The fastest evolution in technology history

The pace of development of ChatGPT is breathtaking. What is incredible is the rapid strides that it is making with every new version and variant. Users can ask it to assess and analyse complex matter

In just over 60 days of its launch ChatGPT was able to get more than 100 million monthly active users. TikTok took about nine months to cross the 100-million-user mark, while Spotify took more than four years. 

Several versions of ChatGPT have evolved since November 2022, and new variants are popping up at unprecedented speed. They seem to be evolving faster than our ability to keep track. Users are scrambling to understand and this generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool. This is like learning to drive a F1 car while it is already in motion.

Even in an era of fast-evolving technology, the pace of development of ChatGPT is breathtaking. The incredible aspect is the rapid strides that ChatGPT is making with every new version and variant. Users can ask it to assess and analyse complex matters. The AI tool uses human-like reasoning to give answers. For example, it can study a court order and answer questions. It can read an insurance policy claim and analyse whether the claim should be paid or not. Most of this depends on the type of information and data which has been provided to ChatGPT. 

Companies are experimenting and adapting ChatGPT at breakneck speed. Not surprisingly, this pace of evolution, adoption and adaption is creating accidents too. Recently, Samsung engineers used ChatGPT to seek a solution for some errors in the source code for one of its programmes. In the process the engineers entered sensitive corporate data in the AI tool. This was sensitive corporate information which was absorbed by ChatGPT for its own learning. That information is now with OpenAI. Many other such incidents have been reported in recent times. 

The full form of ChatGPT is generative pre-training transformer, a generative AI tool. It is based on a large language model where AI can learn to generate output based on its information set. The smart aspect about generative AI and ChatGPT is its ability to create human-like expressions in words, voice and visuals. 

Companies are now working on creating their own private AGI to prevent Samsung-like accidents. Private ChatGPT will be similar to private cloud networks where the AI tool will be ring-fenced, so that sensitive information remains with the owner. Microsoft has positioned ChatGPT as a co-pilot for enterprises. Business users should use ChatGPT as a support tool and not blindly depend on it for analysis or facts. ChatGPT works best as a support tool for reasoning and insight with human oversight. The new version of Bing, for instance, is connected to ChatGPT. While Bing provides the facts, ChatGPT creates the reasoning. 

For such reasons, a group of over 1,000 technology leaders and researchers, including Elon Musk, have urged artificial intelligence companies, including Google’s DeepMind, to slow or stop the development of generative and related AI tools. “Contemporary AI systems are now becoming human-competitive at general tasks, and we must ask ourselves: Should we let machines flood our information channels with propaganda and untruth?” the letter by the Future of Life group says. It is now arguing for better oversight of AI development. “AI developers must work with policymakers to dramatically accelerate development of robust AI governance systems. These should at a minimum include: new and capable regulatory authorities dedicated to AI; oversight and tracking of highly capable AI systems and large pools of computational capability.”

Pausing may not be an answer, but internal guardrails and externals controls will be required. This fascinating, powerful tool created by generative AI has to be harnessed in the best possible manner while mitigating its negative impact.