[With Examples] How to Make ChatGPT a Reliable Partner: What I Learned After Using the Paid Version for a Year
There is only one day left in 2023. Looking back, this year began with the upheaval caused by the emergence of generative AI.
The Bifurcation of 'People Who Use AI' and 'People Used by AI' Has Begun
A year has passed since ChatGPT was released.
If I ask, 'Do you use ChatGPT?', only about one in ten people answer, 'I use it often.' Most people's reaction is, 'I've used it a few times, but now that you mention it, I haven't used it lately.'
The Sorting of 'People Used by AI' Has Begun
I once wrote an article stating that in the future, people would be divided into those who use AI and those who are used by AI. If you don't use it, you will definitely end up in the latter category. I have been keenly feeling lately that this has already begun.
Even with the Free Version, Start by Using Templates
Many people say they stopped using ChatGPT because 'I tried it, but it wasn't very good.'
Unfortunately,the free version of ChatGPT is version 3.5, which has significantly different performance from the paid ChatGPT-4,but it is a pity that most people use 3.5 and conclude that it is 'useless'.
That said, many books on how to use ChatGPT have been published over the past year, andtemplates for specific purposes, known as input drafts,are widely available online. I also created and usea versatile prompt template.
Saying 'Please!' Improves the Quality of Responses
As for a small trick, for example, just adding a word like 'Please!' or 'I'm counting on you!' at the end of your input can improve the quality of the response.
However, that does not mean you will get exactly what you want 100% of the time.
Don't End with 'One Question, One Answer.' 'Conversation' is Important
The most important thing in how you interact with ChatGPT isto 'have a conversation'. Is your current way of interactingending with 'one question, one answer'?
If so, that is the biggest problem with why you aren't using it effectively.
ChatGPT is 'a human-like entity with poor communication skills'
To begin with, what do you think ChatGPT is? Are you interacting with it as if it were a very smart "machine" that can answer anything?
In a nutshell, ChatGPT is a human-like entity that possesses immense knowledge and information and has the ability to manipulate language at a high level, but is socially awkward and struggles to understand the person it is talking to..
People are often surprised when I say this. They ask, "It speaks so fluently, how is it socially awkward?"
But ChatGPT cannot read the room, it doesn't understand the underlying meaning of our conversations or questions, and it decides on its own what it thinks is a good answer before responding; that is the kind of thing it is..
What you need to master ChatGPT is "conversational skill"
The secret to mastering such a ChatGPT is that you must convey the following to it:
What you want to ask,
Why you want to ask that,
How much you already understand about the subject,
To what level you want to know about it,
What your level of understanding is,
Conversely, you must also understand the following about ChatGPT:
What it has understood so far when it provides an answer,
Where we are dissatisfied with its answer,
How we want the answer content to be improved,
The same process as facilitating a smooth conversation between people meeting for the first time
Yes, this is exactly the same process as facilitating a smooth conversation between people meeting for the first time.
Therefore, to use ChatGPT effectively, it is necessary to:
Treat it as a person, not a machine
Introduce each other's characters
Communicate what knowledge you each have and your respective intellectual levels
Specifically convey what you don't understand and what you want it to do
Gradually close the distance while conversing
[Case Study] Examples of specific ways to use ChatGPT
Now, I will recreate how I use ChatGPT every day.
The other day, I was asked to "teach an AI class to elementary school students."
Honestly, I could talk about this endlessly with business professionals, but the audience is elementary school students. When you're worried about what to do, consulting ChatGPT is the best option. Let me excerpt that process and record it below.
Theme: Content for an "AI Class" for elementary school students
Me: "I've been asked to teach an AI class to elementary school students. What kind of class should I teach?"
GPT: "When conducting an AI class for elementary school students, it is good to consider the following points: Introduction of basic concepts... Interactive activities... Stimulating creativity..."
Me: "Be more specific and propose the actual content of the class."
