Background & Descriptions

A chatbot is an artificial intelligence-based software application that can engage in human-like conversations.  (Rudolph et al., 2023)

ChatGPT is a cutting-edge language model that is a modification of OpenAI's Generative Pretrained Transformer (GPT) language model. Its purpose is to generate text that is indistinguishable from content that people authored. It can hold conversations with users in a way that is deceptively simple and easy to understand (Mhlanga, 2023)

ChatGPT was developed by OpenAI, which is an artificial intelligence (AI) research laboratory that conducts research with the stated goal of promoting and developing ‘friendly AI’ in a way that benefits humanity as a whole.  In 2020, OpenAI introduced Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT-)3 as a major AI breakthrough in chatbots. GPT-3 was trained on hundreds of billions of words. On November 30, 2022, OpenAI launched a free preview of ChatGPT, its new AI chatbot. ChatGPT reached one million users only five days after its initial launch.  (Rudolph et al., 2023)

• 51% of teachers have already used ChatGPT, with 40% reporting they use it weekly

• 88% of teachers agree ChatGPT has had a positive impact

• 12 to 14-year-old students were the highest usage group with 47% reported using ChatGPT

• 63% of students and 72% of teachers reported that “ChatGPT is just another example of why we can’t keep doing things the old way for schools in the modern world.”

  • (Ward, 2023)