ChatGPT – you may have already heard about this advanced language model, developed by OpenAI. It’s currently projected to be capable of transforming the way many professionals across different industries work. In fact, it has the potential to bring a wide range of changes to sectors such as coding (more on that later), marketing, writing, finance, healthcare, and more.
But what is ChatGPT and what can it actually do? Learn more about ChatGPT, its capabilities, and tips to use it in your professional life.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot designed to assist users by creating human-like responses to queries, instructions, or discussion topics. Think of it like a text calculator – you input a command and the AI chatbot produces a response.
As generative AI, ChatGPT has been trained on large amounts of data from the internet, which gives it knowledge on a multitude of topics. So, whether you want answers to a question, engaging conversation, or information surrounding a topic, ChatGPT is largely capable of providing coherent, contextually appropriate responses. But keep in mind that, while this type of technology can be helpful in a variety of circumstances, the responses provided are only as good as the ChatGPT prompts it is given.
The Value of a ChatGPT Prompt
Let’s say you’ve run out of tales to tell your toddler at bedtime, so you come up with a ChatGPT prompt for a quick solution: Write me a one-paragraph bedtime story for a 3-year-old. The AI chatbot produces this:
Once upon a time, in a cozy little cottage, there was a curious teddy bear named Benny. Every night, Benny would snuggle up with his best friend, Emily, and they would go on magical adventures in their dreams. They would explore enchanted forests, meet friendly animals, and fly through the twinkling stars. With their imaginations as their guide, Benny and Emily would have the most incredible adventures, creating memories that would fill their hearts with joy. And as the moon smiled down upon them, they drifted off to sleep, excited for the next night’s enchanting journey.
It’s not a bad story by any means, and there’s a chance a toddler will enjoy it, but it’s not exactly riveting, fun, or exciting. In fact, taking a different approach toward the way you create a ChatGPT prompt can produce different and better results. By writing one prompt with a wide range of details, or “prepping” ChatGPT through various prompts, the response you receive can potentially be closer to what you initially envisioned.
1. Every Detail Counts
If we look at the previous ChatGPT prompt we created for a bedtime story, it’s easy to see just how basic it is. The only criteria ChatGPT had to work with was a bedtime story and its target audience. If we take a different approach that prioritizes additional details, the response can change significantly. For instance: Write me a one paragraph bedtime story for a 3-year-old who loves unicorns, princesses, and doesn’t want to go to sleep. The ChatGPT response then looks something like this:
Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, there was a little princess named Amelia who had a special friend named Sparkle, a magical unicorn with a shimmering, rainbow-colored mane. Every night, Amelia and Sparkle would embark on wondrous adventures in their dreams. They would dance with fairies, explore sparkling castles, and soar through cotton candy clouds. But when it was time to go to sleep, Amelia didn’t want the fun to end. Sparkle would gently nuzzle her, reminding her that even princesses need their rest, for it is in dreams that new adventures await. So, with a happy heart, Amelia closed her eyes, knowing that she would wake up to more magical moments with Sparkle by her side.
Although still brief and using the same formula as the previous story, this response took the details in the prompt into consideration. It addressed each one and created a story that was much more fit for the target audience.
2. Prepare ChatGPT
Preparing ChatGPT for your prompt means creating context around your topic. This can be as simple as providing a target audience, the communication channel to be used, and even the type of lingo or vernacular it’s expected to use. However, a more involved and successful method involved chaining your prompts together with “do you understand?” questions at the end of them. That may look something like this:
I want you to write a bedtime story. Do you understand?
ChatGPT: Yes, I understand. I’d be happy to write a bedtime story for you. What kind of story would you like?
The bedtime story is intended for a toddler. Do you understand?
ChatGPT: Yes, I understand that the bedtime story is intended for a toddler. I will keep that in mind while writing the story. Please proceed with any specific themes or preferences you have in mind for the story.
The intended audience refuses to go to bed at the intended bedtime. Do you understand?
ChatGPT: Yes, I understand that the intended audience, a toddler, refuses to go to bed at the intended bedtime. In that case, I will try to create a bedtime story that incorporates elements of imagination, adventure, and a soothing atmosphere to help encourage a sense of calm and relaxation.
