What is ChatGPT and why does it matter? Here's what you need to know
Updated: This AI chatbot's advanced conversational capabilities have generated quite the buzz. We answer your questions.
table of contents
What is ChatGPT?
Who made ChatGPT?
How can you access ChatGPT?
Is there a ChatGPT app?
Is ChatGPT available for free?
I tried using ChatGPT and it says it's at capacity. What does that mean?
What is ChatGPT used for?
How does ChatGPT work?
Is ChatGPT better than Google?
What are ChatGPT's limitations?
Does ChatGPT give wrong answers?
Can ChatGPT refuse to answer my prompts?
Can I chat with ChatGPT?
Why are some people worried about ChatGPT?
Is there a ChatGPT detector?
Is ChatGPT a good or bad thing?
Will my conversations with ChatGPT be used for training?
What is GPT-4?
What are custom instructions?
Are there alternatives to ChatGPT worth considering?
Is ChatGPT smart enough to pass benchmark exams?
Can ChatGPT be used for job application assistance?
What does ChatGPT have to do with plugins?
Is ChatGPT coming to social media?
What is Microsoft's involvement with ChatGPT?
What does Bing Chat have to do with ChatGPT?
How does Bing Chat compare to ChatGPT?
What is Google Bard and how does it relate to ChatGPT?
How does Google Bard compare to ChatGPT?
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT 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 ChatGPT: What you need to know now
It's currently open to use by the public for free. 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 ChatGPT on November 30, 2022.
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OpenAI is also responsible for creating DALL-E 2, a popular AI art generator, and Whisper, an automatic speech recognition system.
How can you access ChatGPT?
You can access ChatGPT simply by visiting chat.openai.com and creating an OpenAI account.
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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 ChatGPT. Get your conversation started by asking a question. 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 ChatGPT.
Also: My 5 favorite AI tools for school: Class is in session, and generative AI can help
You can also access ChatGPT via an app on your iPhone or Android device.
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Is there a ChatGPT app?
Yes, an official ChatGPT app is available for both iPhone and Android users.
Also: 4 ways teachers can use ChatGPT in their classrooms, according to OpenAI
However, when looking on the app store, make sure to download the app that is created by OpenAI because there are a plethora of copycat fake apps listed on the App Store and Play Store that are not ChatGPT-affiliated.
Is ChatGPT available for free?
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, access to GPT-4, faster response times, and access to the internet through plugins.
Also: 4 things Claude AI can do that ChatGPT can't
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?
The website operates using a server, and when too many people hop onto the server, it overloads and can't process your request.
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.
Also: These are my 5 favorite AI tools for work
If you want to skip the wait and have reliable access, there is an option for you. 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.
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.
What is ChatGPT used for?
ChatGPT has many functions in addition to answering simple questions. ChatGPT can compose essays, describe art in great detail, create AI art prompts, have philosophical conversations, and even code for you.
Also: 5 ways to use chatbots to make your life easier
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 that make my daily life more productive. The possibilities are endless.
ZDNET has published many ChatGPT how-to guides. Here are some of the most popular.
How to use ChatGPT 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
Create charts and tables
Write Adruino drivers
How does ChatGPT work?
ChatGPT runs on a language model architecture created by OpenAI called the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT). The specific GPT used by ChatGPT is fine-tuned from a model in the GPT-3.5 series, according to OpenAI.
However, with a subscription to ChatGPT Plus, you can access ChatGPT with GPT-4, Open AI's most advanced model.
Also: Here's a deep dive into how ChatGPT works
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.
Is ChatGPT better than Google?
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. Therefore, one is not better than the other as they suit different purposes.
If you are searching for up-to-date, accurate information, then a search engine is your best bet.
The free version of ChatGPT 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.
Also: ChatGPT or Google: Which gives the best answers?
Another major difference is that ChatGPT 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 ChatGPT, 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.
If you are in search of a platform that can explain complex topics in an easy-to-understand manner, then ChatGPT might be a better alternative.
What are ChatGPT's limitations?
Despite looking very impressive, ChatGPT still has limitations. Users sometimes need to reword questions multiple times for ChatGPT to understand their intent. 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.
Also: How this simple ChatGPT prompt tweak can help refine your AI-generated content
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 led developer question-and-answer site StackOverflow to at least temporarily ban ChatGPT-generated responses to questions.
"The primary problem is that while the answers that ChatGPT 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.
Also: One in four workers fears being considered 'lazy' if they use AI tools
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 has occurred since then. Lastly, ChatGPT does not provide sources for its responses.
These two problems, however, were addressed through ChatGPT's integration into Bing as its default search engine. A Bing plugin gives ChatGPT the ability to index the internet and provide citations. The Bing plugin is limited to ChatGPT Plus subscribers at the moment, but will be free for everyone to use in the future.
Does ChatGPT give wrong answers?
A mentioned above, ChatGPT, like all language models, has limitations and can give nonsensical answers and incorrect information, so it's important to double-check the data it gives you.
