ChatGPT Turns 2
Sunday, Dec 01, 2024 | By Prabhu Mallikarjunan
While sipping my evening chai at a cosy café in Bengaluru a few weeks ago, I overheard a group of college students discussing their latest project. One of them said, "I was totally stuck, so I just ChatGPT'ed it, and now it's all sorted!" The others nodded, sharing their own tales of how ChatGPT had come to their rescue.
It struck me—when did "ChatGPT" become a verb in our everyday language? I was witnessing a linguistic shift unfolding right before my eyes, much like when "Google" transformed from a company name into a universal synonym for searching the internet.
Back in the early 2000s, we'd say, "I searched for information online." A decade later, it became, "I googled it." And now, in 2024, we're saying, "I ChatGPT'ed it." This isn't just a change in vocabulary; it's a reflection of how deeply artificial intelligence has woven itself into the fabric of our daily lives.
Since the launch of ChatGPT two years ago, OpenAI has dramatically reshaped how we access and interact with information. It's like having an encyclopedia, a creative partner, and a personal assistant all rolled into one, available anytime and anywhere. The convenience and capabilities it offers have made information retrieval more intuitive and conversational than it ever was.
Reflecting on my journey—from covering startups and technological advancements in Bengaluru to leading a team of talented tech journalists at AIM—I've witnessed firsthand how AI has transitioned from a niche field to a cornerstone of modern innovation. Machine learning, the driving force behind ChatGPT, has achieved remarkable success over the years. By processing input text and predicting the next word in a sequence, ChatGPT leverages a neural network with hundreds of billions of parameters to generate human-like responses.
As Stephen Wolfram writes in his book What is ChatGPT Doing?, this technology provides the best impetus we've had in two thousand years to better understand the fundamental nature of human language and thought processes. It's a sentiment that resonates deeply with me, considering my background in news and feature writing, as well as investigative reporting.
How It Started and How It’s Going
Soon after its launch, ChatGPT sparked intense debates. Universities around the world grappled with its implications, some even banning it to prevent academic dishonesty. There were fears of job displacement and concerns about over-reliance on AI. Prominent figures like Noam Chomsky urged a critical examination of the roles such technologies play in society and academia.
As time went by, the global community began to recognise the immense potential of ChatGPT. Today, it's transcending the boundaries of mimicking human intelligence, as OpenAI continues to enhance its capabilities. Businesses across industries are eager to integrate AI or build their own models, applications, and services using ChatGPT as a foundation. Innovation and research are thriving in sectors like healthcare and agriculture—a testament to the transformative powers of AI.
With ChatGPT now boasting over 250 million active weekly users, its success has prompted big-tech companies to release their own AI tools and innovations to stay competitive. Even companies like Microsoft and Apple, despite having their own LLM models, have partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into their applications and services.
Karlo Duniya Mutthi Mein!
ChatGPT has evolved from a simple text-based model to a multimodal tool capable of handling audio, images, and integrated functionalities with tools like DALL·E and Canva. It recently introduced an advanced voice feature on its app, which reportedly supports 50 languages.
India now boasts the world's second-largest ChatGPT user base after the US. During an exclusive interview with AIM, Pragya Misra, OpenAI's first Indian employee, spoke about some of the incredible solutions emerging from India's developer ecosystem. It's inspiring to see how Indian talent is contributing to and shaping the future of AI.
Click here to watch the full interview with Pragya Misra.
Also, do take a look at our latest AIM Reaction video, in which our AI Roaster, Vandana Nair, celebrates ChatGPT's 2nd birthday, breaking down its journey, impact, and the future of AI.
Our Journey with ChatGPT: 1,750 Stories and Counting
Over the past two years, we've embarked on an incredible journey chronicling the rise and impact of ChatGPT. At AIM, we've published over 1,750 stories on this groundbreaking technology. Each article has explored different facets of ChatGPT: its technological innovations, applications across various industries, ethical debates, and its influence on society and the economy. The sheer volume of news underscores not just the significance of ChatGPT but also the rapid pace at which AI is evolving.
Looking Ahead
Many in the tech community are eagerly awaiting the release of GPT-5. While there hasn't been an official announcement yet, the anticipation is palpable. OpenAI, if you're listening, we're all curious—when can we expect to see GPT-5? The prospect of even more advanced AI capabilities (maybe AGI) is both thrilling and intriguing.
The journey of AI is just beginning, and I, for one, am excited to see where it takes us next.
Recommended by LinkedIn
Happy Birthday, ChatGPT!
For more real-time updates and actionable insights, visit AIM.
Top Stories >>
When ChatGPT Attempted UPSC Exam
In 2023, ChatGPT successfully cleared the final exam for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. To test its capabilities, we at AIM posed 100 questions from India’s UPSC Prelims 2022 exam, the answers to which are available on the web.
Read the full story to learn about ChatGPT’s accuracy.
How ChatGPT Broke the AI Hype Cycle
According to the Gartner Hype Cycle, a product typically takes two years to reach the 'Plateau of Productivity.' However, ChatGPT broke all norms, reaching new heights at a much faster pace.
Read the full story here.
GPT-4 Beats Human Psychologists in Understanding Complex Emotions
Researchers explored the capability of AI, particularly LLMs like ChatGPT (GPT-4), Google Bard, and Bing, in understanding and responding to the emotional and psychological needs of patients during therapy sessions and compared the results to human psychologists. In this,
ChatGPT-4 outperformed all participating psychologists by scoring 59 out of 64 on the Social Intelligence scale.
Read more here
People & Tech >>
Meet the Child Prodigy from India Who Helped Build OpenAI’s GPT-4o
When OpenAI released GPT-4o at its latest Spring Update event, little did the world know that an Indian child prodigy, Prafulla Dhariwal, was behind it until Sam Altman posted about it on X. “GPT-4o would not have happened without the vision, talent, conviction, and determination of Prafulla Dhariwal over a long period of time,” he said.
Check out the full interview here.
Meet Sam Altman’s Hyderabad Companion
When Sam Altman visited India, he was accompanied by two associates of Indian origin, Sandhini Agarwal and Atty Eleti, who saved Altman from answering policy and technical-related questions. In an exclusive interview with AIM, Eleti explains the interview process, his plans ahead, and more.
Read the full story here.