The rate at which technology – and more specifically, Artificial Intelligence (AI) – is improving is beyond what even some experts could have predicted.
With that in mind, the beta version of ChatGPT-4 has already been released and there are some staggering improvements. Currently the update is only available to Plus subscribers (at a subscription rate of approx. Dhs75 per month), or as an API for developers to build applications and services, but is likely to be rolled out across the board following initial user testing and feedback.
In preparation for the mass launch, here are the top five ChatGPT upgrades you should be aware of:
Multimodal functionality
A natural marriage – in the AI world, it seems – is that of image and text. Discord’s Midjourney requests users to input a text prompt in order to create and image, and vice-versa, it can also describe an image you input. It’s only natural then that ChatGPT would expand its capabilities to images too.
The example given by OpenAI (ChatGPT’s parent company) was that of a photo of baking ingredients, paired with the question ‘what can I make with these?’. The tool then responds with a number of suggestions for dishes to make, along with the appropriate recipes.
In other cases, we’ve seen users input a funny meme, and GPT-4 can explain not only what’s happening in the image but why it’s humorous. As this function improves and becomes more widely used, the general consensus is that in time the capabilities will also expand to video.
It can take in and generate up to 25,000 words
Another new and especially useful feature is the expanded capacity. GPT-4 can produce three times more copy than previous iterations, allowing users to really dig deep into complex tasks. You can also ‘teach’ the model about a topic and then have it use what it has learned in tasks. For example, you can input detailed information about how Midjourney works, and then request a series of complex prompts to create your desired image.
It is 40 per cent more likely to produce factual responses
Of course, ChatGPT is still in its infancy, and OpenAI are especially clear about the fact that the tool isn’t yet perfect. GPT-4 does still make some mistakes. It can pull inaccurate information from the web, incorrectly advise on a topic, or even make grammatical errors; but the latest version is 40 per cent more accurate than the previous model.
Use as a tool for education
There are limitless ways in which this tool can be used to make your tasks more efficient, but it can now be used for educational purposes, too. GPT-4 is equipped with a vast knowledge of multiple subjects, from school level mathematics, up to leadership and management courses. So, whether your child needs a virtual tutor, or you’re looking to upskill in your career, there’s no longer a need to invest in expensive solutions for learning.
GPT-4 has been tested under a number of simulated exams, where it passed the Uniform Bar Exam, LSAT and other high level educational tests. The technology calls for a re-evaluation of the current education system, in order for schools to work with not against it. Students will find a way to implement ChatGPT into their learning one way or another, so it would make sense to seek integration that will avoid harming the learning process.
Integration with organisations
Popular language learning app Duolingo has incorporated GPT-4 into its software to enhance the progress of users. In addition to its regular lesson structure, users can now ‘chat’ with the AI model in the way they would with a native speaker of that language. Practice basic conversations in French or Spanish and GPT-4 will encourage, praise and correct your responses in real time.
A number of other organisations are already using the software within their company, case studies of which can be found on OpenAI’s website in order to show the breadth of uses in real life.
As technology continues to rapidly improve, there are many people who fear what it can become and where it can take us. While those questions are debated, one thing for sure is that the more we can educate ourselves on the platform and understand its capabilities, the better equipped we’ll be to use it to our advantage as the way we work shifts.
By Elise Kerr
