What is ChatGPT and how to use it? Everything you need to know

ChatGPT has become a widely utilized tool powered by artificial intelligence, deeply ingrained in the daily lives of many individuals. Today, we have prepared an extensive article to provide you with a broad understanding of ChatGPT, including its uses, development, origins, functioning principles, and potential applications. By the end of this article, you will have gained a comprehensive understanding of ChatGPT and what it can accomplish.

Getting Familiar with ChatGPT’s Terms

  • GPT-4: It refers to the fourth version of the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) developed by OpenAI. GPT-4 is an advanced language model known for its natural language processing capabilities.
  • OpenAI: OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research laboratory and company that focuses on developing and promoting safe and beneficial AI technologies. They are responsible for creating innovative models like ChatGPT.
  • ChatGPT Plus: It is a subscription plan offered by OpenAI. Subscribers of ChatGPT Plus gain benefits such as general access to ChatGPT even during peak times, faster response times, and priority access to new features and improvements such as Web Browsing and Plugins.
  • Prompt Engineering: Prompt engineering involves strategically designing and framing prompts or instructions to influence the output of language models like ChatGPT. By carefully crafting prompts, users can guide the model towards desired responses and improve its effectiveness. Take a look at ChatGPT best practices to learn more.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence tool based on natural language processing techniques. It can engage in conversations much like a human and successfully perform a wide range of tasks, from coding to summarizing books. It has rapidly gained popularity and is currently utilized by millions of people worldwide. Remarkably, it holds the record for reaching 1 million users in the shortest time span.

Who developed ChatGPT?

OpenAI, a Silicon Valley-based company dedicated to artificial intelligence research and product development, created ChatGPT. Originally established as a nonprofit organization in 2015, OpenAI transitioned into a for-profit entity in 2019. The company’s current CEO is Sam Altman, with Greg Brockman serving as the president. Prior to ChatGPT, OpenAI had developed several other AI tools, including the GPT models and the image generator called DALL-E.

When was ChatGPT released?

ChatGPT was launched on November 30, 2022, and quickly gained widespread use among millions of individuals. Its impact has been substantial, raising awareness about artificial intelligence and even influencing the valuation of companies operating in this field on the stock market.

What does ChatGPT stand for?

ChatGPT stands for Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer.

The term “Generative” refers to the model’s ability to generate new and original text based on the provided input.

Pre-trained” indicates that the model undergoes initial training on an extensive dataset encompassing diverse texts. This pre-training process equips the model with an understanding of grammar, sentence structure, and contextual patterns, enhancing its capability to comprehend and generate text effectively.

Transformer” refers to a specialized architecture employed in large language models, facilitating their understanding and generation of text. Transformers excel at recognizing connections between different segments of text, even when they are distantly positioned. This enables them to provide more accurate and relevant responses to questions or prompts. Transformers utilize attention mechanisms, a set of techniques that enable them to focus on important details within the text and deliver precise answers.

Is ChatGPT free?

Yes, you can currently use ChatGPT for free. There are two versions available: the free version and the paid version known as ChatGPT Plus. Initially, only the free version was accessible upon ChatGPT’s release.

On February 1, 2023, the paid version, ChatGPT Plus, was introduced, offering exclusive features. However, the free version of ChatGPT remains available for users to utilize.

Is ChatGPT safe?

Your conversations with ChatGPT can be used to train the model itself. Therefore, it is crucial not to share any personal or private information during your interactions with ChatGPT.

Like any other application, it is important to be aware of the cybersecurity risks associated with ChatGPT. In the event of a cyber attack on ChatGPT or OpenAI, if successful, your information could be compromised. This risk applies to all the applications we use, and it is vital to keep this in mind when utilizing them.

On March 21, 2023, a bug occurred in ChatGPT where chat histories temporarily disappeared, allowing users to view other users’ chat histories. OpenAI explained that this bug was caused by a third-party application and that they identified and resolved the issue.

OpenAI assures that they implement necessary security measures and continually enhance their systems to ensure user safety. For more information on the data they process and its handling, you can refer to OpenAI’s privacy policy page.

Does ChatGPT provide incorrect answers?

Yes, ChatGPT can provide incorrect answers. Due to the extensive training data it has been exposed to, there is a possibility that it may generate responses that are inaccurate or incorrect for the specific questions asked. It is important to exercise critical thinking and verify information from reliable sources when using ChatGPT or any AI system. Therefore, it is advisable to approach the responses of ChatGPT with caution.

Does ChatGPT provide the same answer to everyone?

No, ChatGPT does not consistently provide the same response to the same question, nor does it give identical answers to different individuals or even to the same person when asked the same question at different times. The responses of ChatGPT can vary based on factors such as the question’s tone, chat history, and context. This flexibility allows ChatGPT to adapt its answers or tone accordingly. Therefore, it cannot be guaranteed that ChatGPT will always provide the exact same answer for the same question.

How does ChatGPT work?

ChatGPT is an advanced tool that employs intelligent techniques such as deep learning, natural language processing (NLP), and neural networks.

It learns from an extensive corpus of text data to comprehend language patterns and the relationship between words. This training enables ChatGPT to generate responses that are contextually appropriate in a conversation, similar to how a human would respond.

During training, ChatGPT analyzes billions of sentences to grasp the connections between words. It utilizes this knowledge to predict the most suitable word in a given context, resulting in responses that sound natural and coherent.

When ChatGPT makes an error and is corrected, it may apologize and rectify the mistake. However, this is not because it has learned or understood the mistake. Rather, during training, it observed that apologies often follow being notified of an error.

