Context:
Many of us are familiar with the concept of what a “chatbot” is and what it is supposed to do. But this year, OpenAI’s ChatGPT turned a simple experience into something entirely different. ChatGPT is being seen as a path-breaking example of an AI chatbot and what the technology could achieve when applied at scale.
Relevance:
GS III: Science and Technology
Dimensions of the Article:
- About ChatGPT
- Why has ChatGPT generated so much buzz?
- Is ChatGPT capable of writing fiction?
About ChatGPT:
- OpenAI has created ChatGPT, a start-up focused on artificial intelligence and its potential use cases.
- ChatGPT is a ‘conversational’ AI and will answer queries just like a human would.
- According to OpenAI’s description, ChatGPT can answer “follow-up questions”, and can also “admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests.”
- It is based on the company’s GPT 3.5 series of language learning models (LLM).
- GPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3 and this is a kind of computer language model that relies on deep learning techniques to produce human-like text based on inputs.
- The model is trained to predict what will come next, and that’s why one can technically have a ‘conversation’ with ChatGPT.
- According to OpenAI’s blog post about ChatGPT, the chatbot was also trained using “Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF).”
- Interestingly, ChatGPT has been trained to decline ‘inappropriate’ requests, presumably those which are ‘illegal’ in nature.
- However, it should be noted that ChatGPT has limitations, as it may generate incorrect information, and create “biased content.”
- More importantly, the chatbot’s knowledge of the world and events after 2021 is limited.
- The chatbot gives answers which are grammatically correct and read well– though some have pointed out that these lack context and substance, which is largely true.
Why has ChatGPT generated so much buzz?
- The reason ChatGPT has generated so much discussion is because of the kind of answers it gives.
- It is being seen as a replacement for the basic emails, party planning lists, CVs, and even college essays and homework.
- It can also be used to write code.
- However, the AI’s responses are not without flaws, something even OpenAi admits.
- It notes that the chatbot sometimes could give “plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers.” Users have the option of downvoting or upvoting a response.
- OpenAI also notes that the chatbot can sometimes overuse certain phrases due to “biases in the training data”
Is ChatGPT capable of writing fiction?
- Yes, but not at the level of a humans, at least not for now.
- Nor is OpenAI the only company trying to get AI to take over writing.
- Google had recently showcased how its LaMDA chatbot is being used to help with fiction writing, but it too admitted that this was only a helper right now and cannot take over the entire task.
- Still, ChatGPT showcases an interesting and exciting use case for AI, where humans can have a ‘real’ conversation with a chatbot.
-Source: Indian Express
