This year is the year of Artificial Intelligence, as the latest technology breaks into the mainstream, largely thanks to a human-like tool called ChatGPT.
ChatGPT has stolen headlines since it was launched for public use in late 2022. The tool, which is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot, can convincingly write almost anything based on a limited brief.
Teachers in UK schools have already said they are “bewildered” by the fast pace of development in AI and have launched a body to protect students from the risks, with their fears not limited to the capacity of chatbots such as ChatGPT to aid cheating. And concern is growing that fake letters and texts will become difficult to detect as fraudsters use AI software to improve their scams. Experts have warned that scammers are already thought to be using AI software to create convincing fake bank documents, bills and emails within seconds, which are then used to con people into sending money or sharing their personal details.
Read more: Four scams to watch out for as high-tech criminals turn to Artificial Intelligence
With the UK regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), announcing a review of the AI market, the pace at which these tools are developing is clearly under scrutiny. Here we look - in simple terms - at AI and ChatGPT is and how everyone's lives will be impacted by this technology:
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence - or AI - is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, that are programmed to think and act like humans.
How long has it been around?
The idea of inanimate objects coming to life as intelligent beings has been around for a long time. The ancient Greeks had myths about robots, and Chinese and Egyptian engineers built automatons. The beginnings of modern AI can be traced to classical philosophers' attempts to describe human thinking as a symbolic system, but the field of AI wasn't formally founded until 1956, at a conference at Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, USA, where the term Artificial Intelligence was coined.
Why is it suddenly in the news now?
The sudden prominence of AI is due to the huge rise in both the amount of data we produce and the amount of computer power available. The AIs require anywhere between thousands to millions of examples to learn how to do something. But now millions of videos, audio clips, articles, photos and more are uploaded to the internet every minute, making it much easier to get hold of suitable data sets. Processing these data sets and training AIs with them takes a lot of power, but processing power has roughly doubled every two years since the 1970s meaning modern supercomputers are up to the task.
How can it be used?
The impact on consumers in the future could be huge, with improved search engines, customer service and even product recommendations just some of the potential future uses of this remarkably advanced technology. However, while its responses are convincing at first glance, the accuracy of its ‘confidently incorrect’ responses have highlighted significant concerns around how this type of tool might be used and abused.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT, OpenAI’s text-generating AI chatbot, is an AI designed to generate human-like conversations and provide information on various topics. It has been hailed as a powerful tool that can mimic human responses, making it ideal conversations. ChatGPT can answer questions, provide recommendations, and help in problem-solving. GPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer, which means it’s a tool that can generate responses based on what it’s already learned. ChatGPT isn’t the only chatbot that works in this way, but it’s the one that’s gained the most attention in recent months.
Can anyone use it?
Yes. Visit the website, sign up and start experimenting. ChatGPT is a language model, so it can’t generate art or images like some AI engines. However, it can in theory process images and make recommendations.
How can I get ChatGPT?
Go to chat.OpenAi.com and register for an account with an email address, or a Google or Microsoft account. You need to create an account on the OpenAI website to log in and access ChatGPT. If you've never created an account before, click on Sign up and follow the prompts to enter your information. OpenAI does require a valid phone number for verification to create an account.
Is it free?
Yes, you can use ChatGPT for free - for now. Since the natural language processing model is still in its research and "learning" preview phase, it's free if you register for a free OpenAI account, though there is an option to upgrade to a paid membership, at $20 a month. ChatGPT Plus gives members the priority access during busy periods, when the app may go offline for free users.
Where does ChatGPT get its information?
ChatGPT uses a collection of Large Language Models (LLMs) which are numbered according to how advanced they are. The free version of ChatGPT is based on data collection that finished in early 2022, so it does not 'know' anything about the world after that time. ChatGPT Plus is with more up-to-date information.
Is ChatGPT unique?
A ChatGPT-like tool is also available to people who use Microsoft’s Bing search engine. The responses to your queries are based both on the pre-learned database combined with more up-to-the-minute information about the world right now, and includes clickable citations. Google has a similar chat-based search tool called Bard but it’s only available to those with an invite.
Can I trust the information I get from ChatGPT?
In short, no, according to consumer group Which? But it's a useful source to kickstart a research project or better understand what people are saying about a topic. "The main thing here is to not use a chatbot as your primary source for information, but instead take the answers it gives you and pursue them until you have found the real facts," says Which?
"Crudely put, ChatGPT is very good at placing one word after another. It can do this because it’s 'learned' so much from the massive data gathering exercises that form the basis of the model that powers it. As such, it does not 'know' anything at all; all it can do is put words one after another that make sense. It’s often accurate but equally it can write utter nonsense. Its responses have been dubbed by many as ‘confidently wrong’ because the tone ChatGPT uses does not leave any room for doubt, even if it’s talking rubbish."
What does ChatGPT do with the information I enter into it?
Ask ChatGPT this question and it tells you that no information about what you enter into it is stored. This is indeed OpenAI’s policy, but the UK’s National Cyber Security Council (NCSC) still points out that you should not enter sensitive information into chatbots, nor perform queries that could cause you problems if made public.
As generative AI tools become more widespread and are used by companies for specific customer service purposes, the data you enter could be stored under the T&Cs of the companies you’re communicating with.
How and where are ChatGPT and other AI already being used?
Various companies are experimenting with how to use ChatGPT in their services - for example, giving more personalised recommendations on retail websites. The bulk of uses though are behind the scenes, often using the tool to process vast amounts of data to do anything from improve efficiency to combat fraud.
There are practical ways you can use it, too. For example a York student had a parking fine overturned after using ChatGPT to lay out the details in a clear way. But Which? recommends that the information ChatGPT generates should be treated as ‘research’, or as a guide, and in most cases should still be checked and validated before it is shared or used
On the negative side, there are various ways in which this technology can be used to create convincing content that is either fake, misleading or even used for scams.
Is there any regulation for AI like ChatGPT?
There is currently no specific regulation for generative AI tools like ChatGPT, but other laws could well be applied to the responses it produces. For example, if ChatGPT generates text that is largely similar to a copyrighted source, it could be in breach of copyright law. There are already examples of ChatGPT defaming individuals, which could result in legal action for libel.
The Competition & Markets Authority has announced a probe into the rise of AI tools such as ChatGPT to determine whether consumers need greater protection. The CMA said it will assess competition and consumer safety issues for companies using new tools that can produce responses to questions, and write letters or essays – and threaten jobs.
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