Also read: How does ChatGPT actually work?

Therefore, ChatGPT should not be regarded as an infallible authority but rather as a language model that generates text strings to provide what it predicts as the best answer to a given question.

How is ChatGPT trained?

Training ChatGPT is comparable to teaching a child to speak and behave, albeit with the involvement of numerous computers and vast amounts of data. It starts with learning the fundamentals, followed by specialized training, and continuous learning from mistakes to improve. The training process comprises three primary stages:

  1. Generative Pre-Training: In this stage, ChatGPT learns to generate text. It undergoes training on extensive text data from various sources, such as websites, books, and articles. You can take a look at where does ChatGPT get its data from. This enables it to comprehend how to generate text in diverse styles and contexts. However, at this stage, the model is not yet tailored for specific tasks and may not excel in certain conversational scenarios.
  2. Supervised Fine-Tuning (SFT): This stage aims to enhance ChatGPT’s performance in specific tasks. For instance, it can be trained to improve its conversational abilities on particular topics. Human trainers engage in conversations, simulating chatbot interactions, and the model learns from these exchanges. This stage involves creating training conversations, constructing a training corpus by matching conversation history with appropriate responses, and training this dataset using a method called Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD). SGD acts as a coach, progressively improving the model’s performance.
  3. Reinforcement Learning through Human Feedback (RLHF): The final stage further refines ChatGPT by allowing it to learn from its mistakes. This process resembles training a puppy, where the model receives feedback indicating whether its performance is good or subpar. A scoring system measures the model’s performance, with higher scores indicating better performance. The model interacts with humans and generates different responses, which are then ranked by another human. ChatGPT learns from this feedback, using the information to improve its responses in future conversations.

How to use ChatGPT?

To utilize ChatGPT, you need to create an account if you don’t have one. Once you have an account, log in to ChatGPT.

  • Proceed to the ChatGPT login page.
  • Enter your login credentials to complete the signing-in process.
  • On the homepage of ChatGPT, you will find a message box. Simply enter your prompt or question in the box.
  • After sending your message, ChatGPT will provide a response shortly. At this point, you have various options. If you are satisfied with the provided response, you can utilize it as desired. If you wish to continue the conversation or request a new response, you can do so. Additionally, you can request corrections for any errors in the previous response or switch to a different topic by writing a new message.

It is worth noting that ChatGPT retains past conversations within the same chat window, allowing you to continue chatting without having to repeat previously provided information.

Access our comprehensive guide on how to use ChatGPT to learn more. You will find usage instructions, tips, and user manuals on that page.

ChatGPT Mobile Application

The ChatGPT mobile app for iOS was officially announced on May 18, 2023, through a blog post shared by OpenAI. It was stated that it would gradually become available in Apple stores across all countries.

The usage of the ChatGPT mobile application is quite similar to the ChatGPT desktop version. After logging into your account, you will be presented with a textbox where you can ask whatever you want to inquire. You can get responses from ChatGPT by asking your desired questions here. If you wish, you can continue the conversation or start a new conversation window by clicking on the three-dot icon in the upper right corner.

What is ChatGPT used for?

The applications of ChatGPT are remarkably diverse, akin to engaging in dialogue with a person. In technical terms, you can seek assistance from ChatGPT in almost any topic you can imagine. Here are some areas where ChatGPT can be utilized:

  • Summarizing a topic
  • Explaining a topic
  • Generating text on a specific subject
  • Modifying the tone of a text
  • Assisting with editorial tasks
  • Translating text into different languages
  • Coding tasks, such as writing or improving code, debugging, and optimization
  • Creating Excel formulas
  • Providing consultancy on various topics
  • Generating literary texts and poems
  • Drafting cover letters or CVs
  • Creating petitions
  • Developing diet plans or vacation itineraries
  • Offering investment advice
  • Acting as an educational resource and providing learning materials
  • Sharing humorous stories

How to get better results from ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an advanced language model powered by OpenAI, utilizing the powerful GPT-3 and GPT-4 models. If you are new to using ChatGPT, you may be unaware of how to maximize its potential. To make the most out of ChatGPT and achieve optimal results, we recommend following ChatGPT’s best practices. This will assist you in formulating better prompts and utilizing ChatGPT more effectively.

What is ChatGPT Plus?

ChatGPT Plus is a subscription-based membership system that offers exclusive features, including faster response times, increased access availability, and early access to new features. To enjoy these exclusive benefits, a monthly fee is required. With ChatGPT Plus membership, you can also access the features of the GPT-4 model, ChatGPT plugins, Code Interpreter and Web Browsing.

  1. GPT-4 Model: The GPT-4 model is the fourth iteration of the Generative Pre-trained Transformer series developed by OpenAI. With an even larger scale of training and data processing than its predecessors, it exhibits more nuanced understanding and generation of human-like text, pushing the boundaries of AI language models further.
  2. ChatGPT Plugins: ChatGPT plugins are additional features or capabilities integrated into the ChatGPT model to enhance its functionality. These can range from specific domain knowledge extensions to the integration of unique abilities like programming code interpretation or web browsing.
  3. Code Interpreter: A code interpreter in the context of ChatGPT is a feature that allows the AI to understand and generate programming code. This functionality can enable users to upload file, write, debug, or understand code snippets using the AI, extending its usefulness beyond simple text generation.
  4. Web Browsing: This refers to an advanced functionality where ChatGPT is capable of “browsing” the internet in a read-only mode. It uses this feature to pull in up-to-date information from the web.