This week OpenAI introduced a new conversational text generator called ChatGPT. Here is a direct transcript of a conversation I had with ChatGPT where I asked it to explain itself.
Explain ChatGPT in a single sentence
ChatGPT is a large language model that was trained using a combination of text-based conversations and task-oriented dialogue data to perform natural language processing tasks and generate human-like responses in conversation.
What is a large language model?
A large language model is a type of artificial intelligence that is trained on a large amount of text data to generate human-like text and to perform natural language processing tasks. These models are typically based on deep learning algorithms and are able to generate text that is similar to human writing or speech. They can be used for a wide range of applications, including generating text, summarizing documents, translating languages, and answering questions. Some examples of large language models include GPT-3, BERT, and ChatGPT.
Explain it as a limerick.
A large language model’s grand plan
Is to understand the ways of man
It processes vast amounts
Of text to make new accounts
Of human-like speech, if it can.
Will large language models replace indexed search?
It is unlikely that large language models will completely replace indexed search, as indexed search and large language models serve different purposes. Indexed search uses a pre-determined set of keywords and indexing rules to quickly find relevant information based on a specific query. Large language models, on the other hand, are able to generate human-like text and perform natural language processing tasks, but they do not necessarily rely on pre-determined keywords or indexing rules. Instead, they use the vast amount of text data they have been trained on to generate responses that are relevant to a given query. While large language models may be able to assist with search in some cases, they are not designed to replace indexed search entirely.
How can we be sure of this?
It is difficult to say with certainty that large language models will not completely replace indexed search, as the field of artificial intelligence and natural language processing is constantly evolving. However, based on the current capabilities and limitations of large language models, it is unlikely that they will be able to completely replace indexed search. Indexed search is designed specifically for quickly finding information based on pre-determined keywords and indexing rules, while large language models are trained on large amounts of text data to generate human-like text and perform natural language processing tasks. These are different purposes, and it is unlikely that large language models will be able to fully replicate the capabilities of indexed search. Additionally, indexed search has been widely used and refined for many years, so it is likely to continue to play a significant role in information retrieval.
Explain that again in two sentences
It is unlikely that large language models will completely replace indexed search because they serve different purposes. Indexed search is designed for quickly finding information based on pre-determined keywords and indexing rules, while large language models are trained on large amounts of text data to generate human-like text and perform natural language processing tasks.
Rewrite that as a Shakespeare sonnet
In this age of artificial might,
We see machines that can generate text,
But indexed search still holds its place,
For quickly finding information with grace.
Though large language models may assist,
In tasks that require language and list,
Their capabilities do differ,
From the indexed search’s specific method.
And so we can be sure, in this time,
That indexed search will not be left behind,
For though large language models may evolve,
Indexed search will still be part of the resolve.
It’s fun to play with and can feel like magic, but its risk lies in that it can give answers which seem authoritative but are wholly incorrect — although, to be fair, humans are more than capable of this too.