The toddler is a fan of princess stories and loves unicorns. Do you understand?
ChatGPT: Absolutely! I understand that the toddler is a fan of princess stories and loves unicorns. I will create a bedtime story that combines these elements to captivate their imagination and create a magical and enchanting experience.
By taking this approach, you can create a trail of context that helps the AI chatbot understand the situation and deliver a response that best encapsulates the desired outcome.
3. Provide Examples
Providing examples is often a good way to help explain your ideas, suggestions, or questions. They can play a similar role in ChatGPT prompts. Whether you’re looking for something as simple as a short bedtime story or as complex as a marketing campaign, giving the AI chatbot an example to reference will help it identify parameters of your choosing. This method is especially useful when used in tandem with additional details and during the preparation process.
4. It’s About Hand-Holding
It seems strange to have to “hand-hold” a technology as smart as artificial intelligence. But it’s important to remember that ChatGPT and other AI chatbots are designed to be instructed and developed as you interact with them. Hand-holding is no exaggeration – you’ll need to specifically direct it on what to do, what not to do, what to prioritize, etc.
5. Refine When Needed
If the response you received is not what you expected, don’t hesitate to have ChatGPT make changes. You can either completely regenerate the response with a click of the “regenerate response” button or input your desired revisions in a new message. If the copy it provided is not as long as you want, simply ask for more. Or maybe the tone needs to be much friendlier and casual. If that’s the case, let the chatbot know in additional messages.
You Can Even Apply It to Your Job Search
ChatGPT uses can range from simple bedtime stories to much more impactful processes like writing essays or scripts, coding, or even putting together job search materials. If you find yourself stuck while writing a cover letter or resume, ChatGPT can step in and provide the inspiration you’ve been after. Of course, we don’t recommend using the entirety of what ChatGPT produces, but seeing a cover letter or resume from a different lens can inspire what you craft. Keep in mind, it’s best to use ChatGPT ethically and responsibly as a helpful tool to help drive what you produce – not a replacement for your own work.
Maybe you’ve already landed the job interview you were after but are now nervous about making a good impression. With enough context and details, ChatGPT can produce a list of possible questions you can expect to see at your upcoming interview. They may not be exactly what you’ll be asked, but knowing these questions can be useful in your preparation. Or let’s say you can’t think of questions to ask the person interviewing you – this is a great opportunity to put ChatGPT to use. Give it as many details as possible or prepare to create a prompt in which you ask it what types of questions you should present.
Use It In Coding
Coding is the process of directing a computer to complete a task through the use of programming languages. This process has been used to create tech giants such as Google and Facebook, award-winning video games, and important tools like ChatGPT itself. Much like other jobs, coding can be time-consuming and repetitive – two things ChatGPT can be used to mitigate. ChatGPT can provide coders with::
Code Assistance
Whether a developer is faced with errors or challenges, ChatGPT can be used to create solutions or provide suggestions.
Code Review
Developers are tasked with identifying issues with existing code and finding ways to optimize it. If they share bits of code with ChatGPT, the AI chatbot can provide feedback and recommendations that can potentially improve the code.
Documentation
ChatGPT can be used to review code snippets and generate documentation and comments that can potentially make the code more understandable for others.
Education
ChatGPT can be used as an educational tool for coding concepts. It can answer questions about coding fundamentals, give explanations on syntax, and offer examples geared toward understanding programming principles.
Make It a Career: Introducing Prompt Engineering
Prompt engineering is the process of meticulously formulating instructions to an AI chatbot as a series of messages or questions to elicit the desired response. It involves designing the prompts in a way that effectively communicates intent and carefully navigates the chatbot’s responses. This can be achieved through context, by specifying formats, controlling output length, using sample prompts, and other prompt engineering techniques.
Prompt engineering is a productive and valuable way to use AI chatbots to their fullest potential. As the practice continues to grow and individuals become more skilled in working with language models, new opportunities in the job market get created. As the demand for prompt engineers steadily increases, individuals looking for a new tech career now have another opportunity to join the tech space.
As ChatGPT evolves, it will continue to serve as a valuable tool for professionals across different sectors, including tech.
