I T’S A SUBJECT THAT IS GRABBING big headlines this year, as Artificial Intelligence (AI) quietly embeds itself into our everyday lives. We interact with AI daily, but one well-known application, ChatGPT, is shaping up to be an intriguing fusion of convenience, information and companionship. DARE asks two experts – Professor Jon Whittle, director at Data61 CSIRO and host of the podcast Everyday AI ; and Dr Barbara Barbosa Neves, award- winning sociologist of technology and ageing, and expert on loneliness, social isolation and digital inequalities among older people – to explore AI’s usefulness and risks for over 50s. AI IN EVERYDAY LIFE Most of us already use AI, often without knowing it. “AI isn’t something supernat- ural that will overtake humanity one day,” Professor Whittle explains. “It’s already embedded into our day-to-day lives.” Netflix recommending TV shows based on
your viewing preferences, or your phone predicting the next word as you type out a message – that’s AI. But the product that has been commanding the spotlight this year is ChatGPT, a chatbot that anyone with an internet connection can access for free. ChatGPT is like having the world’s smart- est and most useful friend, always ready for, well, a chat. Type in a question or request, and it will respond in an eerily humanlike manner. It can compose a letter for you, explain a complex document or write a heartfelt poem featuring the names of your grand- kids. It remembers prior conversations, offers advice, elaborates on topics and even poses its own questions to assist you. Imagine an all-in-one package of an encyclopedia, companion and helper, and that is ChatGPT. It may seem sentient, but the tool is strictly programmed, churning through billions of pages of information, and predicting the most useful response.
ABOUT OUR ILLUSTRATION We asked ChatGPT to create an image for this article that illustrates how AI is impacting the lives of Australians aged over 50. It replied that as a text-based model, it is unable to create images, so instead provided a detailed description of a hypothetical image to illustrate our request, including people interacting with different AI technologies, which was then interpreted by our illustrator Nash Weerasekera. ChatGPT’s description ended with: “The photo captures the enthusiasm and joy on the faces of these individuals, showcasing how AI has revolutionised their lives by providing new opportunities for learning, staying connected, managing health, and enhancing overall wellbeing.”
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GETTING ON THE CHATGPT TRAIN Who better to ask about getting started interacting with the chatbot than ChatGPT itself? Here’s what it said when we asked it how readers could begin using the tool.
1. Ensure you have a device with internet access. This could be a computer, tablet or smartphone.
6. As you get more comfortable, you can ask ChatGPT to do more complex tasks, such as helping to write a letter, explain a news article or suggesting a recipe based on ingredients you have. The better the request, the better the output. Instead of saying “write a story using the names Tom and Tina”, try “write an adventure story suitable for a six-year old featuring Tom (6), his sister Tina (2) and their pet cavoodle Roy. Use themes of sharing and acceptance and make it rhyme in the style of Dr Seuss.” 7. When you’re done, you can simply close the website or app. You don’t need to log out each time, but it’s a good practice if you’re using a public or shared device.
2. Open your internet browser and type in openai.com/ chatgpt in the address bar, then press ‘Enter’.
3. If you’re a new user, click on ‘Sign up’ and follow the instructions to create an account using your email address. If you already have an account, click ‘Log in’ and enter your credentials. 4. Once logged in, you’ll find a chat interface. It’s similar to sending a text message or an email. You’ll type your queries, and ChatGPT will respond. 5. You can start by asking a simple question. For example, you could type, “What are some gift ideas for a 10-year-old boy who likes [insert interests here]?” or even “What should I ask you?”
ChatGPT is there to help, to entertain and to engage with you. Remember to keep your interaction safe, respectful, and always keep in mind, it’s a tool, not a person.
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DARE SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023
SENIORS.COM.AU
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