How to make ChatGPT your personal assistant

After its release to the public, in November 2022, ChatGPT took over the technological conversation on the Internet. So much so that since that date the term has been searched as much or more on Google than the very concept of “Artificial Intelligence”. In fact, for many people the two have become synonymous.

A few weeks ago we commented that, according to the magazine timeit is “the most important technological advancement since social networks”, while some experts reflected on how this tool, instead of a threat, can be a great ally for both teachers and students. students, if used properly.

The world is changing fast, and although it’s likely that in a few months, using ChatGPT will be something as basic as laughing (does the verb still exist? chatgepetear?), for some it is still a foreign tool that arouses a certain distrust, not to mention fear and panic in the face of a robotic and automated future.

Although it may seem risky to claim that ChatGPT will change humanity, its own creator, Sam Altman, has publicly expressed concern about the limits that must be placed on his invention. What we already know, of course, is that studies and professions will change – and are already changing – in a substantial way, since the way, in form and content, with which we we connect to screens will never be the same.

For now, no matter how much resistance one puts up, the motto for technological advances seems to be: “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.” But why not, in this case, go further? Can ChatGPT be transformed into a personal assistant? Can we ask you to help us with the more routine or repetitive parts of the work, in order to optimize time and leave more space and energy free for the creative or executive parts?

Fortunately, the answer is yes. At least for a while, before we humans become the subjects of artificial intelligence.

(It’s a joke. Even if you want, it’s not a joke).

“As a GPT-3.5 based virtual assistant, I am equipped with a wide range of tools and functions to provide help and support,” the tool responds when asked if it could be a good one assistant. But the recommendation hits too close to home.

“ChatGPT can be of great help in daily work, as a consultation tool to which you can ask complex questions on various topics, which will be answered in a conversational tone that makes the interaction very rich”, explains Rodrigo Gorostiza , responsible for marketing and customers. Experience Work.cl .

Juan José Besa, co-founder and head of technology operations at Word believe that chatbot “He certainly has the potential to become a personal assistant. “Its ability to understand and generate coherent responses allows you to interact with it in the same way as with a human,” he enthuses.

Just as a good leader makes his colleagues better and a good coach raises the level of his players, Erich Philipp, CEO of AppAr and ChatGPT expert, assures that the potential of this tool is directly linked to the type of questions we ask. “The preparation and training of the user influence the quality of the results obtained,” he explains.

For this, it is extremely important to learn how to generate good prompts, the technical English name for questions or instructions provided to ChatGPT or other AI applications, such as Google’s Bard. “There are many online courses and tutorials that teach this,” adds Gorostiza. There is even talk of a new race around the subject: that of Fast Engineeror an engineer when prompted.

Just like there are no perfect bosses or employees, ChatGPT also has its limitations. One of them is that “it is trained with information that arrives until September 2021 and cannot perform specific actions, like sending emails or answering calls,” explains Gorostiza.

In addition, he explains, one thing is ChatGPT open to the general public – its version 3.5 – and another to be integrated via API – version 4 – which is paid and serves to use artificial intelligence as an engine capable of achieving other more specific activities. .

“For example, this could be serving customers via chat or email, processing document transcription or even systematically analyzing data. »

Other specific tasks for which ChatGPT can be a great assistant, according to Gorostiza, are:

• Content generation : ChatGPT can help write texts, create drafts, summaries or even initial proposals.
• Research and collection of information – is able to search databases, extract relevant information and present the results in an organized manner.
• Translate, calculate, write and synthesize different content.

To all this, Besa adds a few additional advantages:

• Automatic summaries – ChatGPT can read and summarize long documents or articles, providing an overview of content quickly and efficiently.
• Idea generation : When you feel empty, you can use it as inspiration to generate creative ideas in different fields, such as marketing, design or strategy.

As if it were a real job interview, ChatGPT itself tells you what your skills are. “Here,” he said, “are some of the specific ways I can help you:

• Answer the questions – You can ask me questions on a variety of topics, from general information to specific details. I use my knowledge base to provide relevant and useful answers.
• Generate content : If you need help with writing, I can generate paragraphs, short articles or even help you develop creative ideas.
• Planning help – I can help you organize your schedule, set reminders and create to-do lists to stay organized.
• Provide recommendations : If you’re looking for recommendations on books, movies, music, or other products, I can provide suggestions based on your preferences or trend analysis.
• Troubleshooting help : If you encounter a problem or difficult situation, I can help you explore possible solutions or provide you with advice based on my knowledge and experience.

When asked about its weaknesses, AI very honestly admits that it is not intended to “replace the advice or expertise of a human professional in specific areas, such as legal, medical or financial advice”. For these delicate questions, it is advisable to consult experts.

“It is always necessary to use informed judgment when evaluating the answers provided by ChatGPT,” warns Erich Philipp. “Otherwise you run the risk of obtaining information that does not conform to reality.”

Whether or not you decide to “hire” ChatGPT as your personal assistant, Gorostiza’s recommendation is to not be afraid of it and learn how to take advantage of artificial intelligence tools.

“Being proactive with them can be a big help at work. Furthermore, many new positions and jobs will be generated around this topic, which is why it is absolutely necessary to keep pace and not get left behind.”

For his part, Besa suggests that riding the GPT Chat wave in its embryonic state has several advantages:

• Learning to use this technology from the beginning can position you as a pioneer, providing competitive advantages on both a personal and professional level.
• Experimenting and learning to interact with ChatGPT will introduce you to new ways to apply this technology to your specific needs and find innovative use cases.

The key, he says, is to explore and experiment. Talk to him, learn about his abilities by trying different commands and questions, and see how it can be useful both at work and in personal life.

“While ChatGPT is impressive, it also has limitations. In many cases, this can result in inconsistent or incorrect answers. It is therefore always important to verify and corroborate the information you provide. Finally, it is advisable to participate in online communities, forums or discussion groups where experiences and learning are shared.

It’s possible that this article will age quickly, and that in a few months using ChatGPT will be as natural as a Google search. Regardless, it seems prudent to take him in and teach him to be a good helper, first, as in a chapter of Black mirrorIt ended up being the opposite.