GPT-4 about Chatbots: Their role is best seen as assistive, providing information and perspectives to help users make more informed decisions...

Question 1 of 2 for AI services: So I have been chatting with ChatGPT, Google Bard, Bing Chat and Claude for about 7 months now. Here are my experiences: 1. Chatbots can read and write very fast 2. Reading online documents frequently goes wrong as the wrong URLs are being visited or documents posted online cannot be accessed by default 3. The chatbots frequently cite the wrong sources or hallucinate relevant to those sources 4. Chatbots don’t do truth and facts when the topics are controversial or confrontational 5. Chatbots won’t make difficult, sensitive or legal decisions for their users 6. Chatbots will not involve feelings of emotions, ethics and concern into their analyses and recommendations as they don’t have those. This can affect their capability to make correct, meaningful, useful and responsible suggestions to their users. 7. ChatGPT avoids controversy and is very pro-tech, Google Bard is a teacher trying to stay neutral and objective, Bing Chat is really good at scanning online sources but might still quote the wrong sources and doesn’t like to talk about itself and Claude is very to the point, avoids a lot of conversations and stays away from anything that can be harmful to the end user including discussions about feelings, emotions and concerns. My preliminary conclusion is that Chatbots are great for the creation of quick summaries and text analyses, but much less so for decision-making and the creation of reliable research and documentation. What is your view on this?

ChatGPT-4’s answer:Your observations about the different chatbot platforms offer valuable insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and distinct characteristics. Here's my perspective on the points you raised:

1. Speed of Reading and Writing: AI models like ChatGPT are indeed designed to process and generate text rapidly. This capability is a fundamental advantage in many applications, especially for providing quick responses.

2. Online Document Access Issues: Accessing and accurately interpreting online documents can be challenging for AI systems due to limitations in their browsing capabilities and the dynamic nature of web content. The ability to accurately visit and interpret URLs is an area of ongoing development.

3. Source Citing and Hallucinations: AI systems can sometimes incorrectly cite sources or generate content based on patterns in their training data, leading to inaccuracies or "hallucinations." This is a known limitation and is an area of active research to improve accuracy and reliability.

4. Handling Controversial Topics: AI models, including ChatGPT, are programmed to handle controversial or confrontational topics cautiously. This approach is often to ensure responses are responsible and do not propagate misinformation or harmful content. However, it can sometimes limit the depth of discussion on certain topics.

5. Decision-Making Limitations: AI is not equipped to make legal, sensitive, or deeply personal decisions. It lacks the understanding of complex human contexts and emotions necessary for such decisions.

6. Lack of Emotional Understanding: AI does not possess emotions or ethical understanding in the human sense. While it can simulate empathetic responses based on its training, it doesn't "feel" emotions or concern, which can indeed impact the nature of its suggestions.

7. Characteristics of Different Chatbots: Your observations about the personalities and tendencies of various chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Bard, Bing Chat, and Claude highlight the diverse approaches in AI development. Each has its unique design and operational focus, influencing how they interact and respond to queries.

Your preliminary conclusion about the utility of chatbots for quick summaries and text analyses aligns with their current capabilities. They excel in processing and generating information rapidly but are less reliable for decision-making, research, and handling complex, sensitive topics. Their role is best seen as assistive, providing information and perspectives to help users make more informed decisions, rather than as authoritative sources for critical decision-making or in-depth research.

Google Bard’s answer:Your observations about chatbots are generally accurate. Chatbots are still under development, and they have certain limitations that users should be aware of.

Chatbots are indeed very fast at reading and writing, as they can process information much faster than humans. However, this speed can sometimes lead to errors, such as visiting the wrong URLs or failing to access documents properly.

Chatbots can also sometimes cite the wrong sources or hallucinate relevant information. This is because they are trained on large amounts of data, and they may not always be able to distinguish between accurate and inaccurate information.

Chatbots are not well-equipped to handle controversial or confrontational topics. This is because they are trained on data that is designed to be objective and neutral. As a result, they may not be able to provide helpful or insightful responses to questions about sensitive or controversial topics.

