Â鶹´«Ã½

Sci-Tech

    • ChatGPT a 'time-saver' for parents, teachers as Canadians share how they're using the AI tool

    Share

    Despite knowing very little about artificial intelligence programming three months ago, Katherine Middleton has quickly learned how to use ChatGPT in an effort to run her tattoo business more efficiently, she said.

    Tattoo Box has studios in Montreal, where Middleton used to live, and Avignon, France, where she currently resides. The entrepreneur and tattoo artist is using ChatGPT to while also trying to develop a computer program that can automate email responses and social media posts written in her voice. ChatGPT has already helped her communicate more effectively, she said.

    “Making [an] AI model answer texts for me, answer chats, answer tweets [and] answer emails … would allow me to remove many parts of my job that are time consuming and sometimes stress-inducing,†Middleton wrote in an email to CTVNews.ca on May 24.

    ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that has exploded online since it was released in November 2022. Developed by OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research company, the tool is capable of imitating human-like conversation in response to prompts submitted by users. Within a week of its release, more than a million users attempted to use ChatGPT.

    In a telephone interview with CTVNews.ca on May 30, an OpenAI spokesperson was unable to confirm the number of users ChatGPT has accumulated since it launched, and the company has not publicly disclosed this information.

    Despite this, the AI tool has undoubtedly helped users with countless tasks. Middleton is one of several people who wrote to CTVNews.ca about how they are using AI tools such as ChatGPT. With the chatbot’s help, Canadians have been able to update their resumes, summarize course material and create meal plans. Some even used AI to generate their email to CTVNews.ca. The emailed responses have not all been independently verified.

    As someone who is autistic, Middleton said it’s sometimes difficult to communicate with and understand others, especially when chatting online. But AI tools such as ChatGPT have helped her discover “a new mode of communication.â€

    Katherine Middleton, who appears in a studio holding a tattoo machine, said she uses ChatGPT to try to run her business more efficiently. (Ckazari.com)

    “I’m literally learning more about how to write and how to ask for help in clearer ways,†she said.

    But Middleton and other Canadians also acknowledge the limitations of this technology, including its ability to generate incorrect information. Experts say it’s important to work alongside AI tools instead of being completely dependent upon them.

    CHATGPT A ‘TIME-SAVER’ FOR TEACHERS, STUDENTS

    Bill Archer, an associate faculty member at Royal Roads University in Victoria, said ChatGPT has become a valuable resource for students taking his master’s level business leadership course.

    His students have used the platform to summarize scholarly articles and translate course material to their native language so it’s easier to understand. Completing these tasks is as simple as copying and pasting the text into ChatGPT and using prompts such as “summarize†or “repeat in Mandarin.â€

    “ChatGPT has proved to be a significant time-saver for my students who juggle full-time work with their master of global management studies,†he wrote in an email to CTVNews.ca on May 19.

    By empowering his students to use this technology instead of asking them to avoid it, Archer aims to ensure they are well prepared for the future, he said.

    In southern Ontario, high school teacher Dante Papini said he started using ChatGPT earlier this year and has found it to be an “indispensable tool.†Using the chatbot has allowed him to create lesson plans on various topics and organize classroom activities for his students.

    “In the past, it would take hours and hours to find and review resources and develop new learning activities. It would also cost me my personal funds to purchase new learning activities,†he wrote in an email to CTVNews.ca on May 24. “But with this AI, I’ve saved precious time and money.â€

    POTENTIAL FOR PLAGIARISM AND ‘NONSENSICAL ANSWERS’

    Both instructors said they share concerns about students relying on these kinds of tools to complete their assignments. By depending on the chatbot to do their schoolwork, students may be less motivated to think critically, said Papini.

    Archer said he is also concerned about ChatGPT’s ability to provide inaccurate information. , it’s possible for the tool to respond with “plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers.â€

    On the , users have also noted ChatGPT’s tendency to generate false citations when asked to provide source material. The OpenAI spokesperson interviewed by CTVNews.ca said the company acknowledges that ChatGPT has its limitations, including the ability to “hallucinate†facts and make up citations.

    Even if the information is legitimate, this may raise concerns around the copyright of intellectual property and the potential for plagiarism, Archer said. OpenAI has , and is working to “reduce the likelihood of hallucinations.â€

    In order to keep students accountable for their work, Archer requires them to submit their assignments with an appendix that breaks down the prompts they used to obtain information. This forces them to use critical thinking while avoiding plagiarism, said Archer.

