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Have you ever wondered if you could learn a new language with the help of ChatGPT?

As ChatGPT is a natural language processing model, I wondered if it would be possible to converse with ChatGPT in a new language and perhaps prompt it to recognize mistakes.

Some studies have already shown promising results for the utilization of ChatGPT as a second language learning tool (Kim et al., 2023).

My goal for next year is to learn Spanish. I thus decided to test ChatGPT to see if it could be a feasible learning tool, for example for grammar checking or simply written conversation.

The first step to transform ChatGPT into a language-learning tool is to input the following prompt:

ChatGPT will then ask which language you would like to learn and will prompt you to choose a topic you would like to learn about. The fact that ChatGPT is available in more than 50 languages surely helps in switching from your native language to the second one you would like to learn (or in my case from second to third language).

For example, I tried simulating a situation where I would need to order at a restaurant.

In this example, ChatGPT also acts as a narrator for the situation, as it describes what would happen in the situation (See the prompt: “After you sit at your table. Once sat, I would give you the menu. What would you like to order from the menu”).  

ChatGPT was also helpful in the instance where I didn’t know what a specific sentence meant:

The suggestions on how to continue the conversation allow you to carry on with the exercise.

One evident issue I personally found with this learning method is that ChatGPT won’t correct your mistakes unless specifically prompted to.

As proven by this experiment, ChatGPT can be a helpful tool in learning a new language, as it allows for smooth conversation and easy translation (compared to, for example, looking up the translation on Google).

Due to the fact that I am not a complete beginner in Spanish, I believe it would also be worth exploring whether this tool is suitable for absolute beginners.

Of course, one of the obvious limits of ChatGPT is that it would not be possible to practice speaking conversation and pronunciation.

Kim, S., Shim, J., & Shim, J. (2023). A Study on the Utilization of OpenAI ChatGPT as a Second Language Learning Tool. Journal of Multimedia Information System, 10(1), 79-88.

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As a music fan, I’ve always wondered if AI would eventually replace musicians by replicating their creative process. While the AI music generation tools are still in their early stages of development, there are a few examples which appear to be promising. Deruty et al. (2022) for example, argue that while still in its infancy, audio AI-based tools are better suited than traditional MIDI-based tools.

WavTool is a tool to aid musical production. A key feature of this tool is the “Conductor” product, an AI which helps beginner producers create music and tweak sounds without having to touch a conventional interface. Conductor uses a ChatBot interface (using ChatGPT-4) which presents the user with the option to create music by giving prompts to the AI. As a user, one could for example have a general idea for a beat and the AI will elaborate on this idea and propose ways to enrich it. However, Conductor does not only include a ChatBot but also proposes, within the standard interface, sample beats or melodies to kickstart the track.

As a “beginner” in musical production, I personally tested WavTool to see if I could easily create a simple track. WavTool has a free trial period which allows you to create at most 8 tracks.

One key feature of WavTool is that the AI recommends suitable loops which then help in composing a coherent track, in terms of tempo and melody. In addition, the ChatBot function of WavTool also suggests which instrument should be added starting from a specific beat or may also prompt the user with musical concepts they might not be familiar with.

My overall experience with this tool is positive, as I believe it aids individuals who may not be familiar with musical concepts, and it renders the process of producing music easier especially with unfriendly interfaces which often characterize musical production software.

However, there are some inevitable questions that deserve some attention. Should access to music production be simplified or could it discredit the musical education needed to take up this path? Can AI actually hinder creativity, by suggesting easily available tracks and compatible melodies rather than promote it?

Deruty, E., Grachten, M., Lattner, S., Nistal, J., & Aouameur, C. (2022). On the development and practice of ai technology for contemporary popular music production. Transactions of the International Society for Music Information Retrieval, 5(1).