What’s All the Chatter About ChatGPT?

I’ll be honest. I considered using ChatGPT to write this article. Why not let the artificial intelligence language application do the work, I thought. I visited https://chat.openai.com/chat and typed in a request for a 500-word newsletter article about the appropriate use of ChatGPT in the workplace. The result was mind boggling – at least to me. Within minutes, ChatGPT presented me with a clear and concise overview detailing the benefits and limitations of the AI chatbot. Here’s the lead in to the story it generated: “As an artificial intelligence language model, ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionize the workplace. It can provide timely and accurate responses to queries, help employees stay organized and productive, and reduce the workload of human staff. However, like any technology, ChatGPT should be used appropriately to maximize its benefits and minimize its drawbacks.” Since hitting the public domain last year, the new technology has drawn international attention and fostered a great deal of discussion, both pro and con. Developed by OpenAI, an American artificial intelligence research laboratory, and launched in November 2022, ChatGPT has rocked verbal and written communications as we knew them. The uses are endless, ranging from asking the chatbot to create a love letter to writing talking points for an elected official on a particular issue to developing content for a master’s thesis. The technology is also capable of generating ideas and examples; making recommendations about products, services and more; simplifying complex language and terms; analyzing content for sentiment and tone; and translating text into different languages. However, ChatGPT is not without its controversy. Data privacy, for instance, is one of the main concerns. In fact, Italy recently banned the use of the technology, stating it violated the country’s data privacy law. ChatGPT itself says data privacy needs to be considered because the AI application has the potential to process sensitive information, such as personal and financial data. “To ensure that ChatGPT is not misused or accessed by unauthorized personnel, it is essential to implement robust security measures such as encryption, access controls and monitoring,” says ChatGPT. Another concern that has raised is that ChatGPT could replace human workers and make certain jobs obsolete. Many experts, however, downplay that apprehension citing the continuing need for human involvement in developing, reviewing and analyzing data with logic, reason, experience and emotion – things a computerized app simply cannot do. For example, while ChatGPT can simplify research efforts and write content faster, it is not capable of analyzing data to inform strategic decision-making, nor can it personalize content to a brand or organization. ChatGPT also cannot handle tasks requiring human judgment, strategic thinking and logical decision-making. In the end, the data it produces is still raw and must be manipulated through human input to ensure accuracy and fit specific needs and goals. Forbes provides this perspective on ChatGPT: “ . . . we should learn to work alongside AI, using it as a tool to augment our own skills while we automate the mundane and routine. The benefit of this is that it frees up our time to concentrate on developing and using skills that machines don’t yet have – and perhaps won’t for some time. These include strategy, innovating, complex problem-solving, and skills that require emotional intelligence and empathy.” If you haven’t already, you owe it to yourself to research this new technological application and determine if and how it might benefit you both personally and professionally. No doubt, businesses and organizations are already feverishly working to determine how to best implement Chat GPT in the workplace and to contemplate what, if any, constraints should be placed on its use. As always, a careful review of the topic should be undertaken to develop policies and procedures, followed by training to ensure proper and consistent implementation. Says ChatGPT: “In conclusion, ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in the workplace, but it must be used appropriately to maximize its benefits and minimize its risks.”