Never write an essay yourself again?
1. what is Chat GPT?
Chat GPT - GPT stands for «Generative Pre-trained Transformer» - belongs to the category of chatbots. These are dialogue-based computer programs on the Internet that answer questions and have so far been conspicuous for their clumsy sentences.
Chat GPT, however, is considered a true milestone in artificial intelligence because the software from the US company Open AI generates precisely formulated answers in print-ready quality in a matter of seconds. Microsoft is already using Chat GPT on its own search engine site Bing, but other tech companies such as Google and Meta have also been working on similar models for some time.
But only Chat GPT has triggered a veritable media hype: it is reported on daily, with the software either being highly praised for its achievements or ridiculed for its faults. Other articles, on the other hand, fuel all kinds of fears about artificial intelligence. If you want to get a clearer picture of the strengths and weaknesses of the chatbot, you should simply try it out for yourself. This is particularly fun with children, as they ask the more impartial questions.
2. how does Chat GPT work?
After registering on the Open AI website(openai.com/blog/chatgpt), any user can ask any questions on a wide range of topics. The difference to the classic search engine is quickly explained: Google & Co. are known to spit out an unmanageable number of results, which must first be checked for usefulness and relevance.
Chat GPT, on the other hand, responds specifically in a single block with easy-to-understand sentences and lists. But the software can do much more: it is able to plan projects, translate texts, write scripts, programme software, even create cooking recipes with associated shopping lists and much more.
Thanks to the analysis of new data, Chat GPT gets a little smarter every day and formulates the information in ever more perfect language.
The AI programme was trained until 2021 with an enormous number of texts, books and research papers from a wide range of specialist areas and also analysed human speech in order to sound as natural as possible.
The basis for all functions is machine learning. Put simply, this means that machines are able to learn independently from data and experience. In other words: thanks to the analysis of new data, Chat GPT becomes a little smarter every day and formulates the information in ever more perfect language.
3. is artificial intelligence something new?
No, research into this technology has been going on since the 1950s. Many people are currently unaware of how much this technology surrounds us every day: for example, with voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa, in the use of translation programmes or search engines. Artificial intelligence is also used in areas such as data security, transport, medicine, disaster relief and weather forecasting.
Incidentally, today an AI also decides whether a daily newspaper's online articles are paid for or not. And AI has been one of our children's most loyal playmates for ages when they compete against non-human opponents in racing or action games.
4. how reliable are the answers from Chat GPT?
As a rule, the information is surprisingly good and profound. Nevertheless, Chat GPT is not free of errors. The software itself still falls for silly trick questions and answers, for example, that «tofu as a meat substitute is a form of creative expression or innovation in the spirit of Dadaism». However, there is absolutely no doubt that AI will soon no longer make such mistakes thanks to its constant optimisation.
Is cheating really such a new phenomenon? People have been cheating, copying and copying for decades at school.
Nevertheless, we should advise children and young people not to blindly accept the results of the chatbot. This is very similar to what we have done in the past with search engines and online encyclopaedias.
5. can children now have their homework done conveniently by Chat GPT?
For many parents, this question quite rightly rings alarm bells. In fact, Chat GPT writes remarkably intelligent essays and impressive essays, creates convincing presentations and solves tricky maths problems.
But is cheating really such a new phenomenon? After all, people have been cheating, copying, copying and using calculators for decades. And teachers have always had to reckon with pupils handing in assignments that they didn't write themselves.
6 How can teachers recognise computer-generated texts?
Even before Chat GPT, many pupils copied out entire Wikipedia text passages. Teachers quickly realised this, however, as several classmates had submitted the identical text. This won't happen with Chat GPT because the software constantly generates new texts of its own, but the results will be similar.
A good teacher who has a relationship with their students will notice the use of Chat GPT even without any technical effort.
As with the online lexicon, however, the style of Chat GPT does not sound like children's language. And even if only sections of it are used, breaks and set pieces are still particularly noticeable. Although there are now apps and other programmes such as GPT Zero that are designed to detect AI cheating, a good teacher who interacts with their students will notice this even without any technical effort.
What's more, questions about the content in any subject immediately reveal the fraud. That's why many teachers don't believe in banning chat GPT - as is the case in New York schools, for example.
7 What is Dall-E?
A drawing programme that was also created by Open AI. It can create amazing sketches, drawings and paintings in the desired style based on word descriptions. This software is particularly suitable for younger children to playfully explore the possibilities of artificial intelligence.
