Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots are having a seminal moment. Large Language Models (LLMs) are fuelling chatbots that converse like human experts, sometimes doing a better job than the best of us in summarising a complex idea or writing an essay. ChatGPT’s bulleted response reminds us of examination answers by A-grade students.
While Internet search required us to learn the art of keywords, LLMs require us to master prompts. Prompts are archetype user-generated questions as well as instructions by software programmers which elicit a desired response from the algorithm. Prompt engineering is becoming a sought-after job to train Chatbots to act more like efficient human beings.
Computer scientist Alan Turing had proposed an imitation game to test a machine’s ability to demonstrate intelligent behaviour that is indistinguishable from that of a human. In our willing suspension of disbelief, will we forget that we are conversing with a machine? Yes, on some occasions, we will anthropomorphise the model. On other occasions, we will simply not know, and the machine would have passed the Turing test. Even if we do not fall into an emotional or financial trap, anthropomorphous chatbots will muddy our sense of reality.
