI taking over the world? Not yet, perhaps, but OpenAI’s Altman certainly thinks that human-style intelligence in AI is now not that far off. Responding to Musk’s comment about dangerously strong AI, Altman tweeted: “I agree on being close to dangerously strong AI in the sense of an AI that poses e.g. a huge cybersecurity risk. and i think we could get to real AGI in the next decade, so we have to take the risk of that extremely seriously too.”
He also noted: “interesting watching people start to debate whether powerful AI systems should behave in the way users want or their creators intend. the question of whose values we align these systems to will be one of the most important debates society ever has.”
What is GPT-4?
GPT-4 is the newest version of OpenAI’s language model system, and it is much more advanced than its predecessor GPT-3.5, which Chat GPT runs on.
GPT-4 is a multimodal model that accepts both text and images as input, and it outputs text. This multimodal nature can be useful for uploading worksheets, graphs, and charts to be analyzed.
Currently, GPT-4’s text-input capabilities are the only ones available to the public. Users can access these functions by subscribing to Chat GPT Plus for $20 per month or by using Bing Chat.
The day that GPT-4 was unveiled by OpenAI, Microsoft shared that its chatbot, Bing Chat, had been running on GPT-4 since its launch. This chatbot is free to use and open to everyone.
GPT-4 has advanced intellectual capabilities that allow it to outperform GPT-3.5 in a series of simulated benchmark exams. It has also reduced the number of hallucinations produced by the chatbot.
Are there alternatives to ChatGPT worth considering?
Although Chat GPT is the chatbot getting all the buzz right now, there are other options that are just as good — and they might even be better suited to your needs.
Despite Chat GPT’s extensive abilities, there are some major downsides to the AI chatbot, including that the free version is often at capacity. If you want to give the world of AI chatbots and writers a try, there are plenty of other options to consider, including Bing Chat, YouChat, Jasper, and Chatsonic.
Is ChatGPT smart enough to pass benchmark exams?
Yes, ChatGPT is capable of passing a series of benchmark exams. A professor at Wharton, the University of Pennsylvania’s business school, used Chat GPT to take an MBA exam, and the results were quite impressive.
ChatGPT not only passed the exam but also scored between a B- and a B. The professor, Christian Terwiesch, was impressed at its basic operations management, process analysis questions, and explanations.
OpenAI also tested the chatbot’s ability to pass benchmark exams. Although ChatGPT could pass many of these benchmark exams, its scores were usually in the lower percentile. However, with the use of GPT-4, ChatGPT can score much higher.
For example, ChatGPT in the 3.5 series scored in the lower 10th percentile of a simulated Bar Exam, while GPT-4 scored in the top 10th percentile. More examples from OpenAI are available here.
Can ChatGPT be used for job application assistance?
Yes, ChatGPT can be used for job application assistance. The chatbot can help you create a resume, write a cover letter, and even provide tips on interviewing.
You can provide the necessary information, such as your education, work experience, and skills, and ChatGPT will generate a resume for you based on that information. It’s important to review and edit the generated content to ensure accuracy and suitability.
What does ChatGPT have to do with plugins?
Plugins are add-on tools that enhance the capabilities of ChatGPT. ChatGPT Plus subscribers have access to these plugins, which allow the chatbot to perform a wider range of tasks and provide more comprehensive answers.
For example, the ChatGPT Plus subscription includes access to the Internet Search plugin, which allows the chatbot to browse the web and provide information from online sources. Other plugins, such as Code, can help generate code snippets, and Translation can assist with translating text into different languages.
Is ChatGPT coming to social media?
OpenAI has plans to explore the integration of ChatGPT into social media platforms, but there is no specific information available about when or how this integration will happen.
In the meantime, OpenAI has released the ChatGPT API, which allows developers to build their own applications and interfaces using ChatGPT’s capabilities.
Microsoft has partnered with OpenAI to develop and enhance ChatGPT. The partnership involves utilizing Microsoft Azure, a cloud computing service, to scale up the deployment of ChatGPT and ensure its availability to a wide range of users.
What is Microsoft’s involvement with ChatGPT?
Microsoft is also involved in the integration of Bing Chat with ChatGPT, providing users with access to the internet for information retrieval. Additionally, Microsoft has been using ChatGPT internally for various tasks and has been exploring its potential applications.
What does Bing Chat have to do with ChatGPT?
Bing Chat is a chatbot developed by Microsoft that utilizes the capabilities of ChatGPT. It is designed to provide users with conversational AI interactions and access to the internet for information retrieval.
By integrating ChatGPT with Bing, Microsoft has enhanced Bing Chat’s functionality, enabling it to provide more comprehensive answers to user queries. The integration allows Bing Chat to leverage the power of ChatGPT’s language model and the information available on the internet.
How does Bing Chat compare to ChatGPT?
Bing Chat and ChatGPT have similarities in terms of their conversational AI capabilities and the ability to provide answers to user queries. However, there are some differences between the two chatbots.
Bing Chat, unlike ChatGPT, has access to the internet, allowing it to retrieve information from online sources and provide more up-to-date answers. Bing Chat also offers integration with Microsoft Teams, making it suitable for team collaboration and communication.
On the other hand, ChatGPT is available for free and offers a subscription plan, ChatGPT Plus, for additional benefits. ChatGPT Plus provides general access even during peak times, faster response times, and access to new features and improvements.
What is Google Bard and how does it relate to ChatGPT?
Google Bard is an AI language model developed by Google that generates poetry in response to user prompts. It uses a similar approach to ChatGPT, employing natural language processing and machine learning techniques to generate creative and poetic responses.
Google Bard and ChatGPT both showcase the advancements in AI language models and their ability to generate human-like text. However, they are developed by different companies (Google and OpenAI, respectively) and have different focuses (poetry generation vs. conversational AI).
Each model has its unique characteristics and applications, but they share the common goal of pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve in natural language processing.