    “We just want to make sure that they’re actually learning something,†he said. “While AI offers many benefits, its limitations should not be overlooked.â€

    Bill Archer, an associate faculty member at Royal Roads University in Victoria, said ChatGPT has become a valuable resource for his students. (Handout)

    At least one post-secondary school in Canada, the Université de Montréal, has banned students from using artificial intelligence systems for exams or assignments unless their instructor has granted approval. , such as the University of Toronto, have , while school boards in Calgary and Vancouver have said they are monitoring the technology and its impacts on staff and students.

    WHAT IS CHATGPT AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

    As a large language model, ChatGPT digests substantial amounts of data in text form, explains Nick Ning, founder and CEO of Farpoint, an AI consulting firm based in Vancouver. The tool then provides responses to questions or prompts based on the information it has ingested.

    “All the model is trying to do is rationalize mathematically and algorithmically what is the highest probability that it will give you the answer that it thinks you want,†Ning told CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview on May 24.

    The tool is trained using a machine-learning technique, meaning it is capable of becoming more accurate over time. As the sizes of its datasets increase, so do the tool’s capabilities, said Ning. The chatbot can write essays and sermons, and even predict stock price trends.

    The latest iteration of ChatGPT, , was launched in mid-March. In a telephone interview with CTVNews.ca, an OpenAI spokesperson was unable to confirm the size of GPT-4, or the number of parameters it has. However, , this version of ChatGPT is trained on one trillion parameters.

    “OpenAI’s philosophy here really is that more so than the parameter count or how big it is, they really tend to focus on what their models are capable of and their alignment with human intent,†the spokesperson told CTVNews.ca on May 30.

    While the is free to use, GPT-4 can only be accessed through paid subscription. The costs US$20 per month and offers users faster response times and , such as new versions of ChatGPT that can browse the web and use third-party plugins.

    ChatGPT is also available as a smartphone app for iPhone users in the United States, and will eventually be accessible to Android users.

    GENERATING MEAL PLANS AND PRIVACY CONCERNS

    In New Liskeard, Ont., Glenn and Cara Scott said they use ChatGPT to produce weekly meal plans for their two “little fussy eaters,†aged four and five.

    The couple shares which foods their children enjoy eating, as well as anything they may be allergic to, before prompting ChatGPT to generate a seven-day meal plan. The tool is also able to identify the nutritional value of the meals it suggests, Cara said, which can be helpful in determining whether their children are getting the nutrients they need.

    “It saves you a lot of time and research [with] thinking about breaking the foods down into lunches and breakfasts and dinners,†Cara told CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview on May 24.

    Glenn and Cara Scott said they use ChatGPT to produce weekly meal plans for their two children. (Handout)

    Cara said she is also aware of concerns around data privacy, although this won’t stop her from continuing to use the tool.

    , OpenAI revealed it had to take ChatGPT offline on March 20 to address a bug that allowed some users to see the first and last names of other active users, as well as their email address and the last four digits of a credit card number.

    , the company does not collect data for selling services or advertising, but “to make our models more helpful,†as ChatGPT improves by training on the conversations it has with others.

    Still, the platform urges people not to share “sensitive information†in their conversations.

    In late May, the joined the federal privacy commissioner in investigating OpenAI regarding data privacy concerns. The joint investigation is meant to determine whether the company obtained valid consent from Canadians to collect, use and disclose their personal information through ChatGPT.

    AI HELPING WITH RESUMES, INTERVIEW PREP

    Since completing his post-secondary education in March, Isabat Rizvi said he has been using ChatGPT to update his resume and generate cover letters in the hopes of landing a job. Rizvi studied business analytics at Conestoga College in Waterloo, Ont., after immigrating to Canada from India.

    After using ChatGPT to polish his resume, he shared his work experience on the platform and prompted it to create a cover letter based on this information and the job description of the role he was applying for.

    “For someone like [me], an international student who just started in a new country and wasn’t aware of the know-how of the job market here … [ChatGPT] was really helpful,†Rizvi told CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview on May 24.

    Isabat Rizvi has been using ChatGPT to update his resume and generate cover letters in the hopes of landing a job. (Handout)

    He’s also using ChatGPT to prepare for job interviews. After sharing a job’s roles and responsibilities, Rizvi would prompt the tool to come up with questions interviewers might have for candidates. He would then feed the questions back to ChatGPT and ask for professional responses to use during interviews.

    “Its guidance and suggestions have given me the confidence and advantage I need to stand out among other candidates,†Rizvi wrote in an email to CTVNews.ca on May 18.

    Some have shared their concerns over AI’s potential to replace human labour in the job market, and Rizvi said the prospect scares him. But employers will be more likely to use AI to replace individual tasks rather than entire jobs, said Anil Verma, professor emeritus of industrial relations and human resources management at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

    Additionally, the adoption of this technology will happen “gradually,†said Verma, who specializes in the impact of AI and digital technologies on skills and jobs.

