A development that’s been in the news for while the implications of which is being felt now and will in the near future for some time, it has triggered debates and changes all around from the technology sector, to the business world and the educational system. Whether the introduction of ChatGPT will revolutionise professional work as we know it or prove to be a bane on this world. The question and problem of this AI induced system is multifaceted rather than being a binary thing. Machine learning and its relationship with Humans will also be discussed to provide a better understanding and a broad framework for analysing the mixed systems thereof. Lastly, the mechanical nature of modern humans will be looked at with a new perspective in addition the ways to get out from it elaborated lucidly.
ChatGPT and its whereabouts
ChatGPT or Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer is a chatbot developed by OpenAI and launched in November 2022. The interweaving of the approaches of supervised learning and reinforcement learning make its system possible albeit with human trainers to improve the model’s performance. At the core function of the chatbot is to mimic a human conversationalist, ChatGPT is versatile. The activities such as writing and debugging computer programs, composing music, teleplaying, concocting fairy tales and churning out student essays are no ordeal for it, in addition it can answer test questions (sometimes depending on the test, at a level above the average human test takers), write poetry and song lyrics. These are not qualities of a polymath but a mere application. The service was initially free to the public, with plans to monetize the service later. By December 4, OpenAI estimated ChatGPT had crossed over a million users and by January 2023, it reached a stupendous total of over 100 million users making it thus the fastest growing consumer application in the whole world to date. The service initially works best in English but is also able to function in some other languages.
Concerns with the applications
Critics of this technology have pointed out its many problems and those are concerning too. Fear of losing jobs, impact on the human brain, spam related issues and the unknown developments of AI in the future all of these things have had happened and questions regarding these problems will be raised from time to time. The most amazing thing that it has proven itself for is its ability to pass bar and medical examinations and MBA exams although not with a frequently high percentage but nonetheless it dies. Various judges have indeed pointed out this fact in their comments and have been making statements of its possible use in passing out ‘righter’ judgements which though sounds benign could have unknown ramifications. Additionally it also lays bare the fact that most of the jobs be it in the technological field, the medical or the ones in the law, thay are very redundant and repetitive. Its ability to internalise patterns and deliver a more interesting or perhaps effective version of what it can gather from its humongous stored data are the plus points. Systemic nuances and modelling techniques cross patterned or not too can be felt by it, be it in these like poetry or creative writing (of course only up to a particular level and scale) can be detected and better versions be construed from its memory.
Impact on Human Learning
TR Jahnavi writes in The Hindu that the application has become a nightmare for professors and educators, for the students have harnessed the app to write their college essays, reports and every damn assignment they so assiduously gave to their students in the hope the students actually face the ordeal but it has become an easy way for every other lax students. Albeit they also added that it was not very difficult to mark the ones composed by the app for the articles or the essays were too perfect to be written by the students. Moreover the compositions lacked a human touch thay said. The teachers do also fear that the classroom learning will become totally irrelevant if a total transformation is not brought about in the psyche. The redundant non critical, non-creative things will have to be brushed about and in its place a totally new method of hybrid education that do not just inform but in fact force the children into creative thinking. Learnings of a mixed sort be henceforth devised so that they cater both to the needs of an industrious man as well as address the man as a non-mechanical conscious entity. Debabrata Das in the Hindu writes that ChatGPT could in fact Enhance the learning experience. Adding still that a lot of R&D work to be done to integrate it into existing systems and ensure that it aligns with educational quality, policies and standards. The question of effectively assimilating the AI powered apps will also be presented with unique challenges for example the balancing act between human and machine learning and its various offshoots in jobs, businesses, professions etc. Tasks can now be more effectively streamlined, syllabi curtailed and fashioned for a more delightful and knowledge packed learning courses.
Why the App is Overhyped
Its benefits are many but the problems that may trickle down from is being overhyped the experts say. It has numerous pitfalls and a lot of work is being done on these sorts of technologies to improve their functioning. OpenAI acknowledged that ChatGPT “sometimes writes plausible astounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers.” Numerous inadequacies and inconsistencies exist though they will be lessened as far as they can be. An article in the business insider highlighted as to why the damage if any won’t reach as people say would. The writer quoted an expert in the field who advanced 3 to 4 points.
He said “ChatGPT can’t replicate human creativity or empathy”. This is very true of any technology that exist or will exist. The difference that exists at the very core is about the consciousness, the awareness that humans have which the machines don’t, in this regard they are very neutral and can’t proceed beyond labouring and other programmable work. A new genaration of artists, writers and ‘creative workers’ if they can be called such could take hold and will for the future lies in shedding all the mechanicalness in our work. New ways of thinking, constructing our thoughts and then creatively expressing them will have to come about or else this non-rebellious, mechanical Stooge could easily take hold of any work that exists. Moreover he adds that apart from its inability to beat Google’s span policies it falls short of critical thinking in the place just regurgitates an assortment of better collected ideas and harnessed words.
Lastly says that AI models require human supervision and oversight to ensure that the content generated is accurate and appropriate.
Conclusion
Although fear and a general sense of suspicion prevails it won’t be for long because any new technology has always triggered doubtful waves when it initially dawns but as systems get reworked according to the new disruptor the waves actually settle and new creativity starts spawning. We must see how things grow from here and how far the technology replaces, displaces and locates the future of work, the possibilities are many, we could go either way but if and only if the handle is in our hands and not in some remote, superficial scape of our minds as it unfortunately exists presently.