The technology behind OpenAI's ChatGPT: Generative AI
This year's talking point has been generative artificial intelligence, which has captured the public's attention and sparked a rush among tech giants like Google and Microsoft to build products based on the technology they believe will revolutionise the nature of work.
Here is everything you need to know about this technology.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. What is Generative AI?
Generative AI, like other types of artificial intelligence, learns how to operate based on previous data. Instead of simply categorising or recognizing data, it generates entirely new material based on that training, such as a narrative, an image, or even computer code.
The most well-known application of generative AI is ChatGPT, a chatbot that Microsoft-supported OpenAI released in late 2022. Its AI is a massive language model since it reads a text prompt and creates a human-like answer from it. GPT-4, a much recent model that OpenAI unveiled recently, is "multimodal" in that it can comprehend both text and visuals. Recently, the head of OpenAI showcased how it could create a real website from a snapshot of a hand-drawn mockup he wished to create.
What is it used for?
Businesses are already using generative AI, despite relatively limited demonstrations. For example, technology aids with the creation of a first draft of marketing text. However, this draft needs to be cleaned up by professionals. One such instance comes from CarMax, which employed a variant of OpenAI's technology to compile tens of thousands of user reviews and assist buyers in selecting the used car they should purchase.
During a virtual meeting, generative AI is capable of taking notes. It can also make slide presentations and generate personalised emails. At product launches this week, Google and Microsoft both displayed these functionalities.
Should we be worried?
There are worries regarding the potential misuse of the technology. Academicians are worried that students will submit essays that have been written by an AI, undercutting the effort needed for them to study. Moreover, cybersecurity experts have raised worry that generative AI would enable bad actors, including governments, to manufacture a lot more misinformation than they already can.
Additionally, the technology itself is prone to errors. Companies have worked to evaluate the technology before making it generally available due to factual errors or boldly claimed factual mistakes by AI, and replies that seem erratically like declaring love to the user.
Is this just about Google and Microsoft?
These two businesses are the biggest to include generative AI in widely used programs like Microsoft Word and Gmail, and they are at the forefront of research and investment in large language models. But, they are not alone.
How is Elon Musk involved?
Elon Musk co-founded OpenAI along with Sam Altman. However, Musk resigned from the startup's board in 2018 to prevent a conflict of interest between OpenAI's work and the AI research being done by Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer he oversees.
Musk has voiced concerns about the future of AI and argued in favour of a regulatory body to make sure that the advancement of technology promotes the greater good.
"It's quite a dangerous technology. I fear I may have done some things to accelerate it," Musk said towards the end of Tesla's Investor Day event earlier this month.
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