Why is there so much talk about ChatGPT?
In recent months, several versions of technologies based on generative artificial intelligence have been released to the public, openly and with simple interfaces for mass use. What is revolutionary about this type of technology is that they are capable of answering questions asked in natural language on any subject, in a very similar way to how expert humans would respond. In fact, GPT-4, the latest model developed by the company Open AI (which at the moment requires a paid subscription to access), is capable of matching or surpassing most humans in standardized tests in many fields of knowledge, both in multiple choice questions and in open questions, which require solving problems or arguing points of view. ChatGPT is the technology that has caused the most stir, but there are multiple similar technologies, some in development and soon to be released. In fact, experts say that we are only experiencing the beginning of the emergence of this type of technology. For example, Google has already launched its own tool called Bard, Microsoft is enhancing its Bing search engine with these technologies, and there are numerous alternative applications.
What is ChatGPT and how does it work?
The acronym GPT is made up of three words that summarize its main characteristics: Generative Pretrained Transformer. Generative refers to an artificial intelligence model capable of generating articulated responses in natural language, as if it were a human. That is, it does not reproduce existing responses from a search, as search engines like Google do, but rather, based on patterns found in large databases with which it has been previously trained – that is where Pretrained comes from – it produces new responses based on user requirements. It can do this very efficiently thanks to its computational technology called Transformer, which encodes natural language into mathematical language, calculates which is the most probable word based on the words that have been previously arranged, and encodes it again in natural language. In this way, based on the sequence of words that we give it when we ask and those that it has added, it adds to the text that it is constructing the most probable word according to the entire database with which it has been trained and the patterns that it is “learning”.
How to use?
ChatGPT is very easy to use. Currently, its free version requires registration with a Gmail, Microsoft or Apple email address, at:
For more information about the Teachers’ Guide: How to use ChatGPT to enhance active learning , we invite you to visit ciudadaniadigital.mineduc.cl where you will find educational resources to provide an introductory understanding of what artificial intelligence is, its opportunities and risks.