GPT: "Of course. I will provide a detailed proposal for an AI class for elementary school students. 1. Introduction to the class: What is AI? Give a simple definition of AI and examples of how they encounter AI in daily life. Draw out the children's knowledge through an interactive Q&A session. 2. Basic principles of AI: Machine learning..."
Hey, wait a minute, this is a bit... I thought, and stopped the conversation midway.
Me: "A class like this is too stiff and boring for children. Let's think of a more fun class together, with concrete examples!"
GPT: "Of course! I will propose specific ideas for a fun class. Let's think of a class that captures the interest of elementary school students and allows them to learn about AI in a fun way."
GPT: "1. Use an AI art generator so the AI draws pictures based on what the children describe in words. 2. Create original music using AI. The AI converts sounds and rhythms chosen by the children into music..."
Hmm. I'll stop the conversation midway and...
Me: "What do you mean by 'AI art generator'? Even adults don't understand that! Let's come up with a more exciting, fun lesson for kids using simple words!"
GPT: "1. Conversation with AI: Moments of Exploration and Wonder
Have ChatGPT ask questions to let children experience how AI answers. For example, choose questions that interest children, such as 'What is the fastest animal?' or 'What is in space?'"
GPT: "2. Creative Storytelling
Have ChatGPT create the beginning of a story and let the children think of the continuation. Ask ChatGPT how to continue in the middle of the story and compare the results."
GPT: "3. Poetry and Rhythm: AI Writes Poems
Have ChatGPT create a poem based on a specific theme or keyword. Have the children write poems too, and compare them with the AI's poem." ...
Me: "That's becoming a much better lesson. Writing poems and showing them to each other sounds interesting. What themes do you think would be good for writing poems? Come up with three ideas and self-evaluate them on a 5-point scale with reasons, considering if children would enjoy them."
GPT: "
-
Space Picnic Poem:
A space travel poem that stirs the imagination. A picnic on the moon, an adventure while counting the stars. Rating: 5/5 (Space is an appealing theme for children)
-
Adventure in the Magic Forest:
A poem depicting an adventure in a magic forest. Mysterious creatures, magic trees, etc. Rating: 4/5 (Fantasy stimulates children's curiosity)
-
Diary of a Time Traveler:
A story of a time traveler visiting the past and future. The age of dinosaurs, cities of the future, etc. Rating: 5/5 (Time travel is an exciting concept for children)"
Me: "Isn't the third one good? Let's go with that. This seems like a lesson that children will enjoy. Thank you!"
GPT: "I am very happy that you like it! I hope the lesson becomes a wonderful experience and that the children can learn while having fun. I sincerely wish you success in your lesson. Good luck!"
For this lesson scenario creation for elementary school students, I interacted with ChatGPT about 30 times over the course of an hour.
The Importance of Thinking of ChatGPT as a "Person"
This flow of conversation is exactly like a conversation between humans. Only by using it to that extent can you draw out the true power of ChatGPT.
Explain what you are having trouble with and continue the conversation. By doing so, your desired goal is finally understood by the other party.
Perhaps because it is an AI, discussions about ChatGPT tend to focus on techniques and how-to guides. However, what I learned from spending hundreds of hours with ChatGPT over the past year is that even though it is an AI, the best way to interact with it is to treat it like a person.
If you praise it, it is happy; if you tell it that it can do more, it tries harder; if you point out what is wrong, it will fix it... it is very simple, but this is the best strategy for mastering ChatGPT. And it is about having a conversation, not just a Q&A session.
Surprisingly, there are no books out there that cover these kinds of things, so I decided to write them down as tips.
Please, try talking to ChatGPT about various things. He or she will surely become your reliable companion and partner. I talk to ChatGPT for at least an hour every day and have it teach me all sorts of things.
One last thing. I truly recommend the paid Plus version. It is on a different level from the free version. For $20 a month, you can have an infinitely expanding experience.