The advantages and limitations of using ChatGPT to enhance technological research

Stephen Rice, Sean R. Crouse, Scott R. Winter and Connor Rice

Technology in Society, 2024, vol. 76, issue C

Abstract: In 2022, OpenAI made a groundbreaking entrance with the release of ChatGPT, a new online chatbot that allows users to interact with the GPT-3.5 language model. Users can ask questions and converse with ChatGPT by typing into a text field similar to direct messaging software. Then, ChatGPT will generate a response. Users can then either respond to ChatGPT, regenerate the previous response, or “like” the response and give feedback. OpenAI improved the program on March 14th, 2023, with the release of GPT 4, which promised better reasoning ability. Both these iterations of ChatGPT have attracted significant attention from researchers due to the software's remarkably enhanced capabilities compared to earlier versions. Due to its inherent value as a research tool, ChatGPT will likely become a permanent fixture, so a thorough evaluation of ethical and professional boundaries is crucial. In this opinion paper, we explore ChatGPT 4.0 by addressing: a) its capabilities, b) its limitations and weaknesses, and c) strategies for fact-checking its output to ensure high-quality responses. Subsequently, the authors delve into the diverse implications of this software and discuss how it can be optimally employed to advance research in technology and various other domains.

Keywords: ChatGPT; Artificial intelligence; Research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:teinso:v:76:y:2024:i:c:s0160791x23002312

DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2023.102426

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