Some writers have declared that the debut of ChatGPT on November 30th, 2022, marked the beginning of a new chapter in history akin to the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. Others have been more skeptical, wondering if this is just another overhyped tech, like blockchain or the metaverse.
Technology
ChatGPT, explained
![ChatGPT, explained ChatGPT, explained](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QCdO_oKAdBIZCodEUT2WCBFgQSo=/0x0:2040x1360/1200x628/filters:focal(1020x680:1021x681)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24390406/STK149_AI_03.jpg)
What history will call ChatGPT remains to be seen, but here’s one thing I do know for sure: nobody has shut up about it since.
From injecting itself into presidential debates and Saturday Night Live sketches to creepily flirting with talking to you Her-style (well, briefly at least), ChatGPT has captured the public imagination in a way few technologies have. It’s not hard to see why. The bot can code, compose music, craft essays… you name it. And with the release of GPT-4o, it’s even better than ever.
Yet, as it gets smarter, the tech is also becoming less comprehensible. People are also getting more scared of what it can do, which is understandable given some are already losing their jobs to AI. It doesn’t help that a lot of sensationalism surrounds the subject, making it difficult to separate fact from fiction.
That’s why we decided to throw together this explainer so we can cut through all the BS together. You ready? Let’s begin.
What is ChatGPT?
Do you want the simplistic answer or the complex one?
The easy answer is that ChatGPT is a chatbot that can answer your questions by using data it’s gathered from the internet.
The complex answer is that ChatGPT is an AI chatbot powered by language models created by OpenAI that are known as generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs), a kind of AI that can actually generate new content altogether as opposed to just analyzing data. (If you’ve heard of large language models, or LLMs, a GPT is a type of LLM. Got it? Good.)
So what’s OpenAI?
OpenAI is an AI company founded in December 2015. It created ChatGPT, but it’s also responsible for other products, like the AI image generator DALL-E.
Doesn’t Microsoft own it? Or was that Elon Musk?
No, but Microsoft is a major investor, pouring billions into the tech. Elon Musk co-founded OpenAI along with fired and rehired OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Ilya Sutskever (who has since left), Greg Brockman, Wojciech Zaremba, and John Schulman. However, Musk eventually cut ties to create his own chatbot called Grok.
So, will ChatGPT take over the world?
It will most definitely replace people with machines and — along with other AI bots like Amazon’s Alexa — basically take over the world. So you’d better start playing nice with them.
Nah, I’m messing with you. I mean, nobody knows for sure, but I highly doubt we’re going to see a job apocalypse and have to welcome in our new robot overlords anytime soon. I’ll explain more in a minute.
Phew! But how is it so smart?
Well, like I said, ChatGPT runs on GPTs, which OpenAI regularly updates with new versions, the most recent being GPT-4o. Trained by humans and a ton of internet data, each model can generate human-like conversations so you can complete all kinds of tasks.
Like?
Where do I begin? The possibilities are practically endless, from composing essays and writing code to analyzing data, solving math problems, playing games, providing customer support, planning trips, helping you prepare for job interviews, and so much more.
Here’s just a short list of what it’s capable of:
I mean, honestly, it could probably summarize this entire explainer. The AI world is your oyster.
So what you’re saying is, it’s basically smarter than me. Should I be worried?
Eh, not really. For all its hype, at its current level, ChatGPT — like other generative AI chatbots — is very much a dim-witted computer that sits on a throne of lies. For one thing, it hallucinates.
Pardon?
Oh, sorry, not that kind of hallucination. Hallucination in the AI world refers to an AI-generated process in which the tool tries to extrapolate and create from collected data but gets it absurdly wrong, in turn creating a new reality.
Honestly, I’m not a big fan of the word. It doesn’t really bear resemblance to actual human hallucinations, and I think it makes light of mental health issues — but that’s another subject.
In other words, sometimes ChatGPT generates incorrect information?
Incorrect information is a weak way of putting it.
