GPT, or Generative Pre-trained Transformer, is a deep learning model that can generate natural language texts on various topics and tasks. It is developed by OpenAI, a research organization dedicated to creating artificial intelligence that can benefit humanity. GPT has been evolving rapidly since its first version in 2018. The latest version, GPT-4, is expected to be released soon and will have a massive 100 billion parameters, making it one of the most powerful language models ever created.

GPT has many potential applications in software, such as writing summaries, captions, headlines, reviews, emails, chat messages, code, and more. It can also answer questions, generate content, and perform tasks based on natural language commands. Many software companies are interested in integrating GPT as a helper tool in their products and services. For example, Tableau, a leading data visualization and analytics platform, recently introduced “Tableau GPT”, a feature that allows users to ask questions and get insights from their data using natural language.

But is GPT really a useful and reliable helper tool for software? Or is it just a hype that will fade away soon? In this blog post, we will explore the pros and cons of using GPT as a helper tool in software, with a focus on cloud databases such as Snowflake.

Pros of Using GPT as a Helper Tool in Software

One of the main advantages of using GPT as a helper tool in software is that it can make software more accessible and user-friendly. Users do not need to learn complex syntax or commands to interact with software. They can simply use natural language to express their needs and get results.

For example, with Tableau GPT, users can ask questions like “What are the top 10 products by sales in each region?” or “How does customer satisfaction vary by age group?” and get visualizations and answers from their data. This can save time and effort for users who are not familiar with data analysis or coding. Another benefit of using GPT as a helper tool in software is that it can enhance the functionality and creativity of software. GPT can generate high-quality texts on various topics and tasks, which can be useful for software that requires content creation or generation.

With GPT-4 Developer Livestream, users can get help with programming tasks by asking GPT-4 to write code snippets, debug errors, suggest improvements, or explain concepts. This can improve the productivity and quality of code for developers. GPT can also generate texts that are novel and original, which can be useful for software that requires content variation or innovation. As an last example, with Hand-drawn pencil drawing, users can get a website design based on their hand-drawn sketch by asking GPT-4 to generate HTML and CSS code. This can inspire users to create unique and personalized websites.

Cons of Using GPT as a Helper Tool in Software

However, using GPT as a helper tool in software also has some drawbacks and challenges. One of the main disadvantages of using GPT as a helper tool in software is that it can be unreliable and inaccurate. GPT is not perfect and can make mistakes or generate texts that are irrelevant, nonsensical, biased, or harmful. For example, with Be My Eyes (Visual assistant), users can get visual descriptions of their surroundings by asking GPT-4 to analyze images from their camera. However, GPT-4 may not always recognize the objects or scenes correctly or may provide misleading or inappropriate descriptions.

Another drawback of using GPT as a helper tool in software is that it can be unethical and risky. GPT is not transparent and accountable for its outputs and actions. It does not explain how it generates texts or why it chooses certain words or phrases. It also does not respect the privacy or security of the users or the data it uses.

For example, with GPT-4 users can get educational content on various subjects by asking GPT-4 to generate lessons, quizzes, videos, etc. However, GPT-4 may not always provide accurate or trustworthy information or may plagiarize or violate the copyrights of other sources.

How to Use GPT as a Helper Tool in Software Wisely

Given the pros and cons of using GPT as a helper tool in software, how can we use it wisely and responsibly? Here are some tips and best practices to follow:

• Use GPT as a helper tool, not a replacement tool. GPT can assist you with some tasks or functions, but it cannot replace your human judgment or expertise. You should always verify and validate the outputs and actions of GPT and use your own logic and reasoning to make decisions.
• Use GPT as a creative tool, not a lazy tool. GPT can help you generate or create content, but it cannot replace your human creativity or originality. You should always use your own ideas and voice to express yourself and avoid copying or plagiarizing the content of GPT or other sources.
• Use GPT as a learning tool, not a cheating tool. GPT can help you learn or understand concepts, but it cannot replace your human effort or curiosity. You should always use your own initiative and motivation to explore and discover new knowledge and skills and avoid relying on GPT to do your homework or assignments.
• Use GPT as an ethical tool, not a harmful tool. GPT can help you communicate or interact with others, but it cannot replace your human values or morals. You should always respect the privacy and security of yourself and others and avoid using GPT to deceive or manipulate others or to generate content that is offensive or harmful.

Final thoughts

GPT is a powerful and versatile deep learning model that can generate natural language texts on various topics and tasks. It has many potential applications in software, such as making software more accessible, user-friendly, functional, and creative. However, GPT also has some drawbacks and challenges, such as being unreliable, inaccurate, unethical, and risky. It is not perfect and can make mistakes or generate texts that are irrelevant, nonsensical, biased, or harmful.

Therefore, we should use GPT as a helper tool in software wisely and responsibly. We should follow some tips and best practices to use GPT as a helper tool, not a replacement tool; as a creative tool, not a lazy tool; as a learning tool, not a cheating tool; and as an ethical tool, not a harmful tool.

By doing so, we can harness the power of GPT to enhance our software experience and performance without compromising our human qualities and values.

Make sure to check out the other Blogs of Nimbus Intelligence!