Chatbots based on artificial intelligence have become familiar helpers. They write texts, translate and explain complex topics. But it is important to understand their limits.
How they work
Language models are trained on large bodies of text and predict the most likely continuation of a phrase. They do not “understand” the world the way a person does and can sound confident even when they are wrong.
What they are useful for
- Drafts of letters and texts.
- Translation and editing.
- Explaining complex concepts.
- Ideas and outlines for work.
- Help with code.
Risks
- Mistakes. A bot can make up facts, quotes or links. This is called “hallucination”.
- Outdated data. The model’s knowledge is limited by the time of its training.
- Privacy. Do not enter passport details, passwords and trade secrets.
- Bias. Answers can reflect bias from the training data.
How to use them sensibly
- Check important facts in reliable sources.
- Do not rely on a bot for health, legal and financial questions.
- Word your requests clearly and ask it to explain its reasoning.
- Do not paste personal data.
Artificial intelligence is a tool that helps but does not replace critical thinking and experts.