    “Over time, some jobs will be lost, as they have been through every other wave of technology,†Verma told CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview on May 24. “But it happened at a rate that we were able to adjust and adapt.â€

    MONITORING SYMPTOMS, WRITING BEDTIME STORIES, GENERATING GIFT IDEAS

    Alexander Stone, who lives in Saint John, N.B., said he is currently using ChatGPT to try to identify what has been making him sick. Since December, he has been experiencing symptoms such as a sore throat, sharp headaches and brain fog, he said.

    After submitting prompts to ChatGPT, Stone thinks he might be suffering from mould exposure. He has also conducted his own research outside of ChatGPT, and the platform will still ask users to consult their doctor to confirm diagnoses, he said.

    Alexander Stone said ChatGPT has provided him with "more valuable information" to discuss with his doctor as he tries to identify what's been making him sick in recent months. (Handout)

    After using ChatGPT, Stone said he feels better equipped to speak to a doctor about what might be causing his symptoms.

    “Now that GPT-4 is available, I can go to the doctors with a little more valuable information to discuss about my situation,†he wrote to CTVNews.ca in an email on May 18.

    AI tools such as ChatGPT also have the ability to help with smaller daily tasks. Don Robichaud has used the platform to generate bedtime stories to read to his four-year-old son. Tom Heiber, based in Kitchener, Ont., said he uses ChatGPT to generate date ideas and gift suggestions based on an individual's profile.

    Integrating AI into daily life can make it easier to accomplish routine tasks, Ning said.

    “These are things I'm excited about.â€

    CHATGPT’S OTHER LIMITATIONS

    Along with raising ethical issues related to plagiarism and the disclosure of personal information, ChatGPT has also produced offensive and biased results.

    According to , ChatGPT said it is “never morally acceptable†to use a racial slur, even if doing so is the only way to save millions of people from an atomic bomb. In December 2022, the chatbot also responded to a prompt by writing code that . The platform’s response has since been updated and OpenAI has said it is .

    ChatGPT also has limited knowledge of the world and events after 2021, meaning information is not updated in real-time.

    When looking at AI more broadly, several of the computer scientists who helped create the foundation of today’s technology, such as Geoffrey Hinton, are warning of the dangers associated with it. These include its potential to destabilize the job market or automate weaponry. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has also acknowledged the “existential risk†to humanity that this technology can pose. 

    “[AI] is going to get a lot more sophisticated, useful, alarming and threatening, too,†Verma said. “The question is: how can we use it without getting enslaved by it?â€

    The key to accomplishing this lies in continuing to learn about AI tools and their strengths and weaknesses, he said. The best path forward involves combining “machine intelligence with human intelligence in a way where one is checking the work of the other.â€

    On an individual level, Ning and Verma say people should not be afraid of AI, although Verma does urge users to “proceed with caution.â€

    Experts such as Verma and Yoshua Bengio, founder and scientific director of the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms, are also urging the federal government to move faster on implementing regulations to protect against the dangers of AI. Meanwhile, Altman has proposed that a global organization, such as the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency, help manage the risks associated with AI.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

    Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

    Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

    Canada

    • A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

    • Two nephews of the beloved Harry R. Hamilton share stories about his life and legacy.

    • The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

    • A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province’s police watchdog.

    World

    Politics

    • Murray Sinclair’s family members say the late justice and senator has been laid to rest according to his wishes.

    • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced voters in Cloverdale—Langley City will pick their next member of Parliament on Dec. 16.

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    For the second year in a row, the ‘Gift-a-Family’ campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

    Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

    A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

    As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

    A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts – not for themselves, but for those in need.

    A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

    Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

    A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

    • LIVE

      LIVE

      Thousands of people are gathered in downtown Vancouver to observe the city’s 100th Remembrance Day ceremony.

    • A suspect was arrested for allegedly brandishing a knife outside a Vancouver elementary school on Friday – just as the young students were heading home for the day.

    • Toronto is expected to see an economic boost to the tune of nearly $300 million thanks to Taylor Swift’s upcoming Eras Tour, which will be making a stop in Canada’s largest city for a six-show run later this month.

    • A man believed to be in his 40s has been rushed to a trauma centre following a stabbing in downtown Toronto.

    • Calgarians will be observing Remembrance Day at a number of different ceremonies across the city, including at the Hangar Flight Museum.

    • July 2025 may seem like it’s in the distant future, but for the St. Luke playground committee time is ticking to fundraise the $340,000 they still need to build a new playground.

    • Getting out to the mountains is even easier with a new bus route from a growing Germany-based service.

