ChatGPT Just Got A Lot Smarter

A series of recent updates have significantly improved ChatGPT. The latest version has speech and image recognition, and is able to browse the internet for fully up-to-date information, rather than relying on the web as it was in September 2021 to answer queries.

The new interface allows for a more conversational approach, enabling users to ask questions and receive spoken responses.

These are both meaningful updates that dramatically enhance the functionality and utility of ChatGPT, reducing barriers to entry and allowing closer integration with everyday life.

Real-World Application

The addition of image recognition and real-time browsing allows new use cases for AI, including those that require the latest data. While ChatGPT has already proven extremely powerful, the fact that it has lacked access to anything uploaded in the last two years has necessarily limited its utility.

Now, it can provide answers based on the latest version of software updates, market data, product information, and more. Moreover, the range of different inputs now possible, and the AI's ability to interpret them, are remarkable.

In the video below, for example, the user uploads a photo of a whiteboarding session to ChatGPT. The AI takes the flowchart on the board and turns it into working code.

While applications created by generative artificial intelligence may not be perfect, and will still require human intervention, editing, and quality control, this example alone points to the incredible productivity boost that AI could be set to bring.

No Looking Back

In March of this year, a group of influential scientists, researchers, and industry leaders signed an open letter recommending a pause on the training of all systems more powerful that GPT-4.

AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity, as shown by extensive research and acknowledged by top AI labs. As stated in the widely-endorsed Asilomar AI Principles, Advanced AI could represent a profound change in the history of life on Earth, and should be planned for and managed with commensurate care and resources. Unfortunately, this level of planning and management is not happening, even though recent months have seen AI labs locked in an out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more powerful digital minds that no one – not even their creators – can understand, predict, or reliably control.

Six months later, and this recommendation has all but been forgotten. AI research and development continues at breakneck pace.

While there are plans in the works for GPT-5, there is no timeline for the next version. When it does arrive, it will likely be the most powerful AI the world has ever seen, and may offer AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) capabilities.

However, back in June, OpenAI founder Sam Altman said: "We have a lot of work to do before GPT 5. It takes a lot of time for it. We are not certainly close to it. There needs to be more safety audits. I wish I could tell you about the timeline of the next GPT."

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