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How to use ChatGPT: Everything you need to know
Image created using OpenAI's Dall-E, another project from the company behind ChatGPT.
ChatGPT, OpenAI's latest (and most popular) endeavor has been on the minds of many of us in recent weeks, including those leading Google, Microsoft, and Meta as it became the fastest growing 'app' of all time, even surpassing TikTok.
Whether people learn how to use ChatGPT to ask it questions in search of funny answers, see how well it can create content, or find and correct a bug in code, one thing remains clear: The genius of this latest AI tool isn't in how innovative the idea of it is, but in how accessible and natural it feels.
In Depth: These experts are racing to protect AI from hackers. Time is running out
The AI chatbot can hold conversational text interactions with users by employing artificial intelligence, and these exchanges can feel as natural as if you were chatting with a real person.
How to use ChatGPT
Even if OpenAI is constantly working to fine tune ChatGPT, keep in mind that it and other language models can provide false information when answering questions, as AI tools are not flawless, and it's no replacement for human interaction or verified sources of information.
1. Create an OpenAI account
Go to chat.OpenAi.com and register for an account with an email. You need to create an account on the OpenAI website to log in and access ChatGPT.
Creating an account on OpenAI will give you access to ChatGPT.
2. Accept ChatGPT terms
Once you've logged into your OpenAI account on the ChatGPT side of the website, it's time to read through the terms and disclosures for ChatGPT and click on Next. Click on Done when you reach the last one.
3. Start writing
That's it.
Now that you know how to log into and access ChatGPT, it's time to get started with it and ask the language model any burning questions you may have and see what kind of answers you can get.
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At this point, you can type in any of your ChatGPT prompts in the text bar at the bottom of the page and press enter to submit your questions. The AI chatbot will then generate text in an attempt to provide helpful answers to your prompts.
Start writing to use ChatGPT.
More ChatGPT prompt examples
ChatGPT can generate responses to prompts (a feature that could eventually challenge search engines) well enough to become an important tool for content generation; write and fix code, make calculations, translate information, and more.
- What is quantum physics?
- Write a poem about a headache in the style of Walt Whitman.
- Write a country song about a dog named Speckles who loves to run.
- Summarize the Pride and Prejudice book for me.
- Write a sick note for my child missing school.
FAQ
What can I use ChatGPT for?
Your imagination is the limit. Have fun with different ChatGPT prompts. ZDNET's David Gewirtz asked the AI chatbot to write a WordPress plugin for him. He also used it to help him fix code faster.
Also: The best AI chatbots: ChatGPT and other fun alternatives to try
Others are using it to write malware. One professor is even requiring the use of ChatGPT in his classroom. Here are a few lower tech ideas to start with:
- Write a song about [insert topic here] -- Try adding multiple details.
- Write a poem about [insert topic here] -- Again, add as many details as you can think of.
- Ask it philosophical questions.
- Ask it to summarize ideas or concepts.
The more details you write in your prompts, the more precise the answers will be.
Does ChatGPT give everyone the same answer?
Most of the time, when different people ask ChatGPT the exact same question, they will get the same answer. There may be a few word variations, but they will be almost identical. The trick is that several people must word their questions exactly the same for this to happen.
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If someone wanted to determine whether an article was written by ChatGPT, or a professor wanted to see if the language model was used for an essay by a student, asking ChatGPT the same question the article or essay was based on could help figure it out. ChatGPT also tends to generated more polite prose than human writers do.
How do I access ChatGPT?
You can access ChatGPT by going to chat.OpenAI.com and logging in. If you're on OpenAI's website, you can log in to your account, then scroll down until you see ChatGTP on the bottom left corner of the page, and click on it to start chatting.
Is ChatGPT free?
Yes, you can use ChatGPT for free -- for now. Since the natural language processing model is still in its research and "learning" preview phase, people can use it for free; all you need is to register for a free OpenAI account, though there is an option to upgrade to a paid membership.
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OpenAI recently launched the new option of using ChatGPT Plus for customers to have unlimited access without blackout windows, faster responses, and priority access to new features, for $20/month.
Users can still access the chatbot without a subscription, but there are limits to a free account, particularly in the fact that many people find themselves unable to access ChatGPT at any given moment when it's at capacity, hence the possible preference for a Plus membership.
How to register for ChatGPT?
In order to register for ChatGPT, all you need to do is sign up for a free OpenAI account using your email address.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a large language model that uses artificial intelligence to hold text conversations with users that can feel natural, as if you were asking someone questions. The human-like responses are useful when translating from one language to another, looking for instructions on how to do something, and generation of written content, able to write anything from songs to cover letters.
Also: AI detectors vs ChatGPT: Can online tools tell human content from chatbot?
The versatility of this and other large language models has the capacity of replacing a Google search in the future, making it a substantial innovation to continue develop through training data.
How does ChatGPT work?
ChatGPT uses reinforcement learning with human feedback (RLHF) to intelligently process its environment using human demonstrations and adapt to different situations with learned desired behaviors.
ChatGPT has been trained on a substantial amount of data prior to this research preview, and continues learning through the human knowledge users provide, making it able to give educated responses on a vast variety of topics.
Does ChatGPT give wrong answers?
ChatGPT, like all language models, is not without limitations and can give inaccurate and incorrect information, so it's important to double check the information it gives you. It's always learning from the text data it is provided, which can make it prone to misinformation. OpenAI recommends users provide feedback on what ChatGPT tells them using the thumbs up/down buttons, in order to better improve the model.
Also: ChatGPT or human text? Here's one surprising way to tell the difference
The AI chatbot is also not connected to the internet and is unable to determine the current date, so asking ChatGPT how many days until Easter won't get you an exact number of days -- this is one of the ways ChatGPT differs from search engines.
Will my conversations with ChatGPT be used for training?
When you're familiarizing yourself with how to use ChatGPT, you may wonder if your specific conversations will be used for training and, if so, then who can view your conversations. The truth is that your conversations can be viewed by OpenAI and used in training to refine its systems, so I wouldn't enter any personal or private information.
Also: ChatGPT and Google's Bard: Are we looking for answers in all the wrong places?
The prompts you enter when you use ChatGPT are also permanently saved to your account and you won't be able to delete specific prompts unless you delete your whole account. If you'd like to delete your account, follow these steps:
- Log into your OpenAI account
- Go to Help
- On the bottom of the pop-up, select Messages
- Click on Send us a message
- Choose Account Deletion from the available options
- Follow the prompts to delete your account and data
Why is ChatGPT saying my access is denied?
Access to ChatGPT can be denied for various reasons -- mine gets denied while using a VPN, for example. If you're getting a message when trying to use ChatGPT that says your access is denied, it may be one of these issues:
- Violation of the API's terms of service
- User trying to access an unavailable version of GPT
- The API key may be invalid
- User has exceeded usage limits
- Violation to the OpenAI API terms of service