Sometimes ChatGPT actually fabricates facts altogether, which can lead to the spread of misinformation with serious consequences. It’s made up news stories, academic papers, and books. Lawyers using it for case research have gotten in trouble when it cited nonexistent laws.
And then, there are times when it gives the middle finger to both reality and human language and just spouts out pure gibberish. Earlier this year, for example, a malfunctioning ChatGPT that was asked for a Jackson family biography started saying stuff like, “Schwittendly, the sparkle of tourmar on the crest has as much to do with the golver of the ‘moon paths’ as it shifts from follow.” Which is probably the worst description of Michael Jackson’s family in the world.
Right, but isn’t ChatGPT getting better?
Many AI researchers are trying to fix this issue. However, a lot of AI researchers think hallucinations are fundamentally unsolvable, as a study out of the National University of Singapore suggests.
But hallucinations aren’t the only issue ChatGPT needs to iron out. Remember, ChatGPT essentially just regurgitates material it scrapes off the internet, whether it’s accurate or not. That means, sometimes, ChatGPT plagiarizes other people’s work without attributing it to them, even sparking copyright infringement lawsuits.
It can also pick up some really bad data. Likely drawing from the more unpleasant parts of the internet, it’s gone so far as to insult and manipulate users. Hell, sometimes it’s just downright racist and sexist.
So, basically, what I’m hearing is ChatGPT — like other generative AI chatbots — has a lot of critical flaws, and we humans are still needed to keep them in check.
But isn’t it possible OpenAI could iron out these issues in time?
Anything’s possible. But I would say that one thing is for sure: AI is here to stay, and so it wouldn’t hurt to learn how to leverage these tools. Plus, they really can make life easier in the here and now if you know how to use them.
So, how do I start playing around with it?
If you’re on a desktop, simply visit chat.openai.com and start chatting away. Alternatively, you can also access ChatGPT via an app on your iPhone or Android device.
Great! Is it free?
Absolutely. The free version of ChatGPT runs on an older model in the GPT-3.5 series but does offer limited access to the newer and faster GPT-4o. That means free users, for example, will soon be able to access previously paywalled features, like custom GPTs, through the GPT Store.
ChatGPT also now freely supports the chatbot’s web browsing tool, meaning it can now search the internet in real time to deliver up-to-date, accurate results. The new model can also recall earlier conversations, allowing it to better understand the context of your request, while users can now upload photos and files for ChatGPT to analyze.
Why would I want one of the paid tiers?
You do get more advanced capabilities through its paid tiers — ChatGPT Plus, ChatGPT Team, and ChatGPT Enterprise — which start at $20 a month.
For starters, you have fewer usage restrictions, rendering them the better option if you plan on using ChatGPT often. Free users have usage limits OpenAI has yet to specify but has said that Plus subscribers are allowed to send five times as many messages as free users. The pricier Team and Enterprise subscription plans offer even fewer usage restrictions, though at this point, OpenAI has yet to divulge specifics.
Aside from being able to use ChatGPT longer, paid subscribers can do more. They can, for example, create their own custom GPTs and even monetize them via the GPT Store. Plus, only paid subscribers can access the DALL-E 3 model, which generates images from text prompts.
Paid subscribers also get early access to the newest AI features. The voice capabilities OpenAI demonstrated onstage should arrive over the next couple of weeks for Plus subscribers, while ChatGPT’s desktop app for Mac computers is already rolling out for Plus users.
Custom GPTs?
Custom GPTs are basically chatbots you can customize. There are millions of versions on the GPT Store that you can use to accomplish all kinds of tasks, from providing tech support to personalized hiking trail recommendations. Some customized GPTs currently trending include an image generating bot, a bot that makes logos, and a chatbot that helps people perform scientific research.
By the way, what’s all this I hear about trouble within OpenAI?
There have been some upheavals in the company — we’ll keep you in the loop.
Are there any ChatGPT alternatives I could check out?
Yes, there are quite a few, and each varies in terms of features, pricing, and specific use cases. One notable example is Google’s AI chat service Gemini. As a Google product, it offers deeper integration with Google services like Workspace, Calendar, Gmail, Search, YouTube, and Flights. The latest version, Gemini 1.5 Pro, also offers a longer 2 million token context window, which refers to the amount of information the AI model can understand.
