The evolution of search and information gathering continues with ChatGPT and other language models.
ChatGPT search volume peaked this week. The bot, which drew more than 1 million users soon after its November launch, is attracting more investors to generative AI.
It’s unclear how long the research preview period will last or how the company plans to monetize the platform.
ChatGPT is a language model trained by OpenAI capable of generating natural-sounding text. I’m a human. We’ve been around a while.
Let’s try it
The results varied. Please write an email to my boss asking for a raise. Well done. History of Egyptians? Not so much. The Importance and impact of the River Thames? Lackluster. Who roasts the best coffee? Well-rounded. We’re barely scratching the surface. So let’s try something different.
Question
I’m an applications engineer for a tier 1 automotive supplier responsible for designing and implementing an automated weld cell using robots. How much should I budget for a project like this, and which robot brand and model should I get? It must be a floor-mounted 6-axis robot. The total cost of ownership, maintainability, and programming is essential.
Answer
The cost for a project like this can vary widely depending on the specific requirements of the weld cell, such as the size and complexity of the parts being welded, the number of robots needed, and the level of automation required. As a rough estimate, a complete automated weld cell using a 6-axis robot can cost anywhere from $200,000 to $2,000,000 or more.
As for the brand and model of the robot, some popular options for floor-mounted 6-axis robots include those from companies such as FANUC, ABB, and KUKA. It’s important to evaluate your specific requirements and select the robot that best fits your needs.
It will be also important to consider the robot’s ease of programming, as well as the availability of technical support and training. It’s a good idea to consult with a robot integrator who can help you evaluate different options and provide cost estimates for the complete system.
Before ChatGPT, no search engine was this helpful for such a long and technical search query. Impressive. I’m not alone in this assessment. Matt Fletcher, Managing Director for Fletcher Moorland, has 30 years in the business.
Constructive criticism
On the fifth question, I unearthed a weakness. ChatGPT struggles with niche topics:
- How does an industrial robot work?
I won’t bore you with all the details, but let’s make it clear most servo motors are powered by electricity, not compressed air or hydraulic pressure like ChatGPT would have you believe. (Maybe I’m not as antiquated as I thought).
Here’s the edited document, with red marks reminiscent of grade school and simpler times. I’ll let you decide which is most informative, helpful, and trustworthy.
In defense of my enemy or writing companion (I’m still undecided), search results and Google’s featured snippets fail more often than I’d like to admit.
Rewind to November 30, 2022, the day students universally rejoiced, and the hearts of content marketers and technical writers skipped a beat—two very different yet understandable reactions. For writers, ChatGPT could be the natural evolution of autocorrect or auto-fill. Or better yet, convenient writing assistants like Grammarly.
The evolution of search and information gathering continues. Both companies and humans must once again figure out how to adjust. For now, writers and content creators are safe.
First impression
Have no fear. This AI is friendly. It’s J.A.R.V.I.S., not Ultron. It’ll only get better, and that’s something we must accept.
Is ChatGPT an expert, highly trusted, and authoritative source? Not yet. Could it become one? Sure. Like Sam Altman said, “It’s a preview of progress.” To my new AI powered friend, we’ll meet again soon.
ChatGPT is incredibly limited, but good enough at some things to create a misleading impression of greatness.
— Sam Altman (@sama) December 11, 2022
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.
Pros and cons
(+) The Good
- Coherent, digestible, and concise answers in seconds without ads
(-) The Bad
- No source or paper trail to show where the information originated
- Lacks creativity and, at times, responses need more depth and can come across as boilerplate or canned
- It’s flat-out wrong at times
- Limited to text only (No video, shopping, real-time information, or images)
