AI has been around for a while, yet the emergence of generative AI, such as ChatGPT, brought a new hype wave of potential applications across both professional and personal areas. I found significant value in leveraging those tools, such as ChatGPT, to discover and learn about new topics or deepen the understanding of existing knowledge. Especially now, with tools having access to real-time information – such as Bing Chat or Perplexity – one can grasp a new topic significantly faster.
To give an example, I have used Bing to explore the nutritional value of Omega-3 fat and its potential implications for personal health. This allowed me to break down complex scientific articles and studies into simple and digestible information – smoothing the learning curve and providing an interactive learning experience. Whereas before, I had to scramble through ad-filled websites, scientific articles with medical lingua unfamiliar to me, or long Wikipedia articles, I now had the ability to grasp complex topics more swiftly. Furthermore, the exploration created avenues to explore other topics that emerged during my question-and-answer conversations with the tool. For instance, I fell into a rabbit while exploring other foods’ effects on health, indicators for longevity, and the best exercises for your fitness.
Notwithstanding, those tools come with shortcomings, and information should be taken with care. While I can obtain a quick overview of a topic and access various sources, I am less aware of the accuracy and validity of the answers themselves. Hence, one still has to verify the information since the sources Bing/ ChatGPT uses might be highly limited or false. However, Bing Chat provided immense value as a general exploration tool to discover and understand new topics. I believe if the generative AI tools receive the right balance between accuracy and creativity, people will gain immense benefits from receiving diverse answers from various sources – however, those tools are merely assistance for research; they cannot replace it entirely. This will remain our responsibility.
Sources:
Alston, E. (2023). Retrieved from https://zapier.com/blog/chatgpt-vs-bing-chat/
Rajkovic, M. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.ottoit.com.au/how-to-use-ai-and-chat-gpt/
I agree with your view on Chat-GPT! It is really powerful, but indeed has some flaws. However, the fact that you mention this here, seems to me as a proof that you actually are aware of the accuracy. But still, it is good to spread that word and make sure others treat the tool with care as well. Besides, interesting use case regarding nutritional values. Chat-GPT can be really valuable in understanding difficult concepts. I think this is also how universities should look at the tool and they should not see it as a threat, where students use it to cheat.