Also: ChatGPT answers more than half of software engineering questions incorrectly
OpenAI recommends that users provide feedback on what ChatGPT tells them by using the thumbs-up and thumbs-down buttons to improve the model. Even better, you could become part of the company's Bug Bounty program to earn up to $20,000 by reporting security bugs and safety issues.
The AI chatbot is not connected to the internet and, as a result, doesn't have access to the latest information, which can also lead to incorrect answers.
Can ChatGPT refuse to answer my prompts?
AI systems like ChatGPT can and do reject inappropriate requests. Aside from having limited knowledge, the AI assistant can identify inappropriate submissions to prevent the generation of unsafe content.
Also: 6 things ChatGPT can't do (and another 20 it refuses to do)
These submissions include questions that violate someone's rights, are offensive, are discriminatory, or involve illegal activities. The ChatGPT model can also challenge incorrect premises, answer follow-up questions, and even admit mistakes when you point them out.
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.
Also: Do you like asking ChatGPT questions? You could get paid (a lot) for it
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, ChatGPT is sure to have an answer for you.
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.
Also: Everyone wants responsible AI, but few people are doing anything about it
The chatbot can also write an entire 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.
Also: We're not ready for the impact of generative AI on elections
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 ChatGPT detector?
With concerns about students using ChatGPT to cheat, the need for a ChatGPT text detector is becoming more evident.
In January, OpenAI, the AI research company behind ChatGPT, released a free tool to target this problem. OpenAI's "classifier" tool could only correctly identify 26% of AI-written text with a "likely AI-written" designation. Furthermore, it provided false positives 9% of the time, incorrectly identifying human-written work as AI-produced work.
The tool was performing so poorly that, six months after being released, OpenAI shut down the tool "due to its low rate of accuracy", according to the company. Despite this tool's failure, the company claims to be researching more effective techniques for AI text identification.
Also: ChatGPT dropped a free app for iPhones. Does it live up to the hype?
Other AI detectors also exist on the market, including GPT-2 Output Detector, Writer AI Content Detector, and Content at Scale's AI Content Detection tool. 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 ChatGPT-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?
ChatGPT 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, including 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.
Also: Most workers want to use generative AI to advance their careers but don't know how
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."
Also: How to write better ChatGPT prompts for the best generative AI results
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."
Will my conversations with ChatGPT be used for training?
When familiarizing yourself with how to use ChatGPT, you might wonder if your specific conversations will be used for training and, if so, who can view your chats. Your conversations can be viewed by OpenAI and used as training data to refine its systems unless you have a Plus membership, so I wouldn't enter any personal or private information into the chat window.
Also: 40% of workers will have to reskill in the next three years due to AI, says IBM study
The prompts you enter when you use ChatGPT are also permanently saved to your account unless you delete them. If you turn off your chat history, OpenAI will retain all conversations for 30 days before permanently deleting them to monitor for abuse.
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 ChatGPT 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.
Also: What is GPT-4? Here's everything you need to know
Currently, GPT-4's text-input capabilities are the only ones available to the public. Users can access these functions by subscribing to ChatGPT 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.
Also: GPT-4 is getting significantly dumber over time, according to a study
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.
What are custom instructions?
OpenAI recently announced you can increase the degree of customization for ChatGPT within your account by using custom instructions. This feature will give the AI chatbot context for each conversation, so it can respond according to your preferences, making it perfectly tailored to respond to you.
Also: ChatGPT's Custom Instructions feature is now available for everyone
If you'd like a certain degree of literary proficiency or professionalism in all of ChatGPT's responses to your prompts, you can go to your account and change the custom instructions to reflect this. For example, if you have an eight-year-old at home that you're letting use ChatGPT, you can add custom instructions to make it always respond as if it's talking to an eight-year-old, which will ensure it uses plain, kid-friendly language.
Are there alternatives to ChatGPT worth considering?
Although ChatGPT is the chatbot getting the most buzz right now, there are other options that are just as good -- and they might even be better suited to your needs.
Also: The best AI chatbots: ChatGPT and other fun alternatives to try
Despite ChatGPT's extensive abilities, there are some major downsides to the AI chatbot. 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 ChatGPT to take an MBA exam and the results were quite impressive.
Also: ChatGPT took an MBA exam. Here's how it did
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.
Also: What is a 'AI drift' and why is it making ChatGPT dumber?
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 seen in the chart below.
Can ChatGPT be used for job application assistance?
Yes, ChatGPT is a great resource to help with job applications. Undertaking a job search can be tedious and difficult, and ChatGPT can help you lighten the load. ChatGPT can build your resume and write a cover letter.
Also: How to use ChatGPT to write an essay
If your application has any written supplements in addition to your cover letter, you can use ChatGPT to help you write those essays or personal statements.
What does ChatGPT have to do with plugins?
Plugins allow ChatGPT to connect to third-party applications, including access to real-time information on the web.
The plugins expand ChatGPT's abilities, allowing it to assist with many more activities, such as planning a trip or finding a place to eat.
Also: The 10 best ChatGPT plugins (and how to make the most of them)
There are over 70-plus third-party plugins, including Expedia, Zillow, Kayak, Instacart, OpenTable, Klarna, Fiscal Note, and more. The use of plugins is currently limited to ChatGPT Plus subscribers.
