What is ChatGPT?

Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT is an innovative artificial intelligence chatbot based on the open-source GPT-3 natural language processing (NLP) model. 

This innovative chatbot understands what users say, anticipates their needs, and responds accurately. It even interacts conversationally. So, users feel like they are talking to a real person. It is a subscription service for $20/month. You can sign up for it here.

ChatGPT was released in November 2022. By January 2023, there were 100,000,000 users. Anything with a trajectory like this creates both fascination about what it can do but questions on how it will be used.

Here are 20 good, bad and ugly facts about ChatGPT.

The Good: Big companies are already using ChatGPT for business building

• First of all, a tech giant is at the helm. Microsoft has a 49% stake in OpenAI. Secondly, only 2% of the company will be owned by its nonprofit parent company. As a result, all other investors will share the remaining 49%.
• Snapchat rolled out a new AI feature called My AI on Snapchat+. 2.5 million subscribed can ask the AI chatbot prompts ranging from dinner recipes to plans for a weekend trip.
• Quizlet, a free website providing studying tools, rolled out a new feature called Q-Chat. Moreover, it functions as a one-on-one tutor built on OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology.
• Instacart, a grocery delivery and pick-up service, will incorporate ChatGPT into its app called “Ask Instacart.” Rolling out later this year, it gives users answers to open-ended food questions from recipe tips to ingredient alternatives. Moreover, It pulls data from Instacart’s 1.5 million products sold through 75,000 grocery stores.
• Shopify will use ChatGPT AI to power its new shopping assistant. Customers with search inquiries will get personal recommendations based on the user’s requests.
• Speak, a language learning app, has partnered with OpenAI, using its speech-to-text API Whisper. Furthermore, it’s a new AI speaking companion product that provides users with real-time feedback when learning a new language.

The Bad: Employers are nervous about how their employees will use it

• 70% of employees who are using ChatGPT at work haven’t told their bosses about it a Fishbowl survey last month found.
• 2.3% of workers have put confidential company information into ChatGPT, according to a recent report from Cyberhaven.
• Walmart and Amazon have both reportedly warned employees not to share confidential information in the chatbot.
• Furthermore, an Amazon corporate lawyer told employees the company has already seen instances of ChatGPT responses that are similar to internal Amazon data, according to Insider.
• JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Verizon have reportedly blocked employee access to the online tool.
• Meanwhile, OpenAI changed its terms of service last week to limit user inputs by default amid growing concerns about privacy risks.

The Ugly: Research warns of malicious use

• 51% of IT decision-makers believe a successful cyberattack will be credited to ChatGPT within the year according to research released by BlackBerry, 
• That’s because 71% of those surveyed figure that nation-state actors are already using the technology for “malicious” purposes.
• Furthermore, 53% of people said it would help hackers create more believable phishing emails.
• Moreover, 49% of respondents pointed to its ability to help hackers improve their coding abilities.
• As a result, 48% of those surveyed think it could be used to craft entirely new malware strains.
• 46% of respondents said ChatGPT could help improve existing attacks.
• This research also revealed that 95% believe governments are responsible for regulating advanced technologies.

ChatGPT may be a chatbot like never before. But is that a good thing or a bad thing? What do you think?