ChatGPT tips and tricks for Beginners

AIQ Episode 6

Mehul Gupta
Data Science in your pocket

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The 6th episode of AIQ talks about the revolutionary ChatGPT and some major tips and tricks around it. So, if you’re a beginner, this is the podcast for you !

We have discussed the following topics

Popularity and Usage of ChatGPT

Effectiveness in Handling Research

ChatGPT vs. Search Engines

Future of Search Engines

Impact on Software Development

Importance of Prompting

Writing Cover Letters Using ChatGPT

Detecting AI-Generated Content

ChatGPT and Mathematics

Future of ChatGPT

Let’s get started !

Popularity and Usage of ChatGPT

Host: How popular is ChatGPT, and how often do you use it for personal or professional tasks?

Guest: Since ChatGPT’s introduction, I’ve become quite dependent on it for various tasks, including coding and content creation. I write blogs on Medium and create videos on YouTube, and I find that ChatGPT can assist with nearly everything now. It simplifies coding and helps with reading lengthy research papers by summarizing them.

Effectiveness in Handling Research

Host: How effective do you think ChatGPT is in handling research papers and summarizing articles?

Guest: A common mistake I see among beginners is blindly copying and pasting answers from ChatGPT. It’s crucial to have a basic understanding of the topic. For instance, I recently worked with a complex research paper on a new methodology called Dora by Nvidia. Instead of spending a week reading and summarizing it, I read a blog to grasp the concept and then used ChatGPT to get its perspective. However, I had to correct some misconceptions in its output. Thus, while ChatGPT is helpful, it’s essential to verify the information.

ChatGPT vs. Search Engines

Host: Can ChatGPT replace search engines, or is it merely an alternative?

Guest: In my experience, I’ve significantly reduced my use of search engines for finding blogs and research papers. I now rely on integrated search tools like Perplexity, which collate resources and provide summarized information. However, for discovering new online tools, I still find search engines more effective. While ChatGPT is great for reading and exploring, it doesn’t yet excel in providing the best answers for tool recommendations.

Future of Search Engines

Host: Do you think ChatGPT could completely replace search engines in the next five years?

Guest: I believe that within the next 2–3 years, we might see a significant shift. Maintaining traditional search engines could become less viable as more people prefer the quick, summarized answers provided by AI bots. The demand for detailed blog posts may decline as users seek concise information.

Impact on Software Development

Host: How relevant are AI tools like ChatGPT for software development?

Guest: Initially, the coding abilities of AI tools were limited, but they have improved significantly. ChatGPT now provides useful code structures for proof-of-concept purposes and helps with understanding new libraries. While it may not handle every coding task perfectly, it can assist with 60–70% of the work, allowing developers to focus on refining their logic.

Importance of Prompting

Host: How important are prompts for getting quality results from ChatGPT? What’s the best way to write a prompt?

Guest: Prompts are crucial for achieving good results. I recently wrote a book on LangChain, and I emphasized that two key factors for optimal output from a language model are a good model and a well-crafted prompt. If you input poor quality prompts, you’ll receive poor quality responses. Think of it like working with an intern; while they may have technical knowledge, they need detailed instructions to perform well.

For example, if you ask ChatGPT to prepare an itinerary for the UK, you need to provide specifics like the number of days, check-in, and check-out dates. The more details you include, the better the results. Additionally, consider using prompt engineering techniques, such as asking the model to role-play.

For instance, if you want technical insights, you could instruct it to respond as a leading researcher in the field. When generating a blog post, first ask for the ideal structure, then request the post based on that structure. More detailed prompts yield better results.

Writing Cover letters using ChatGPT

Host: What about writing cover letters or statements of purpose for applications? Any suggestions?

Guest: When using ChatGPT for these documents, be smart. If the output seems too generic or bot-like, rephrase it. A trick I use is to take a response from ChatGPT and ask another AI tool, like Perplexity, to rephrase it. This helps mix ideas and makes detection more difficult. Use simple sentences to avoid sounding overly sophisticated, which could raise suspicion.There’s also a new feature in ChatGPT called custom GPTs, which integrates with various third-party websites. For example, I used a resume improvement tool that analyzed my resume and suggested enhancements. If you struggle with writing prompts, consider using existing extensions and tools available online.

How to detect AI generated content?

Host: Are there any tools for detecting AI-generated content that recruiters might use?

Guest: I’ve explored various detection tools, and most claim to identify AI-generated content, but many of them are ineffective. If you mix your ideas into the AI-generated text, it becomes hard to detect. Even humans may struggle to identify slight modifications in the text. As people become more familiar with AI-generated patterns, it’s essential not to copy blindly.

ChatGPT and mathematics

Host: How effective do you think ChatGPT is in handling mathematical or analytical problems?

Guest: Currently, ChatGPT struggles with complex mathematical problems. While it can handle basic calculations, it tends to break down with more complicated tasks. Mathematics is a language in itself, and the focus on training models for math is lacking. However, improvements are being made, and I believe that future iterations will handle math more effectively.

Future of ChatGPT

Host: What are your thoughts on the future power of ChatGPT and similar tools?

Guest: ChatGPT is already powerful, and claims about future versions, like GPT-5 having PhD-level intelligence, suggest significant advancements. If these tools become widely available, there could be economic implications, such as layoffs, as companies may prefer AI over human employees. The concept of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is still distant, but advancements in language models will continue. Basic machine learning models may become obsolete as more sophisticated tools like AutoGPT emerge, capable of executing tasks autonomously. This cleaned version retains the essential points while improving readability and coherence.

Hope you liked the episode

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