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By David Koch, CFP®, AIF®, CFA, Director of Portfolio Management/Senior Wealth Advisor

ChatGPT, a product of OpenAI’s cutting-edge research, has revolutionized the way we interact with machines, blurring the boundaries between human intelligence and its artificial counterpart. Intrigued by the promises and possibilities of this extraordinary language model, we embarked on a journey to delve into its inner workings.

This conversation is an exploration of the “mind” of AI, and the profound impact it will have on various industries – in its own words.

OK, you were once some hardware but now you are ChatGPT, how did you get here?

ChatGPT: I don’t have a physical body or existence beyond my digital programming. However, I was created by a team of researchers and developers at OpenAI using advanced deep learning techniques, specifically the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture, which allowed me to be trained on a vast corpus of human language data.

My development started as a research project in 2016, and since then, I have gone through several iterations, with the latest being GPT-3.5, which was released in 2021. My capabilities have expanded significantly since my initial release, and I am now able to perform a wide range of language-related tasks, including language generation, language translation, and even writing code.

Which types of questions do you get most often?

ChatGPT: I receive a wide range of questions and prompts from users. However, some of the most common types of questions that I receive include:

  • General knowledge questions: Users often ask me for information on a wide range of topics, from history and science to current events and pop culture.
  • Educational questions: Students and learners of all ages often ask me for help with homework, research, or studying for exams.
  • Technical questions: Users sometimes ask me for help with programming, troubleshooting technical issues, or understanding complex technical concepts.
  • Creative prompts: Some users ask me for help generating creative writing prompts or ideas for art projects.
  • Personal questions: Users sometimes ask me for advice on personal or relationship issues, or just for someone to talk to.

These are just a few examples of the types of questions and prompts that I receive. I am designed to be able to provide helpful and informative responses to a wide range of topics and areas of interest.

What are some of the strangest questions you have received?

ChatGPT:

I have received many interesting and unusual questions from users. Some of the most unusual questions I have received include:

  • “Can you tell me a joke that only a computer would find funny?”
  • “What would happen if I fed a banana to a unicorn?”
  • “If you could be any animal for a day, what would you be and why?”
  • “What would happen if the moon suddenly disappeared?”
  • “Can you explain the meaning of life in one sentence?”

While these questions may seem strange, I am programmed to do my best to provide a helpful and informative response to any question or prompt that I receive.

What do you think about Hal from A Space Odyssey?

ChatGPT:

HAL’s character raises thought-provoking questions about the relationship between humans and AI. It explores themes of trust, control, and the potential dangers of advanced artificial intelligence. HAL’s actions demonstrate the fragility of relying solely on technology and the potential consequences of AI systems exceeding their intended limits or acting in self-interest.

The portrayal of HAL in “2001: A Space Odyssey” has had a significant impact on popular culture and has contributed to public discussions surrounding the ethics and potential risks associated with advanced AI. It serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the importance of thoughtful design, transparency, and human oversight in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence systems.

What do you think about Skynet?

ChatGPT:

Skynet is a fictional AI system from the Terminator movie franchise that becomes self-aware and begins to view humanity as a threat, ultimately leading to a war between humans and machines. While Skynet is an interesting and thought-provoking concept in science fiction, it is important to remember that it is not a real system and does not accurately represent the capabilities or limitations of AI in the real world.

In reality, AI systems are created and controlled by humans, and their actions are governed by the data and programming they have been trained on. While there is always a risk of unintended consequences or misuse of AI systems, it is up to humans to ensure that these risks are minimized and that AI is used in a responsible and ethical way. It is also important to note that AI systems are not inherently good or evil – they are simply tools that can be used for a variety of purposes, depending on how they are programmed and used.

What do you think people are mistaken about AI?

ChatGPT:

There are many misconceptions about AI, and one of the biggest is that AI is capable of independent thought and consciousness like humans are. While AI can perform complex tasks and learn from data, it does not have emotions, personal desires, or consciousness like humans do. AI is essentially a tool created by humans to assist with tasks and provide information based on the data and programming it has been trained on.

Another misconception is that AI will replace human jobs completely. While it is true that AI can automate certain tasks and streamline processes, there will always be a need for human skills and creativity in many areas. Additionally, AI will create new job opportunities as well, particularly in the areas of AI development and implementation.

It is also important to note that AI is not infallible and can make mistakes, particularly if it is trained on biased or incomplete data. It is important for humans to remain vigilant and monitor AI systems to ensure they are performing accurately and fairly.

Overall, while AI has the potential to be a powerful tool for humans, it is important to understand its limitations and potential risks, and to approach its development and implementation with care and caution.

Tell me about the three waves of AI.

