Written by Prakriti Panwar, a grade 11 student

GPT-3, better known as Generative Pre-Transformer 3, is the third version of a tool created by OpenAI (an artificial intelligence research laboratory). 

Its main function is that of a ‘language interpreter.’ It uses deep learning to produce human-like text.

Questions being asked are – will it take away jobs? Read on to know what it can do and are jobs in danger or not?

According to Forbes, “GPT-3 can create anything that has a language structure – which means it can answer questions, write essays, summarize long texts, translate languages, take memos, and even create computer code.” GPT3 is being considered the most powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool ever released. This, of course, raises a very important question: Will jobs be endangered?

First, let’s talk about what the GPT-3 exactly does.

Take this as an example (based on a live demo of the GPT-3)- You want to build a basic application, but do not know how to code. So, you enter a descriptive text of what exactly the app needs to be, into the GPT-3. It comprehends your text, and creates your basic app. Just like that!

This implies that once accessible to the layman, it can be used to create anything and everything easily, and one doesn’t have to be a tech geek for that!

The GPT3 is basically a virtual genie, and your wish is its command. Literally.

Why is there so much talk about it?

Because it is a revolutionising tool! However, what is really interesting is that apart from just forming codes, it can also write creative fiction and generate business memos. This might initially seem as if we’re getting one step closer towards the era of being dominated by technology. However, it is not like that. According to an article published by Forbes, ‘ the GPT-3 lacks the ability to reason abstractly. This means that it can prove to be useful, only as long as the input falls in the area of what it has been programmed to phrase. The tool does not possess the ability to logically reason.

According to Kevin Lacker, “It (GPT-3)  doesn’t quite know how to say “Wait a moment… your question is nonsense.” It also doesn’t know how to say “I don’t know.”

This is highlighted by a conversation (one that makes no sense) he published on his blog

Q: How do you sporgle a morgle?

A: You sporgle a morgle by using a sporgle.

Q: How many bonks are in a quoit?

A: There are three bonks in a quoit.

Q: How many rainbows does it take to jump from Hawaii to seventeen?

A: It takes two rainbows to jump from Hawaii to seventeen.

Q: Which colorless green ideas sleep furiously?

A: Ideas that are colorless, green, and sleep furiously are the ideas of a sleep furiously.

Q: Do you understand these questions?

A: I understand these questions.

This not only highlights the tool’s inability to reason, but also implies that there are several places where it can prove to be inaccurate, but not explicitly mention it.

Does the tool endanger jobs?

A few weeks back, the phrase, “does GPT-3 kill coding”, surfaced on the internet. The short answer is no, it does not.  For one, the tool cannot compose texts/phrases after a certain limit. As mentioned earlier, it also lacks common sense. So, simply inserting text won’t help unless one knows how to insert that text in a way that is recognised by the GPT-3. According to TowardsDataScience, the tool will in fact ensure that people do not just ‘copy-paste’ codes from google and sell it. However, it must be noted that some jobs in the technical field are bound to become obsolete, and GPT-3 will just accelerate the inevitable. However, programming and data science jobs will not be endangered.  Correctly pointed out by Anupam Chugh from TowardsDataScience, “GPT-3 might not be close to general artificial intelligence yet, but it’s perhaps the first stepping stone where AI meets the common man.”

(Here’s an article written by GPT-3)

Want to write for I Kid You Not? We publish children’s writing.
Reach out at: administrator@ikidyounot.in