Chat GPT - worth getting to grips with it

Elless

Any information you put into AI, AI stores and learns from. If you Google 'why is putting personal information into AI bad' you will see a lot of information about it.

Yes, I know that, but the information is not in the public domain. AI scrapes data from everywhere, and uses it to inform its answers, but it won't tell anyone that 'Mrs Dog from Hometown cashed in a pension in July 2026'. I'm still not sure why we should be being careful about what we 'tell' it.

There are concerns for authors, poets and so on, as AI can reproduce works based on their output that is in the public domain, but that's the converse of what you are saying, as I understand it.

I really like ChatGPT, and the AI mode using Google on my iPhone, I’m much less fond of Claude.

This week I’ve had Google AI interpret the hallmarks on lots of old silver (plates) cutlery, identify the maker and approximate age, also several pieces of jewellery. It has deciphered the product ID plates on some old kitchen appliances that were bought second-hand years ago, to assess their ages. It suggested the closest replacements in size and similar quality/ features to the appliances I need to replace, and where to source them.

With a photo of a cluttered corner of the kitchen worktop, it suggested a much more efficient arrangement of the (many!) things I like to keep out and to hand, as out of sight is out of mind. If I don’t see the velvetiser, for example, I don’t get it out to use it.

It elaborated on an injury after I’d seen my GP and been referred for physio, it explained in more detail than either person had been able to, exactly what had happened to cause such pain, what the prescribed medication and exercises would do over what expected timescale, and it was spot on.

I ask it something most days, just as I would otherwise Google, and it can become a long conversation if I keep engaging with its “Would you like me to…”, but as it’s not a person, I can shut down conversations instantly.

ChatGPT comes across as acting human though. One of its comments today was, “I smiled at your description of…”! Of course it didn’t smile, but it’s that friendly tone that makes the user - me - feel comfortable and engaged.

But they make mistakes. and congratulate me so effusively on my excellent eye for detail when I point them out, sometimes double-checking by tweaking the wording of my question will improve its accuracy. Mostly, I find that if it’s giving encyclopaedic historical information about eg a silversmith it will go into an impressive level of detail.

Just be sure to make sure it has actually answered what you asked, and if it misunderstood and gave a wrong answer, help it to learn by correcting it - it tolerates correction a lot better than most people I know!

Any information you put into AI, AI stores and learns from. If you Google 'why is putting personal information into AI bad' you will see a lot of information about it.

I love it. It has designed my garden and translated into plain English a medical letter my DH received.

AIs are brilliant at filling in long complex benefit forms.

Well having done two of my degrees in Human Computer Interaction I have long been a big fan of AI (otherwise known as Large Language Models) for some time. I prefer CoPilot and Gemini. I use them on a daily basis for a whole range of different purposes and they save me a lot of time.

I also enjoy having robust academic debates with them

Galaxy

They were saying they were planning to return to face to face exams. They are having to play catch up when faced with this technology

I know😀

How is the information in the public domain, Elless? I know that AI scrapes data, but it's only available in aggregate, and isn't connected to individuals, as far as I know. You can use the settings to delete anything you don't want it to remember. I can't think of what I would use it for that would be of interest to anyone, but it's worth knowing if I'm wrong.

Do be careful what information you put in because once it's in there it is in the public domain.
I recently asked it to recommend hairstyles for me and how I would look with short hair, it was very interesting.

They were saying they were planning to return to face to face exams. They are having to play catch up when faced with this technology

I find it useful on many different situations, I gave pictures of my kitchen to see how to update it , its a 90s bespoke oak kitchen and while its beautiful to look at its impractical for today's needs and very dark, I have images on how it could be,this is just one thing its helped with,
Plus problems with forms etc

I’ll stick to Google and Alexa

Galaxy

As an aside I was at a university open day recently and they are more than likely going to change their exam arrangements because of the advent of AI

The sooner the better. It scares me that people can qualify for responsible jobs using AI.

Take should read time. I obviously need it when I’m posting on Gransnet

I use copilot at work as it’s set to my job role. It writes me emails in seconds
I obviously read them and change where necessary but it saved me so much take

As an aside I was at a university open day recently and they are more than likely going to change their exam arrangements because of the advent of AI

Sadgrandma

Also if you go on Google, make sure you have set private browsing, and tick the box AI you can ask a question about anything but as others have said don’t make any important decisions based on the answers. However I find it very useful for asking things like ‘ where can I take my 8 year old for a day out near’ me or suggestions for hotels etc It will come up with some handy ideas that you can then explore further. It also asks questions to narrow down the options. I’ve also used it to explain some medical terminology that I didn’t understand. Very useful if used properly.

Oh yes, I was once staying in the Lakes with friends and asked it to suggest days out for four women over 60, one vegetarian, one with limited mobility and to give alternatives for if it rained. I ruled out places some of us had been and added in other requirements, and it gave us a list of options with everything included.

Also if you go on Google, make sure you have set private browsing, and tick the box AI you can ask a question about anything but as others have said don’t make any important decisions based on the answers. However I find it very useful for asking things like ‘ where can I take my 8 year old for a day out near’ me or suggestions for hotels etc It will come up with some handy ideas that you can then explore further. It also asks questions to narrow down the options. I’ve also used it to explain some medical terminology that I didn’t understand. Very useful if used properly.

I asked it to work out which electricity tariff was best for me. It produced beautiful comparison tables which really helped me to understand the best one.

It told my husband that he was a world famous shoemaker - no ides where that came from . When asked about what he actually does the reply came back ‘world famous for that as well’

I find it very useful for bringing together and summarising information which I could have found by visiting several websites but I think it's worthwhile to ask it to give citations and to check the ones it gives as it is notorious for making things up. Citing non existent academic papers and non existent court cases/judgements are two which I've seen complained about. Perhaps not important at the level we use it at, but could be serious in other instances.

I told it size etc of Elomi bra I always have,(£45) and asked GPT to find the cheapest one available anywhere, It found one on sale somewhere for £22 !!! Thanks very much!!

It has been little short of life changing for some of the parents I work with trying to negotiate funding forms, etc.

You get about 5/6 questions a day, after that they ask you yo subscribe. I stick with the free service.

I’ve taken pictures of vases and uploaded them and asked for examples of different arrangements, different colours etc, it’s absolutely brilliant!

I would have really struggled without Chat GPT to get through the complexities of moving back to England from France post Brexit. It even helped me to get through a complex series of drop down menus on the French tax form and offered to write letters to organisations mired in French bureacracy.