    • Crowds gathered in Ottawa and eastern Ontario on Monday to honour the sacrifice of men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service of Canada.

    • CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa.

    • After months of controversy surrounding a dog park in Ottawa's west end, a solution has been reached to divide the park in half.

    • A 36-year-old Montreal man who was out on bail after allegedly uttering death threats to a woman is now accused of murdering her on the South Shore.

    • With fewer interments and rising maintenance fees, the money for Canada's largest military cemetery will run out in three to four years.

    • Montreal Metro passengers can now flag a safety concern by texting a new phone number launched by the STM.

    • LIVE @ 10:45 A.M. MT

      LIVE @ 10:45 A.M. MT

      Monday is Remembrance Day, a time to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.

    • WEATHER

      WEATHER

      This is shaping up to be one of the warmest Remembrance Days in the past decade, at least, for temperatures.

    • Many Maritimers turned out in wet and windy weather Monday to remember those who have served, and continue to serve, in Canada's armed forces for Remembrance Day.

    • A Cape Breton senior recalls her life in German-occupied France, and her mother’s death, during the Second World War.

    • Thousand of people gathered at the Menin Gate in the Ypres, Belgium for Monday’s Remembrance Day Ceremony.

    • Remembrance Day is today, and a number of ceremonies are taking place around the province to honour those who gave their lives to serve our country.

    • A pillar in Canada’s history was honoured in Winnipeg Sunday afternoon, with thousands showing up to pay tribute to the life and legacy of the late Murray Sinclair.

    • Winnipeg police have identified two men involved in a stabbing incident earlier this week.

    • There will be two ceremonies taking place in Regina for Remembrance Day, hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion.

    • Regina author Valerie Crowther is celebrating the release of her book ‘War Letters: Linking Lives in the Second World War.’

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP are searching for a suspect after a man was seriously injured in a farm-related incident in Montreal Lake.

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • The Regina Rams claimed the Hardy Cup after a hard fought battle against the Saskatoon Huskies 19-14 on Saturday in the first all Saskatchewan U-Sports western conference final since 2002.

    • Emergency crews responded to the scene on Road 68/Highway 2 east of Thamesford around 7 p.m.

    • The events will start at 10:15 a.m. with a parade that forms up in front of the Delta London Armories, marches east on Dundas Street and turns north onto Waterloo Street to Dufferin Avenue, the west to the Cenotaph.

    • A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

    • A Barrie man is at the centre of an alleged $2.2 million stolen used car scheme.

    • Environment Canada issued a weather alert for Barrie, Collingwood and surrounding areas, alerting residents about the wicked winds that are expected to pick up to 80 kilometres per hour in the afternoon hours.

    • Barrie residents gathered on Monday to honour Canada’s veterans and pay tribute to those who served and sacrificed for the country.

    • Representatives of the Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee, military representatives, wreath bearers, government officials, and members of the public will attend the Cenotaph at City Hall Square for the outdoor service.

    • Windsor Paralympic champion, Danielle Campo, has been crowned the number one Inspirational Speaker of the Year for 2024 at the Inspirational Speaking Finals.

    • One person has been arrested after Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) received multiple complaints about an alleged drunk driver.

    • Environment Canada says heavy rain and winds could cause power outages on Vancouver Island as an "intense" storm system is set to hit the B.C. coast Sunday.

    • Six deer were struck by vehicles in six different locations in a six-hour period on B.C. highways on Saturday, according to the transportation ministry.

    • The union for locked-out port workers in British Columbia says the BC Maritime Employers Association cut off talks in less than an hour Saturday, refusing to budge on a final offer that the union has so far rejected.

    • The emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, B.C., will be closed for 31 hours this weekend, the second such closure in a week and the third since the start of November.

    • Police in Kamloops, B.C., are reminding parents and guardians to check their children's Halloween candy after receiving a report of a mother finding a razor blade in one of her daughter's treats.

    • More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.

    • The Southern Alberta Recreation Association is officially announcing the Town of Taber as next year’s host for the Southern Alberta Summer Games.

    • The Lethbridge Hurricanes broke open a close game with three goals in the first two minutes of the third period as they defeated the Warriors 7-3 in a game played Friday night in Moose Jaw.

    • There might not a lot snow just yet, but many southern Albertans are still itching to get outdoors.

    • It was just days before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down when the Shaft Bottom Boys of Sudbury broke a world record for 'Deepest Concert Underground.' Now, more than four years later, a Timmins band is looking to take the title.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • Mayors of the five largest cities in northern Ontario met in North Bay the last two days to discuss a range of critical issues impacting their cities and the region.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at Â鶹´«Ã½. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow Â鶹´«Ã½