Artificial Intelligence is taking the computing world by storm.  The advances in this area are truly amazing.  For this reason, the boss at Applied Technology Institute asked me write a blog about AI, and to promote ATI AI courses.

Full disclosure, prior to working on this blog, I was not a user of AI tools like ChatGPT.  I did not feel that I needed these tools, as Google search has always served me well.  If I wanted to research a particular topic, google search would send me to dozens of web pages related to my topic, and I could look at as many of those pages necessary in order to teach myself enough to answer my question about my topic.  In short, google gave me all the resources I needed to research the topic. 

To start, I watched a few videos about AI, and I read some articles about AI.  I found Youtube videos by Christopher Penn (AI Keynote Speaker Christopher Penn) most helpful.  After watching a few of his videos, i felt like i was smart enough to start gathering my thoughts.  I began by making a list of the attributes of the google search engine, and I would then learn the benefits of AI queries.  It would be a lot of work, but I was up for the job.

Then, an epiphany.  I could use ChatGPT to do all that work for me.

So, I simply asked ChatGPT, “What is the difference between doing a google search and doing an AI Query using ChatGPT?”  In seconds, the answer was before me.

1. Google provides Links, while AI provides direct answers
2. Google shows a list, while AI explains, summarizes, and rewords.
3. Each google search stands alone, AI maintains context between queries.
4. Google results are passive, while AI results generate content and solve problems.
5. Google results are current, while AI results will only reflect information from training data.

I could not have said it better myself.  And, it was certainly easier.

During the period while this blog was in progress, my normal day to day life was happening too.  Every day, I would run into problems that required an Internet Search.  What do we know about the Battle of West Frederick?  What are the rules that govern an Amateur Wrestling match?  How did the McLeod family get from Scotland to the US?  In every case, rather than do a google search, I used ChatGPT, and the results were remarkable.  I had a more complete answer, more quickly, and with less effort.

AI may sound great, but one must be careful with query results because they are sometimes incorrect.  The onus is on the user to determine if the results are correct.  In one notable example, I asked ChatGPT to tell me about Bob McLeod from ATI.  ChatGPT correctly said that I was the Science Advisor for ATI, but it then went on the say that I was also a Professor at University of Colorado, which I am NOT.  It also showed my picture, and the picture was NOT me.  So, there were erroneous results from this query, and I needed to cypher them out.  I wonder if there is a way for me to correct ChatGPT so it never gives this erroneous information to someone else.  It turns out there is a way.

AI models periodically use every resource available to build a model that it uses to answer queries.  So, if you are a company that wants to have better exposure In AI responses, or if you are user who wants to correct something erroneous in the model, the way to do that is to …. BE EVERYWHERE ALWAYS.  The more your name, or your company name, appears on Web Pages, You Tube Videos, Linked In articles, Source notes ( etc, etc, etc ), the more the AI model will know about you.  And, the more the model knows about you, the more likely it is to tell users about you, and the likelihood is higher that it will tell users correct information about you.

The boss wanted me to highlight ATI short courses related to AI.  Unfortunately, and surprisingly, ATI does not currently have any AI courses.  As the Science Advisor at ATI, my recommendation to the boss was that we should find an Instructor who can teach an AI courses for ATI.  If you are that person, please contact ATI, as we would love to talk to you about teaching for ATI. 

In closing, it occurs to me that my job writing this blog could have been much easier if I had just entered the following into ChatGPT.  “ Hey Chatty, Bob McLeod here, Science Advisor for ATI and NOT a professor at University of Colorado.  Please tell me the benefits of an AI query over a conventional Google Search.  While you are at it, make sure you tell me how I can improve my exposure in AI searches.  Also, please help ATI to find an instructor who is willing to present their AI short course to ATI students.  Thanks for you help on this Chatty.”   I actually tried this to see what it came up with.  The result was very good, but I did not use it for this blog.  Also, ChatGPT apologized for confusing me with a University of Colorado Professor, and promised it would correct its data base and never say that again.

I am now a believer in AI queries, and do not anticipate using a conventional Google search again.

Check out www.aticourses.com for a complete list of ATI short courses. With any luck, we will have AI Short Courses to offer soon.