‘In a world where machines can find (all) answers, it becomes imperative that all people are well trained in asking questions and evaluating answers.’
Responses from Chatbots like ChatGPT or Bing Chat are only as good at the questions you ask them. If you ask generic questions, you will get unimpressive answers. In order to harness their power, you need to learn how to use them effectively and critically.
Before using these tools, it is also a good idea to think about your purpose. Could you be using them as a distraction or to gain unfair advantage rather than to enhance your learning?
Below are some tips and guides on how to use generative AI tools:
To make the most of Generative AI tools, you need to give it appropriate instructions. This is called prompt engineering and requires practice and skill. Check out the guides and tutorials in the section below. For ChatGPTs and other language model tools, Dr Marcel Scharth in the Conversation suggests including information about:
There is an element of randomness to generative AI so you will not get exactly the same answer twice. So ask the same question again or ask it differently. For example, you can ask the chatbot to make the answer shorter, provide step by step explanations, add bullet points or focus on a particular aspect of the topic. Chatbots remember the current conversation they are having so you simply need to add details rather than start again.
This is an essential step. Never ever take the output from chatbots at face value. If you've asked a question, ask for its sources. If it gives you sources, check them as it can make them up. If you have asked it to rewrite a piece of text, make sure that you check it, understand it and make it your own
Always fact check the answers given to you by a chatbot. Chatbots do not reason like humans so they give answers that sound plausible but that sometimes are not accurate and can even be nonsensical. So take the habit of being ultra cautious when using generative AI so that you remain in control.
