Hello WIRED subscribers! So, like, thank you to everyone who came to our super recent AI Unlocked webinar. I totally loved our super lively convo about ChatGPT’s software features, and I wish I could have answered even more of your questions about using generative AI tools. I mean, it was a blast, right?
So, chatbots are cool and all, but have you ever thought about what ChatGPT can do beyond just chatting? Image search is where it’s at, man. I remember back in September 2023 when it first came out, and I was like, “Whoa, this is rad.” Now, I use ChatGPT’s image search tool all the time. I just snap a pic with my phone when I’m clueless about something, upload it, and ask the bot what it is. Like, the other day I was at this Irish bar and saw this thing called a hurley hanging on the wall. I was like, “What even is that?” So, I asked ChatGPT and got schooled. (I could have just asked the bartenders, but where’s the fun in that, right?)
Now, there are a couple of ChatGPT features that I didn’t get a chance to dive deep into during our short 45-minute sesh. First off, there’s temporary chats. They keep things a bit more on the down-low, you know? The convo won’t show up on your screen after it’s done, which is kinda neat. Not that you should spill all your secrets, but it’s a good option for chats you don’t need hanging around. Then there’s ChatGPT’s memory function. It’s improved over time, and if you tell it your preferences, the whole experience gets better. Like, it remembers stuff about you (unless you turn it off), and that can make things smoother.
Now, onto the not-so-great stuff. There are a few drawbacks to ChatGPT that I gotta mention. First off, hallucinations are still a thing, so don’t go all in on what the AI says. Doublecheck with legit sources, okay? Second, biases are real, man. Some are obvious, some are sneaky. Check out my chat with Margaret Mitchell to learn how biases creep into AI tools. And finally, generative AI is a bit of a power hog, so keep that in mind when you’re using it. The environmental impact might surprise you.
If you’re curious about data privacy with ChatGPT, check out WIRED’s article about what happens when you hop on the “AI action figure” trend. And if you wanna know how to opt out from AI training, we’ve got an article for that too. Like, knowledge is power, right?
Oh, and if you haven’t signed up for season two of the AI Unlocked newsletter, you totally should. It’s packed with hands-on tasks to try out different AI tools and get you thinking. Plus, I answer reader questions, which is honestly the best part of my job. Thanks for tuning in to the webinar, y’all. Catch you later!