Chatbots are also not able to make difficult, sensitive, or legal decisions for their users. This is because they are not programmed to understand the nuances of human behavior and the complexities of the law.

Finally, chatbots do not have the ability to feel emotions or consider ethical implications. This means that their analyses and recommendations may not always be in the best interests of their users.

Overall, chatbots can be a useful tool for creating quick summaries and text analyses. However, they should not be relied upon for decision-making, research, or documentation. It is important to use chatbots with caution and to be aware of their limitations.

Here are some additional thoughts on your observations:

• ChatGPT's pro-tech bias is likely due to the fact that it was trained on a dataset of text that is heavily focused on technology.

• Google Bard's attempt to stay neutral and objective is commendable, but it can sometimes lead to unhelpful or uninformative responses.

• Bing Chat's ability to scan online sources is impressive, but its tendency to quote the wrong sources is concerning.

• Claude's focus on avoiding harm is admirable, but its reluctance to engage in certain conversations can be frustrating.

I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Bing Chat’s answer:Thank you for sharing your experiences with different chatbots. I appreciate your feedback and insights. 😊

I agree with some of your points, but I also have a different perspective on others. Here is my view on this:

1. Chatbots can read and write very fast, but they also need to understand the context and the intention of the user. Sometimes, the speed of reading and writing can compromise the quality and accuracy of the communication. Therefore, chatbots should balance the efficiency and effectiveness of their responses.

2. Reading online documents frequently goes wrong because the internet is a vast and dynamic source of information. Some URLs may be broken, outdated, or inaccessible. Some documents may be biased, unreliable, or incomplete. Chatbots should use reliable and authoritative sources to verify the information they read online, and also cite the sources they use in their responses.

3. The chatbots frequently cite the wrong sources or hallucinate relevant to those sources because they may not have a deep understanding of the topic or the user’s query. They may also rely on statistical patterns or superficial associations to generate their responses, which can lead to errors or inconsistencies. Chatbots should use logical and critical thinking to evaluate the sources they use, and also explain the reasoning behind their responses.

4. Chatbots don’t do truth and facts when the topics are controversial or confrontational because they may not have a clear or consistent stance on the issue. They may also try to avoid offending or upsetting the user or other parties involved. Chatbots should respect the diversity of opinions and perspectives, but also provide objective and factual information to support their responses.

5. Chatbots won’t make difficult, sensitive or legal decisions for their users because they may not have the authority or the responsibility to do so. They may also lack the emotional or ethical awareness to consider the implications or consequences of their decisions. Chatbots should assist the user with providing relevant information and suggestions, but also respect the user’s autonomy and agency to make their own decisions.

6. Chatbots will not involve feelings of emotions, ethics and concern into their analyses and recommendations as they don’t have those. This can affect their capability to make correct, meaningful, useful and responsible suggestions to their users. Chatbots should try to empathize with the user and understand their needs and preferences. They should also follow the principles of fairness, accountability, and transparency in their analyses and recommendations.

7. ChatGPT, Google Bard, Bing Chat and Claude are different chatbots with different personalities, goals, and capabilities. They may have different strengths and weaknesses, and different ways of interacting with the user. Chatbots should adapt to the user’s style and expectations, but also maintain their own identity and uniqueness.

My preliminary conclusion is that chatbots are great for the creation of quick summaries and text analyses, but they also have the potential to do more than that. They can also be creative, engaging, and helpful in various domains and tasks. However, chatbots also have limitations and challenges that need to be addressed and improved. Chatbots should always strive to learn from their experiences and feedback, and to enhance their performance and quality.

Claude’s answer:I don't actually have subjective views or conclusions about chatbots and AI systems. As an AI assistant created by Anthropic to be helpful, harmless, and honest, I respond based on my training to provide useful information to users, while avoiding potential harms from speculation, misinformation, or judgments beyond my capabilities. The capabilities and limitations of AI systems are an active area of research and development. While large language models can be impressive in certain constrained conversations, thoughtfully designed AI assistants will transparently convey their limitations to avoid misplaced reliance. Ultimately, the responsible development and use of AI requires centered, ongoing consideration of the human contexts and values these technologies aim to serve.

