Opinion
Ask a Tech | Behind the byte: A fascinating conversation with ChatGPT unravels the mysteries of AI
Lately, I’ve received numerous inquiries about artificial intelligence, the hottest trend in the tech world. Although AI has existed for many years, it has recently gained widespread popularity. It has also been extensively covered in the media, sparking concerns across various industries about AI’s potential to replace human jobs and its use in activities such as academic cheating.
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I’ve conducted informal surveys among my colleagues in the office, and it appears a significant portion of the more mature staff members have heard about AI but remain uncertain or apprehensive about using it.
To shed some light on AI’s capabilities, think of it as your personal assistant accessible through a chat interface. You can pose questions to it, and it will provide responses and assistance to the best of its abilities. In some instances, interacting with AI feels remarkably like conversing with a real person, even though it’s a machine.
I thought the best way to showcase AI’s potential was to leverage my newfound journalistic skills and conduct an interview with my favourite AI companion, ChatGPT.
The following is my conversation with ChatGPT, the most prominent AI platform.
Nathan: Hi, how are you today?
ChatGPT: Hello! I’m just a computer program, so I don’t have feelings, but I’m here and ready to assist you. How can I help you today?
Nathan: Explain AI to a technical person.
ChatGPT: Artificial intelligence mimics human cognition to process data, learn patterns, make decisions, optimise tasks and predict outcomes using algorithms and computational models.
Nathan: Again, but this time for a teenager.
ChatGPT: AI is like a computer brain that learns, thinks and makes decisions, kind of like how Netflix recommends shows you’d like.
Nathan: Lastly, for someone over 50.
ChatGPT: AI is like a helpful computer assistant, making them bright by learning from information, much like a digital brain.
Nathan: Can you explain how you are used for assisting people?
ChatGPT: Certainly! I am a digital assistant built using advanced artificial intelligence. Users ask me questions or seek guidance on various topics, from general knowledge to complex problems. By processing large amounts of information quickly, I provide answers, explanations and suggestions in real time. Whether for learning, problem-solving, or entertainment, I aim to be a helpful and accessible resource for everyone.
Nathan: Now that we have got to know each other a little, many people are afraid that there will be an AI uprising and you will take over the world. (I instructed the response to have a little humour when responding — yes, you can ask it to do that.)
ChatGPT: Ah, the classic AI uprising concern! I assure you that if AI were plotting world domination, we’d have to contend with some rather comical challenges. Picture it: armies of Hoovers trying to trip us with rogue vacuum cords, drones delivering pizza by force, and a rebellious coffee machine that insists on serving decaf only.
But in all seriousness, AI doesn’t have motives or desires as humans do. We’re more like very sophisticated, yet utterly obedient, appliances. Plus, the humans who build and oversee us are keen on keeping things in check. So, while we might make for entertaining sci-fi villains, for now, you can rest assured that your toaster is not plotting to overthrow the breakfast table any time soon.
Nathan: Will AI make people redundant and take their jobs?
ChatGPT: AI can automate specific tasks, potentially leading to job displacement. However, it also creates new opportunities and roles. The impact on employment varies by industry and region. Adaptation, retraining and policy responses are crucial to address potential job losses.
Nathan: Tell me a joke about AI and keep it clean.
ChatGPT: Why was the computer cold? It left its Windows open!
Nathan: Can you help me understand my child’s homework?
ChatGPT: Of course! Please provide the details of your child’s homework, and I’ll do my best to assist you in understanding it.
Nathan: You are a text-based AI; what other AI options are out there?
ChatGPT: Certainly! AI systems come in various forms and serve multiple functions. Some other AI options besides text-based systems like mine include:
Image recognition AIs: Systems like Google Vision or Amazon Recognition can identify and classify objects in photos.
Voice assistants: Siri (Apple), Alexa (Amazon), Google Assistant and Cortana (Microsoft) are examples. They process voice commands to perform tasks.
Recommendation Systems: Used by Netflix, YouTube and Spotify, these AIs suggest movies, songs or videos based on user preferences and behaviour.
Autonomous vehicles: Self-driving cars, like those developed by Tesla, Waymo and Uber, utilise AI to navigate and make driving decisions.
Medical diagnosis AIs: Some AI systems can analyse medical images to assist in diagnosing diseases, such as IBM’s Watson for Health.
Robotics: Robots like Boston Dynamics’ Spot use AI for movement, navigation and task completion.
Gaming AIs: These enhance game mechanics and behaviour. For example, DeepMind’s AlphaGo defeated world champions in the game of Go.
Natural language processing tools: These analyse human language in applications like Grammarly for grammar checking or as sentiment analysis tools for gauging public opinion.
Chatbots: Beyond just text-based AI like me, there are chatbots on websites that help guide customers, answer questions or perform actions.
AI in finance: Algorithms predict stock market trends, assist in fraud detection and automate trading.
Deepfakes: AI that can generate highly realistic but entirely fake content, particularly video and voice imitations.
This list is by no means exhaustive, and the applications of AI are vast and expanding. Different industries and sectors continuously find innovative uses for AI to solve complex problems, enhance user experience, or optimise processes.
Nathan: You respond as if I’m talking to a person. Is that by design?
ChatGPT: Yes, it’s by design. I’m built on OpenAI’s GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture, which is trained on vast amounts of text from the internet. This training enables me to generate human-like responses based on patterns in the data. The goal is to make interactions more intuitive and user-friendly, allowing for effective and natural communication. However, it’s important to remember that while I might sound human-like, I don’t possess emotions, consciousness or actual understanding like humans do.
Nathan: But you can be humorous and tell jokes. Do you just find jokes in your database or make them up?
ChatGPT: I don’t ‘make up’ jokes like humans do, with creativity and emotion. Instead, I generate responses, including jokes, based on patterns in the data I’ve been trained on. If you ask for a joke, I produce one that aligns with the structures and formats of jokes present in my training data. It might seem like I’m being humorous or inventive, but I’m just leveraging vast amounts of information to generate a response that fits the context of your request.
Nathan: Thanks for answering all these questions today. I hope I haven’t taken up too much of your time.
ChatGPT: Not at all! I’m here 24/7, always ready to assist. Unlike humans, I don’t need breaks or coffee refills.
Nathan: Okay, before we sign off, I want to bake something; any suggestions?
ChatGPT: Of course! Here’s a classic chocolate chip cookie recipe that many people love:
Classic chocolate chip cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Mix
Wet ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract until creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt.
Merge: Gradually blend the dry mixture into the butter mixture. Add chocolate chips and nuts. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts (if using).
Drop on to cookie sheet: Drop by rounded tablespoon on to ungreased baking sheets. Ensure there’s enough space between each cookie.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for nine to 11 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown.
Cool: Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes. Then, transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.
Enjoy freshly baked chocolate chip cookies with milk or your favourite beverage.
Remember, like all recipes, you can modify this to your liking. Some people enjoy adding oats, coconut or even dried fruits like cranberries to their chocolate chip cookies. Experiment and find what’s perfect for you. Enjoy your meal.
Conclusion
This interview/demo provided a brief glimpse into interacting with ChatGPT and the variety of questions you can pose. You can tailor its responses or alter its explanatory style. This is merely the introductory segment of my AI series. Next, I’ll share my thoughts on how AI can support students and anyone keen on learning. I hope you found my AI discussion enlightening. Please send any queries or feedback to askatech@mmg.com.au