What is AI & How does ChatGPT Work?
Understanding AI, ChatGPT, and Their Impact
Welcome, everyone! Today, we're diving into the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our journey will answer three key questions:
1. What is AI?
2. What is ChatGPT?
3. How can we use it effectively?
Let's start with the basics.
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, refers to computer systems designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks include visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation. But AI isn't just one thing – it encompasses various types and levels of intelligence.
The designs used by these computer systems are called neural networks, modeled after the human brain, as it's one of the most intelligent things we know. The human brain is connected through a vast network of neurons. When we have a sensation, like touch or sight, this information is broken down into energy which then flows through this network of neurons.
Similarly, artificial neural networks take an input, such as a prompt, which is broken down into information known as tokens. These tokens then flow through the neural network.
Types of AI
Now that we have an idea of what Artificial Intelligence is, let's explore the types of AI:
1. Narrow AI (or Weak AI): This is AI designed for a specific task. Examples include:
- Virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa
- Recommendation systems on Netflix or Amazon
- Image recognition software
2. General AI (AGI): This is an AI that can understand, learn, and apply its intelligence broadly, similar to a human. We haven't achieved true AGI yet, but it's a major goal in the field.
3. Superintelligent AI: This hypothetical AI would surpass human intelligence across all domains.
Why AGI is a Big Deal
We have already achieved Narrow AI, and I believe we are on the cusp of achieving Artificial General Intelligence. AGI is considered a significant milestone in AI development for several reasons:
1. Versatility: Unlike narrow AI, AGI can tackle any intellectual task a human can. It could design a skyscraper, diagnose a rare medical condition, write a symphony, and then switch to analyzing legal cases—all without needing to be retrained for each task.
2. Problem-solving: AGI could potentially solve complex global issues more efficiently than humans. It could take on challenges like climate change and poverty.
3. Scientific advancement: AGI could accelerate research and discovery across all fields, such as speeding up the discovery of new materials.
4. Economic impact: AGI could revolutionize industries and create new ones we haven't even imagined, potentially inventing new energy sources.
However, AGI also raises important ethical and safety concerns that researchers are actively working to address.
AI in Everyday Life 🏠
You're likely interacting with AI daily without realizing it. Here are some common examples:
- Predictive text when you're typing a message
- Voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant
- Spam filters in your email
- Facial recognition to unlock your phone
- Smart home devices that learn your preferences
Understanding ChatGPT 🤖
Now that we understand what AI is, let's focus on a specific and impressive AI application: ChatGPT.
ChatGPT is a type of AI model known as a Large Language Model (LLM). It's designed to understand and generate human-like text. The GPT in ChatGPT stands for "Generative Pre-trained Transformer." Let's break that down:
1. Generative: It can create new content, not just analyze existing text.
2. Pre-trained: It's been trained on a vast amount of text data from the internet.
3. Transformer: This refers to the specific AI architecture it uses, which is particularly good at understanding context in language. This is done through understanding the context of words in a sentence.
ChatGPT is trained on billions of words from various sources, allowing it to understand and generate text on a wide range of topics. It's like having a conversation with an extremely well-read individual who can draw connections across diverse subjects.
How ChatGPT Works ⚙️
So, how does it work?
When you input a prompt (this is what the text you type into ChatGPT is called), ChatGPT:
1. Analyzes your text
2. Compares it to its vast learned dataset
3. Generates a response using the most appropriate words and concepts
It's important to note that ChatGPT doesn't "know" facts in the way humans do. Instead, it predicts the most likely sequence of words based on its training data. So, it won't necessarily know what is right or wrong because it doesn't have consciousness and does not think like we do. It's all calculations, and sometimes those can be way off.
How to Use ChatGPT Effectively 💡
Now that we understand what ChatGPT is, let's explore how to use it effectively:
1. Be Specific: The more detailed your prompt, the better the response. Instead of asking "Tell me about dogs," try "Explain the unique characteristics of Australian Shepherds."
2. Use It for Brainstorming: ChatGPT can generate ideas for projects, writing, or problem-solving.
3. Ask for Explanations: If you don't understand a concept, ask ChatGPT to explain it in simpler terms or from a different angle, or as if you are a certain age.
4. Document Conversion: You can use it to convert different document formats, like PDF to Word.
5. Fact-Checking: Always verify important information from authoritative sources, as ChatGPT can sometimes provide inaccurate information. This is one of its limitations. You cannot trust it to always give you accurate information as I said, it's all math.
Limitations and Best Practices 🏆
- It may produce plausible-sounding but incorrect information (hallucination)
- Its knowledge is limited to its training data and cutoff date
Currently, the one that we are using has a cutoff point of January 2023 as of September 2024.
The Future of AI and Conclusion 🚀
As we continue to advance in AI technology, we're moving closer to the possibility of AGI. This progress brings both excitement and challenges:
- Potential for solving complex global problems like poverty and climate change.
- Questions about the impact on employment and society
I want to know what is happening and I want to be a part of that journey, the journey to the next step of AI, AGI. I'm committed to keeping you updated on these developments through my videos.
Thank you for joining me on this exploration. If you found this information valuable, please consider subscribing for more in-depth tech discussions. We'd love to hear your thoughts on how AI might shape our future – share your perspectives in the comments below. Stay curious, and I'll see you in the next video!