Has anyone used ChatGPT?

How does it work? Is it an app?

There is an app and a website.

We visited family last year in Europe and some in our party didn’t speak the language. My cousin is an IT guy and he had the app on his phone and could say “Tell my American cousins the history of _______” and ChatGPT would read off a ton of information in English about whatever topic we put in. Also helpful in giving translations.

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I have not used it, but D2 uses it all the time.

It is amazing! You can ask it questions, ask it to write a poem/story, make an image, teach you about pretty much anything, create a travel itinerary, plan meals, summarize documents, etc. I don’t think there’s anything it can’t do.

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It’s easy to use. Go to the website chat.com , then type something. Typing “How does ChatGPT work? Is it an app?” returns

:brain: What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an AI language model created by OpenAI. It’s designed to understand and generate human-like text based on the input it receives. Think of it like a super-smart chatbot that can answer questions, help with writing, coding, learning, brainstorming—whatever you throw at it.

:gear: How does it work (basically)?

Under the hood, it uses something called a transformer neural network (specifically the GPT architecture, which stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer). Here’s a super simplified version of what that means:

  1. Training: It was trained on a massive amount of text from books, websites, and other sources. This helps it learn grammar, facts, reasoning, and patterns in how people talk and write.
  2. Prediction: When you type something, it tries to predict the best next word (and then the next, and the next…) to respond to you in a way that makes sense.
  3. Context: It uses context from the conversation to keep replies coherent, on-topic, and relevant.

:mobile_phone: Is ChatGPT an app?

Yes, ChatGPT can be accessed as an app, but it’s more than that:

  • App: There’s a mobile app (iOS and Android) called ChatGPT, and it’s also available on the web at chat.openai.com.
  • API: Developers can also use it through an API to build it into their own apps, websites, or services.
  • Built into other tools: ChatGPT tech is also used inside apps like Microsoft Word and Excel (they call it “Copilot”).

Want me to explain how it compares to something like Siri, or how it handles memory and learning?

I have used it for multiple things. DH uses it daily for consulting deliverables, mostly presentations and such. Our son’s development team uses it to produce code. Some have built “friendships” with it, even to creating virtual romantic partners.

If you can ask, Chat can answer.

I got a laugh from our son the other day referring to it as ChatGippity.

As an example…

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Not specifically ChatGPT but I used similar on a site to make an obituary. Fill in all the pertinent information, add a personal story, history etc and hit enter. And it spit out a great obit that would’ve taken me all day to get right. My sister was very impressed with my writing skills (so I had to confess…).

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As another example, I gave ChatGPT the URL of this thread and asked it to summarize the discussion for me. Here’s the response:


The College Confidential thread titled “Has anyone used ChatGPT?” features a discussion among users about their experiences with ChatGPT, its functionalities, and various applications.
• Access and Functionality: Users explain that ChatGPT is accessible via a website and mobile apps for iOS and Android. It can answer questions, write poems or stories, create images, teach various subjects, generate travel itineraries, plan meals, and summarize documents.
• Personal Experiences: One user shared that during a trip to Europe, their cousin used the ChatGPT app to provide historical information and translations, enhancing communication with locals. Another user mentioned that their daughter uses ChatGPT frequently, while others highlighted its utility in professional settings, such as consulting and coding.
• Technical Explanation: A user provided a detailed overview of ChatGPT’s underlying technology, describing it as a transformer neural network trained on extensive text data. They also noted its integration into tools like Microsoft Word and Excel (referred to as “Copilot”) and its availability through an API for developers.
• Creative Uses: Some users discussed unique applications, such as generating obituaries by inputting personal stories and details, resulting in well-crafted write-ups that would have otherwise taken considerable time to compose.

Overall, the thread showcases a range of perspectives on ChatGPT, highlighting its versatility and the various ways individuals incorporate it into their daily lives.

I have used it quite a bit. Then I tried its competitors…I definitely prefer Perplexity.

Note that there are many AI/LLMs that are trained for specific uses like medical, engineering, design, etc. that will perform more reliably/accurately for those purposes than Chat. On another thread, one poster noted that Chat did not do calculations well (which underscores the need to be able to evaluate AI output), so you need to ensure you’re using the right AI tool for your purpose. In general, though, Chat does a good job.

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I prefer Perplexity as well.
I used it yesterday to create names for our new trusts. Our attorney asked for something non-eponymous. I’m not that creative so asked Perplexity to do it. I’m happy with the choices.

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It’s amazing. DH is a scratch golfer and asked it to devise a training plan for him based on certain goals….output was extremely detailed and impressive.

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It is the future, fascinating and powerful, but there are concerns. It is important to understand anything you put in now belongs to the ChatGPT universe for the betterment of the whole…so do not drop in personal info, spreadsheets of personal data, work intellectual property, etc…

Anyone under 18 needs parental releases and under 13 is not allowed. There are options through other providers for safe school based AI endeavors.

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No. And I am currently in the middle of a big convo about it with dh, our kids and a bff. Dh is the only one who uses it with any regularity.

What makes perplexity better?

Wow! Just Downloaded it. Will ask travel questions. Thank you to someone who pointed out to be careful what you ask, it’s their forever.

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I think the entire Chance Me forum could be handled by AI, freeing up CC posters for better uses of their time.

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OTOH, it’s the stickiness of the ever-expanding aggregated data that enriches the LLM increasing its usefulness and accuracy.

For what it’s worth:

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