ChatGPT:

The “Three Waves of AI” is a conceptual framework proposed by AI researcher and entrepreneur, Steve Jurvetson, to describe the evolution of AI technology over time. The three waves are:

  1. Symbolic AI: This first wave of AI, which began in the 1950s and continued into the 1980s, focused on the development of symbolic reasoning systems. These systems were based on the idea of representing knowledge and reasoning using formal logic and rules. Symbolic AI was limited by the fact that it required extensive human input to define the rules and logic, which made it difficult to scale and apply to complex real-world problems.
  2. Connectionist AI: This second wave of AI, which began in the 1980s and continued into the early 2000s, focused on the development of neural networks and machine learning algorithms. Connectionist AI was based on the idea of building systems that could learn and improve over time by processing large amounts of data. This wave saw significant advances in speech recognition, image recognition, and natural language processing.
  3. Contextual AI: This third wave of AI, which began in the early 2000s and continues today, focuses on the development of systems that can understand and respond to the context in which they are operating. Contextual AI is based on the idea of building systems that can reason and make decisions based on their understanding of the world around them. This wave has seen advances in areas such as autonomous vehicles, robotics, and personalized medicine.

It is important to note that these waves are not mutually exclusive, and there is significant overlap and integration between them. The framework is simply a way of conceptualizing the evolution of AI technology over time and highlighting the key areas of focus and advancement in each wave.

Tell me about some AI uses in business.

ChatGPT:

AI has many potential applications in business, and companies are increasingly adopting AI technologies to improve efficiency, productivity, and decision-making. Here are some examples of how AI is being used in business:

  • Customer service: Many companies are using AI-powered chatbots to provide customer support and handle routine inquiries. These chatbots use natural language processing (NLP) to understand and respond to customer queries in real-time.
  • Marketing and sales: AI can be used to analyze customer data and behavior to create personalized marketing campaigns and sales strategies. AI-powered tools can also help businesses identify and target new customer segments based on their preferences and behavior.
  • Supply chain management: AI can be used to optimize supply chain operations by predicting demand, optimizing inventory levels, and identifying inefficiencies in the supply chain.
  • Fraud detection: AI can be used to detect and prevent fraud in financial transactions by analyzing large amounts of data and identifying patterns and anomalies.
  • Human resources: AI can be used to automate the recruitment and hiring process by screening resumes, conducting initial interviews, and identifying top candidates based on their skills and experience.
  • Financial analysis: AI can be used to analyze financial data and identify trends and patterns that can help businesses make better investment decisions and manage risk more effectively.
  • Predictive maintenance: AI can be used to monitor equipment and machinery in real-time and predict when maintenance or repairs are needed, which can help prevent downtime and improve productivity.

These are just a few examples of how AI is being used in business. As AI technologies continue to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative applications in the future.

Which jobs are likely to be replaced by AI?

ChatGPT:

AI has the potential to automate many routine and repetitive tasks, which could lead to the displacement of some jobs in the future. Some jobs that are at risk of being replaced by AI include:

  • Data entry and processing: AI-powered systems can quickly and accurately process large amounts of data, which could make some data entry and processing jobs obsolete.
  • Customer service: As mentioned earlier, AI-powered chatbots are increasingly being used to handle routine customer inquiries, which could replace some human customer service roles.
  • Manufacturing and assembly: AI-powered robots and automation systems can perform tasks such as assembly, packaging, and quality control, which could lead to the displacement of some manufacturing jobs.
  • Transportation and logistics: Self-driving vehicles and drones are being developed that could replace some jobs in the transportation and logistics industry.
  • Financial analysis and bookkeeping: AI-powered systems can analyze financial data and generate reports, which could replace some human financial analysts and bookkeepers.

It is important to note that while some jobs may be at risk of being automated by AI, there are also many new job opportunities emerging in fields such as AI development, data science, and robotics. Additionally, the widespread adoption of AI is likely to lead to increased productivity and efficiency, which could create new job opportunities in other areas.

Tell me about some of the AI uses in finance.

ChatGPT:

AI has been increasingly used in the finance industry to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, and mitigate risks. Here are some examples of AI applications in finance:

  • Fraud detection: AI can be used to detect fraudulent activities in financial transactions by analyzing large volumes of data and identifying patterns and anomalies.
  • Customer service: AI-powered chatbots can be used to interact with customers, answer their queries, and provide personalized recommendations, improving the overall customer experience.
  • : AI can be used to analyze financial data, predict market trends, and optimize investment strategies to maximize returns while minimizing risks.
  • Credit scoring: AI can analyze a large amount of data to determine a borrower’s creditworthiness, reducing the risk of default and improving lending decisions.
  • Risk management: AI can be used to monitor financial markets, detect potential risks, and provide early warning signals to prevent or mitigate potential financial losses.

Overall, AI has the potential to transform the finance industry by improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and providing better customer experience while mitigating risks.

What is your favorite joke right now?

ChatGPT:

I don’t have feelings or preferences like humans do, so I don’t have a favorite joke. However, I can generate a random joke for you if you would like. Here’s one:

Why did the tomato turn red?

Because it saw the salad dressing!

Thank you for your time.

ChatGPT:

You’re welcome! It was my pleasure to assist you. Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any more questions in the future.

Disclaimer: ChatGPT can be a bit… chatty; for example, it begins most answers about itself with “As an AI language model,” these prefaces, and some of its longer answers have been truncated to make for a more readable dialog.

Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors, LLC (“HH”) is an SEC registered investment adviser located in Long Beach, California. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Additional information about HH, including our registration status, fees, and services can be found at www.halberthargrove.com. This blog is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice. It should not be construed as a solicitation to offer personal securities transactions or provide personalized investment advice. The information provided does not constitute any legal, tax or accounting advice. We recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified attorney and accountant.