Anything else you think I should know?
Yeah! Did you know ChatGPT sounds like “chat j’ai pété” in French, which roughly translates to “cat, I farted.” Somebody even created a website with a cat who farts when you click on it, and I just can’t stop clicking.
You should be.
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Technology
Here’s your first look at Amazon’s Like a Dragon: Yakuza
![Here’s your first look at Amazon’s Like a Dragon: Yakuza Here’s your first look at Amazon’s Like a Dragon: Yakuza](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zwL1196a4f41hYmApU-mo9D7ZTk=/0x0:3000x1688/1200x628/filters:focal(1500x844:1501x845)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25547838/YAKZA_3840_2160_A_Elogo.jpg)
Amazon says that the show “showcases modern Japan and the dramatic stories of these intense characters, such as the legendary Kazuma Kiryu, that games in the past have not been able to explore.” Kiryu will be played by Ryoma Takeuchi, while Kento Kaku also starts as Akira Nishikiyama. The series is directed by Masaharu Take.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza starts streaming on Prime Video on October 24th with its first three episodes.
Technology
Exciting AI tools and games you can try for free
![Exciting AI tools and games you can try for free Exciting AI tools and games you can try for free](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2019/06/computer-iStock.jpg)
I’m not an artist. My brain just does not work that way. I tried to learn Photoshop but gave up. Now, I create fun images using AI.
You need a vacation. We’re giving away a $1,000 getaway gift card for your favorite airline. Enter to win now!
Some AI tech is kind of freaky (like this brain-powered robot), but many of the new AI tools out there are just plain fun. Let’s jump into the wide world of freebies that will help you make something cool.
20 TECH TRICKS TO MAKE LIFE BETTER, SAFER OR EASIER
Create custom music tracks
Not everyone is musically inclined, but AI makes it pretty easy to pretend you are. At the very least, you can make a funny tune for a loved one who needs some cheering up.
AI to try: Udio
Perfect for: Experimenting with song styles
Starter prompt: “Heartbreak at the movie theater, ‘80s ballad”
Cheerful man sitting in front of his computer monitor eating and working. (iStock)
Just give Udio a topic for a song and a genre, and it’ll do the rest. I asked it to write a yacht rock song about a guy who loves sunsets, and it came up with two one-minute clips that were surprisingly good. You can customize the lyrics, too.
Produce quick video clips
The built-in software on our phones does a decent job at editing down the videos we shoot (like you and the family at the beach), but have you ever wished you could make something a little snazzier?
AI to try: Invideo
Perfect for: Quick content creation
TIME-SAVING TRICKS USING YOUR KEYBOARD
Starter prompt: “Cats on a train”
Head to Invideo to produce your very own videos, no experience needed. Your text prompts can be simple, but you’ll get better results if you include more detail.
You can add an AI narration over the top (David Attenborough’s AI voice is just too good). FYI, the free account puts a watermark on your videos, but if you’re just doing it for fun, no biggie.
Draft digital artwork
You don’t need to be an AI whiz skilled at a paid program like Midjourney to make digital art. Here’s an option anyone can try.
![worker at laptop](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2019/06/1200/675/computer-iStock.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Closeup shot of an unrecognizable woman using a laptop while working from home. (iStock)
AI to try: OpenArt
Perfect for: Illustrations and animations
Starter prompt: “A lush meadow with blue skies”
OpenArt starts you off with a simple text prompt, but you can tweak it in all kinds of funky ways, from the image style to the output size. You can also upload images of your own for the AI to take its cues from and even include pictures of yourself (or friends and family) in the art.
If you’ve caught the AI creative bug and want more of the same, try the OpenArt Sketch to Image generator. It turns your original drawings into full pieces of digital art.
YOUR BANK WANTS YOUR VOICE. JUST SAY NO.
More free AI fun
Maybe creating videos and works of art isn’t your thing. There’s still lots of fun to be had with AI.