OpenAI disclosed that it chose to go the plugin route to connect ChatGPT to the internet because it was the most secure option to avoid hallucinations, and it curtails risks involved with connecting a language model to an external tool like the internet.
Is ChatGPT coming to social media?
ChatGPT's first appearance in the social media space is its collaboration with Snapchat. On February 7, Snapchat unveiled an integration of ChatGPT that will allow Snapchat+ subscribers to chat with the bot within its app.
Also: TikTok's new Script Generator tool uses AI to write ad scripts for you in seconds
The feature, called My AI, will include some ChatGPT limitations, including the refusal to provide responses about politics, violence, swearing, and even academic essay writing, according to The Verge.
Also: Do you use Snapchat's AI chatbot? Here's the data it's pulling from you
TikTok is also testing an in-app AI chatbot that would enable users to learn more about the videos on their FYP, and lead them to more relevant content in TikTok.
What is Microsoft's involvement with ChatGPT?
Microsoft was an early investor in OpenAI, the AI research company behind ChatGPT, long before ChatGPT was released to the public. Microsoft's first involvement with OpenAI was in 2019 when Microsoft invested $1 billion, and then $2 billion in the years after. In January 2023, Microsoft extended its partnership with OpenAI through a multi-year, multi-billion dollar investment.
Also: ChatGPT vs. Bing Chat: Which AI chatbot should you use?
Neither company disclosed the investment value, but sources revealed it will total $10 billion over multiple years, according to Bloomberg. In return, Microsoft's Azure service will be OpenAI's exclusive cloud-computing provider, powering all OpenAI workloads across research, products, and API services.
Microsoft has also used its partnership with OpenAI to revamp its own Bing search engine and improve its browser.
On February 7, Microsoft unveiled a new Bing search engine that runs on a next-generation OpenAI LLM, GPT-4, customized specifically for search. Bing Chat has been a success, helping Bing to exceed 100 million daily active users.
Also: Bing Chat's enterprise solution is here. This is what it can offer your business
The latest partnership development was announced at Microsoft Build, where Microsoft said that Bing would become ChatGPT's default search engine. This integration will grant ChatGPT access to the web and the ability to provide citations.
What does Bing Chat have to do with ChatGPT?
In early February, Microsoft unveiled a new version of Bing -- and its standout feature is its integration with ChatGPT. When it was announced, Microsoft shared that Bing Chat was powered by a next-generation version of OpenAI's large language model, making it "more powerful than ChatGPT".
Also: 7 ways you didn't know you can use Bing Chat and other AI chatbots
Five weeks after launch, Microsoft revealed that, since its launch, Bing Chat had been running on GPT-4, the most advanced Open AI model, before the model even launched.
On May 22, Microsoft announced that it is bringing Bing to ChatGPT as the chatbot's default search experience. This integration will fix two major problems with ChatGPT -- access to current events and the ability to provide citations.
How does Bing Chat compare to ChatGPT?
Bing Chat uses OpenAI's most advanced LLM, GPT-4, and as a result is more efficient and capable than the standard, free version of ChatGPT.
Another advantage that Bing Chat has over ChatGPT is access to the internet. Web access gives Bing Chat knowledge on current information, while the free version of ChatGPT is limited to knowledge before 2021.
Also: Adobe Firefly, now out of beta, boasts fix for DALL-E's drawbacks
Bing Chat also sources back to the sites it sourced its information from using footnotes, whereas the free version of ChatGPT does not.
For a full dive into the differences, and a consideration of which AI chatbot is better for you, check out: ChatGPT vs. Bing Chat: Which AI chatbot should you use?
What is Google Bard and how does it relate to ChatGPT?
Bard is Google's AI chat service, a rival to ChatGPT. On February 6, Google introduced its experimental AI chat service. Over a month after the announcement, Google began rolling out access to Bard via a waitlist.
Also: What is Google Bard? Here's everything you need to know
Bard uses a lightweight version of Google's Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA) and draws on all the information from the web to respond -- a stark contrast from ChatGPT, which does not have internet access.
Google's chat service had a rough launch, with a demo of Bard delivering inaccurate information about the James Webb Space Telescope.
Also: Google Bard is stepping up its AI game with these new features
Google told ZDNET reporter Stephanie Condon in a statement: "This highlights the importance of a rigorous testing process, something that we're kicking off this week with our Trusted Tester program."
After Google began rolling out the chatbot, ZDNET had the opportunity to test the chatbot and the results were surprising in a bad way.
How does Google Bard compare to ChatGPT?
ChatGPT's advanced capabilities blow Google Bard's out of the water. Even though Google Bard has access to the internet and ChatGPT's free version does not, it fails to produce answers much more often than ChatGPT.
Also: Bard vs. ChatGPT: Can Bard help you code?
For example, Google Bard fails to answer, "Who are all of the US Presidents?" and responds with, "I'm just a language model, so I can't help you with that." It also fails to answer some coding questions and math questions.
For more details, see ZDNET's full review.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai even called Bard 'a souped-up Civic' soon after its rollout compared to other chatbots on the market, such as ChatGPT and Bing Chat.
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