CHATGPT

We have had some queries about ChatGPT and AI. So we decided to do this blog post on ChatGPT. We will do a separate one on AI down the track.

Every time something “new” arrives small businesses that are struggling are drawn to it like seagulls to a chip!

Small businesses often make the mistake of relying on external tools or solutions to solve their problems, when they should start focusing on the basics. I know this isn’t what you want to hear – and I know I keep saying it over and over.

However, if you spend time doing the work on the basics it informs everything else you will do as a business. It is crucial for small businesses to understand their own identity and target customers before jumping anywhere else for answers. By defining their brand and audience clearly, small businesses can create a solid foundation for making informed decisions that will help them grow and succeed in the long run. So don’t rush into using any tool that comes your way- take some time to lay the foundations down solidly first.

Sam Altman, the co-founder of OpenAI, said in a tweet from December 10, 2022:

“ChatGPT is incredibly limited but good enough at some things to create a misleading impression of greatness. It’s a mistake to be relying on it for anything important right now. It’s a preview of progress; we have lots of work to do on robustness and truthfulness.”

What is ChatGPT?

Artificial intelligence may be incredibly advanced, but it’s crucial to remember that it doesn’t have its own thoughts, emotions or consciousness. It’s a tool created humans and operates based on the instructions given to it. While AI can make decisions based on data, algorithms and machine learning techniques, there are limitations to what it can do.

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot powered OpenAI that can carry out conversations with users in a human-like manner. You can use ChatGPT to chat with it about anything you like, similar to talking to a friend but without the coffee or laughter. ChatGPT can be particularly useful if you want to chat about topics that interest you and don’t want to talk to an actual person lol. It can also be helpful if you need some quick answers to questions, such as trivia or facts. (Google can be used for these too just saying!).

ChatGPT can be used as a writing assistant, helping you generate new ideas or providing feedback on your writing. Like anything the results vary depending on what you input. Also note that depending what you ask it, it can take a while to respond.

It tells you it’s limitations itself- see below

Some ChatGPT examples.

First we asked what is the purpose of ChatGPT

Next we asked for it’s best joke…..

Then we asked how we could attract more customers to our business.

And finally we asked Should small business owners use ChatGPT.

Here’s one of our favourite funnies collated our friends on Twitter GPT Gone Wild.

:))

ChatGPT as a customer service bot?

Personally we say no! For these reasons.

1.Lack of specific knowledge: ChatGPT’s knowledge is based on pre-existing data up until September 2021. This could result in inaccurate or outdated responses.

2.ChatGPT is good at having conversations, but it can get confused if you ask it questions that are too complicated. Sometimes it will answer your question and sometimes it won’t. So a hit and miss customer experience is not what you want representing your brand.

3.ChatGPT can not handle sensitive or confidential information. As a platform that operates under the principle that all input is public and doesn’t retain past requests, it may not be the best option for handling personal details, financial data, or business information.

4.ChatGPT doesn’t have any branding or customisation. If you need a chatbot that has your business branding, there are more tailored solutions available.

5.ChatGPT can generate responses on it’s own. This means that there is no way to control exactly what ChatGPT says. This can be a problem if we are wanting our messaging to be accurate, consistent and adhering to legal requirements.

6. ChatGPT is an API (Application Programming Interface)-based service, and businesses would need to consider the availability and usage limits set the service provider. If the API is unavailable or there are limitations on the number of requests, it could impact the reliability of the chat bot.

7.Training and fine-tuning requirements: The ChatGPT model may require significant effort and expertise to fine-tune it for your specific business. This is too time-consuming and resource-intensive for most small businesses.

Update:

As the technology is improving in leaps and bounds we are currently training a customer service bot on our site- the above points are still valid. If you want to give Sizzle (our chat bot) a try and provide us some feedback that would be fantastic.

Where do I find ChatGPT?

You can access it right here

Can I use ChatGPT in my small business?

You may have heard a lot of buzz about ChatGPT,  you might be wondering whether it’s worth your time and effort to use it in your business. There may be a case for your business, but honestly to date we probably have a couple of clients that have tried to use it a few times and then gave up.

Do we? No we don’t- except for the purposes of this blog piece. There is no use for it in our business case, not yet anyway. ChatGPT is a work in progress so we will reassess in a few years time. Who knows it may morph into something else then!

Do not jump on the ChatGPT bandwagon thinking it’s going to get you lots more customers! Even if it gives you great suggestions you still have to do the work. I know you hate me but it’s true!

We understand that the lure of any tool usually occurs because you’re overwhelmed in your business in some way and sometimes it’s just FOMO. Many of our clients wear themselves out trying different tools to help. Sometimes that is part of growing as a business owner but remember you can also talk to your friends at rawmarrow, if you want to get there a bit quicker.

Our team works closely with you every step of the way, providing guidance, support and laughter in navigating through these challenges so that you can focus on what matters most – growing your business successfully. 🙂