- Good time for kids and adults: Google’s Quick, Draw! Try to get the AI to recognize your scribblings before time runs out in this next-gen Pictionary-style game.
- Expose your kid to different languages: Another option from Google, Thing Translator, lets you snap a photo of something to hear the word for it in a different language. Neat!
- Warm up your vocal chords: Freddimeter uses AI to rate how well you can sing like Freddie Mercury. Options include “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “We Are the Champions,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Somebody To Love.”
![Mother works from home while her child sits on the couch](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2020/12/1200/675/iStock-1214476809.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
A mother uses a laptop while a little boy uses a tablet. (iStock)
If you’re not tech-ahead, you’re tech-behind
Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.
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Technology
There is no fix for Intel’s crashing 13th and 14th Gen CPUs — any damage is permanent
![There is no fix for Intel’s crashing 13th and 14th Gen CPUs — any damage is permanent There is no fix for Intel’s crashing 13th and 14th Gen CPUs — any damage is permanent](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Q3nWEctAj2B9L05_T2RDYi67gME=/0x0:1200x800/1200x628/filters:focal(600x400:601x401)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25546355/intel_13900k_tomwarren__2_.jpg)
On Monday, it initially seemed like the beginning of the end for Intel’s desktop CPU instability woes — the company confirmed a patch is coming in mid-August that should address the “root cause” of exposure to elevated voltage. But if your 13th or 14th Gen Intel Core processor is already crashing, that patch apparently won’t fix it.
Citing unnamed sources, Tom’s Hardware reports that any degradation of the processor is irreversible, and an Intel spokesperson did not deny that when we asked. Intel is “confident” the patch will keep it from happening in the first place. (As another preventative measure, you should update your BIOS ASAP.) But if your defective CPU has been damaged, your best option is to replace it instead of tweaking BIOS settings to try and alleviate the problems.
And, Intel confirms, too-high voltages aren’t the only reason some of these chips are failing. Intel spokesperson Thomas Hannaford confirms it’s a primary cause, but the company is still investigating. Intel community manager Lex Hoyos also revealed some instability reports can be traced back to an oxidization manufacturing issue that was fixed at an unspecified date last year.
This raises lots of questions. Will Intel recall these chips? Extend their warranty? Replace them no questions asked? Pause sales like AMD just did with its Ryzen 9000? Identify faulty batches with the manufacturing defect?
We asked Intel these questions, and I’m not sure you’re going to like the answers.
Why are these still on sale without so much as an extended warranty?
Intel has not halted sales or clawed back any inventory. It will not do a recall, period. The company is not currently commenting on whether or how it might extend its warranty. It would not share estimates with The Verge of how many chips are likely to be irreversibly impacted, and it did not explain why it’s continuing to sell these chips ahead of any fix.
Intel’s not yet telling us how warranty replacements will work beyond trying customer support again if you’ve previously been rejected. It did not explain how it will contact customers with these chips to warn them about the issue.
But Intel does tell us it’s “confident” that you don’t need to worry about invisible degradation. If you’re not currently experiencing issues, the patch “will be an effective preventative solution for processors already in service.” (If you don’t know if you’re experiencing issues, Intel currently suggests the Robeytech test.)
And, perhaps for the first time, Intel has confirmed just how broad this issue could possibly be. The elevated voltages could potentially affect any 13th or 14th Gen desktop processor that consumes 65W or more power, not just the highest i9-series chips that initially seemed to be experiencing the issue.
Here are the questions we asked Intel and the answers we’ve received by email from Intel’s Hannaford:
How many chips does Intel estimate are likely to be irreversibly impacted by these issues?
Intel Core 13th and 14th Generation desktop processors with 65W or higher base power – including K/KF/KS and 65W non-K variants – could be affected by the elevated voltages issue. However, this does not mean that all processors listed are (or will be) impacted by the elevated voltages issue.
Intel continues validation to ensure that scenarios of instability reported to Intel regarding its Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop processors are addressed.
