Technology is constantly changing and evolving. That’s nothing new. But the recent release of a program called ChatGPT has created quite the buzz. We’re taking a closer look at what you need to know about ChatGPT and its uses.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a chatbot run by artificial intelligence. It has natural language processing capabilities meaning it understands and responds to input in a conversational manner. Think about it like when you go into a live help chat, but instead of talking to a person, it is a computer.
This AI tool generates responses based on what it was taught by human AI trainers through supervised learning and reinforcement learning. Different conversations were modeled to train the chatbot on how to respond to different phrases. Content was derived from a vast amount of resources on the Internet, but right now is only as current as 2021. The possibilities are virtually endless, though there are some safety protocols in place to prevent it from responding to inappropriate requests.
Users can ask questions, have topics explained, get information summarized, translate information between different languages, have conversations, and more, all while receiving human-like text responses.
Questions to Consider
The extensive capabilities of ChatGPT have also raised a multitude of questions about its use. It is possible to see these issues from multiple perspectives, making it more difficult to come up with a definitive answer. It all depends on your opinion. Here are a few questions to ponder:
Is it ethical to use the information as provided? While it isn’t plagiarism exactly, it isn’t not plagiarism either. The chatbot does not have the capability of producing original thoughts – all of the information comes from sources available online.
That also begs the question of whether it infringes on data privacy and legal rights, as information is not credited to a specific source or person. Is that stealing work from others? Or is it free to use?
Is it accurate? There are limits to the information available, and answers may not always be completely accurate, yet they are stated in a straight-forward manner making them sound believable. Without additional research, how do users know that what they are being told is correct? How much trust should be put into the responses?
Is there room for creativity? ChatGPT delivers information in a concise way. It is fairly cut and dry. Should it be taken at face value, or should users incorporate their own ideas as well? Should this AI tool be used as a starting point for brainstorming and topic generation which users can then expand upon using their own knowledge, experience, and research?
Should ChatGPT be banned in schools? Does giving students access to this type of technology help or hinder their learning? Will they use it to stimulate their own critical thinking and research or as a short-cut to getting to the answer?
On one hand, the chatbot can help explain concepts spanning a wide range of topics, summarizing information into a more easily digestible and understandable snippet. On the other hand, it can be used generate essays and solve math problems. Is there a way to find a balance and manage how the program is used or should it be banned?
Building Strong Academic Skills
Students today have never known a world without technology and the Internet. But that doesn’t mean that foundational skills have gone by the wayside. Crafting Scholars works with students to develop effective organizational and note taking skills, executive functioning, study habits, test taking strategies, research and writing capabilities, and more. Things they can’t necessarily rely on a computer for. Learn more about how Crafting Scholars supports student success by contacting us today!