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Justin Gluska sees ChatGPT as the “beginning of something massive.”

Gluska, a senior majoring in computer science, presented his new book “The ChatGPT Promptbook” — which shares research, creative and promotion insight into the new AI technology — at a book talk in Bird Library on Wednesday afternoon.

“Over the last two months, I kind of figured out how to use it, and then went into writing it about a month after starting to use it,” Gluska said. “Then, I just kind of tweaked the prompts and added on to it.”

ChatGPT, standing for Generative Pre-training Transformer, is an OpenAI-created chatbot trained on 570GB of Internet data — including Wikipedia, webtexts and books — to produce written responses to users’ prompts. The program’s response can be tailored to be more mature or specific depending on the prompt.

With his book, Gluska hopes to share all of the writing prompts that have benefited him in his experience using the software. The book contains 52 real-world prompt examples and techniques, which range from creative writing to career development, according to a SU Blackstone LaunchPad Press Release.

“There’s 10 categories, and each one has prompts that you could use in that category,” Gluska said. “So, one of them is coding, one of them is about home, one is about marketing tips, things like that.”

Gluska emphasized the importance of selecting “explicit” and “demanding” verbiage and paying attention to tone. He said the software is only able to do as much as the user asks it to, and suggested that the prompts should be an active conversation with the software.

“If you don’t like (the response) you can say ‘no, change this’ or ‘make this more formal’ or ‘no, make this more creative and engaging,’” Gluska said.

Recently, SU created a resource document for professors with tips and strategies to address ChatGPT and AI-related concerns in the classroom. But many SU professors are beginning to view ChatGPT as a promising educational tool.

Although Gluska validated the fear that the tool will disrupt education and professional industries, he said he believes professors should integrate the tool rather than fearing it.

“I think the real question that comes out of (ChatGPT) is realizing how we can use this in our own life instead of being scared about it,” Gluska said.
Gluska said that, if schools and businesses adapt to the tool, it can help speed up operations. Still, that doesn’t mean it should be exclusively relied on, but rather that it can be used like an assistant, he said.

“For some things, it’s wonderful. But I think if you just leverage it maybe even 80% of the way, I think the other 20% could be you using your own skills and mastering it,” Gluska said. “The motto is really ‘work smarter, not harder.’ And I think that applies (to) how professors should teach students with it.”

The book, published on Jan. 22, is available for purchase on Amazon.com. Gluska hopes his prompts will reach a wide range of ChatGPT users, from students to creators to professionals.

“I just hope I plant the seed of just showing that anyone can use this and can benefit in a lot of different ways,” Gluska said.

Published on February 9, 2023 at 12:34 am

Contact Kendall: kaluther@syr.edu