For customers who are or have been experiencing instability symptoms on their 13th and/or 14th Gen desktop processors, Intel continues advising them to reach out to Intel Customer Support for further assistance. Additionally, if customers have experienced these instability symptoms on their 13th and/or 14th Gen desktop processors but had RMA [return merchandise authorization] requests rejected we ask that they reach out to Intel Customer Support for further assistance and remediation.
Will Intel issue a recall?
Will Intel proactively warn buyers of these chips about the warning signs or that this update is required? If so, how will it warn them?
Intel targets to release a production microcode update to OEM/ODM customers by mid-August or sooner and will share additional details on the microcode patch at that time.
Intel is investigating options to easily identify affected processors on end user systems. In the interim, as a general best practice Intel recommends that users adhere to Intel Default Settings on their desktop processors, along with ensuring their BIOS is up to date.
Has Intel halted sales and / or performed any channel inventory recalls while it validates the update?
Does Intel anticipate the fix will be effective for chips that have already been in service but are not yet experiencing symptoms (i.e., invisible degradation)? Are those CPUs just living on borrowed time?
Intel is confident that the microcode patch will be an effective preventative solution for processors already in service, though validation continues to ensure that scenarios of instability reported to Intel regarding its Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors are addressed.
Intel is investigating options to easily identify affected or at-risk processors on end user systems.
It is possible the patch will provide some instability improvements to currently impacted processors; however customers experiencing instability on their 13th or 14th Generation desktop processor-based systems should contact Intel customer support for further assistance.
Will Intel extend its warranty on these 13th Gen and 14th Gen parts, and for how long?
Given how difficult this issue was for Intel to pin down, what proof will customers need to share to obtain an RMA? (How lenient will Intel be?)
What will Intel do for 13th Gen buyers after supply of 13th Gen parts runs out? Final shipments were set to end last month, I’m reading.
Intel is committed to making sure all customers who have or are currently experiencing instability symptoms on their 13th and/or 14th Gen desktop processors are supported in the exchange process. This includes working with Intel’s retail and channel customers to ensure end users are taken care of regarding instability symptoms with their Intel Core 13th and/or 14th Gen desktop processors.
What will Intel do for 14th Gen buyers after supply of 14th Gen parts run out?
Will replacement / RMA’d chips ship with the microcode update preapplied beginning in August? Is Intel still shipping replacement chips ahead of that update?
Intel will be applying to microcode to 13th/14th Gen desktop processors that are not yet shipped once the production patch is released to OEM/ODM partners (targeting mid-August or sooner). For 13th /14th Gen desktop processors already in service, users will need to apply the patch via BIOS update once available.
What, if anything, can customers do to slow or stop degradation ahead of the microcode update?
Intel recommends that users adhere to Intel Default Settings on their desktop processors, along with ensuring their BIOS is up to date. Once the microcode patch is released to Intel partners, we advise users check for the relevant BIOS updates.
Will Intel share specific manufacturing dates and serial number ranges for the oxidized processors so mission-critical businesses can selectively rip and replace?
Intel will continue working with its customers on Via Oxidation-related reports and ensure that they are fully supported in the exchange process.
Why does Intel believe the instability issues do not affect mobile laptop chips?
Intel is continuing its investigation to ensure that reported instability scenarios on Intel Core 13th/14th Gen processors are properly addressed.
This includes ongoing analysis to confirm the primary factors preventing 13th / 14th Gen mobile processor exposure to the same instability issue as the 13th/14th Gen desktop processors.
That’s all we’ve heard from Intel so far, though Hannaford assured us more answers are on the way and that the company is working on remedies.
Again, if your CPU is already damaged, you need to get Intel to replace it, and if Intel won’t do so, please let us know. In the meanwhile, you’ll want to update your BIOS as soon as possible because your processor could potentially be invisibly damaging itself — and if you know your way around a BIOS, you may want to adjust your motherboard to Intel’s default performance profiles, too.
Lastly, here is that Robeytech video that Intel is recommending to Redditors to potentially help them identify if their chip has an issue. Intel says it’s looking into other ways to identify that, too.
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