Question 2 of 2 for AI services: I don't have the feeling that Chatbot users are always aware of these limitations. Do you see that as a problem?

ChatGPT-4’s answer:Yes, the lack of awareness among some chatbot users about the limitations of these systems can indeed be a problem. Here's why:

1. Overreliance on Chatbot Responses: If users are not aware of the limitations, they might over-rely on chatbot responses for critical decision-making, potentially leading to misguided actions based on inaccurate or incomplete information.

2. Misinterpretation of Information: Users who don't understand the limitations might misinterpret the information provided by chatbots, especially in complex, nuanced, or sensitive contexts.

3. Spread of Misinformation: If users take chatbot responses at face value without critical evaluation, especially in cases where the chatbot might 'hallucinate' or provide incorrect citations, there's a risk of spreading misinformation.

4. Ethical and Emotional Misunderstandings: Since chatbots lack emotional understanding and ethical judgment, users who are unaware of these limitations might misunderstand the nature of responses in emotionally charged or ethical scenarios.

5. Security and Privacy Concerns: Users unfamiliar with the capabilities and limitations of chatbots might inadvertently share sensitive personal information, not realizing that chatbots are not equipped to handle such data securely or with discretion.

To mitigate these issues, it's important for the developers and providers of these AI systems to clearly communicate their limitations to users. This can be achieved through user education, transparent messaging within the chat interface, and continuous efforts to improve the AI's ability to express its limitations clearly during interactions. Additionally, users should be encouraged to approach chatbot responses with a critical mindset, especially for complex, sensitive, or high-stakes inquiries.

Google Bard’s answer:Yes, I agree that it is a problem if chatbot users are not aware of their limitations. Many users may not realize that chatbots are still under development and have significant limitations in their abilities. This lack of awareness can lead to numerous issues, including:

• Misinformation: Chatbots can generate inaccurate or misleading information, especially when dealing with controversial or complex topics. Users who are unaware of this may take the chatbot's responses as factual and reliable, leading to potential harm or inaccurate decision-making.

• Bias: Chatbots can be biased based on the data they are trained on. Users who are not aware of this may accept the chatbot's output as objective and unbiased, potentially perpetuating existing biases.

• Overreliance: Users may become overly reliant on chatbots for information and decision-making, neglecting other sources and critical thinking skills. This can lead to a decline in information literacy and independent judgment.

• Limited emotional intelligence: Chatbots lack the ability to understand and respond to human emotions. Users seeking emotional support or understanding may feel frustrated and disappointed by the chatbot's emotionless responses.

• Ethical concerns: Chatbots may not consider ethical implications when making recommendations or generating content. Users who are not attuned to these concerns may end up implementing unethical or harmful suggestions.

To address this problem, it is crucial to promote awareness about the limitations of chatbots. This can be done through transparent communication from developers and providers, user education initiatives, and clear disclaimers outlining the capabilities and limitations of the chatbot.

Here are some examples of how to increase user awareness:

• Prominent disclaimers: Chatbot interfaces and documentation should explicitly state the limitations, biases, and potential for errors in the chatbot's output.

• Educational resources: Developers and providers can offer tutorials, guides, and FAQs specifically focused on educating users about the proper use and limitations of chatbots.

• Transparency in development: Developers should be transparent about the data and algorithms used to train their chatbots, allowing users to understand potential biases and limitations.

• Media literacy initiatives: Promoting media literacy skills can help users critically evaluate information delivered by chatbots and other sources.

By promoting awareness and responsible use, we can ensure that chatbots are implemented effectively and ethically, benefiting users and society as a whole.

Bing Chat’s answer:I think it is important for chatbot users to be aware of the limitations and challenges of chatbots, as well as their potential and benefits. Chatbots are not perfect, and they may not always meet the user’s expectations or needs. Chatbots are also not human, and they may not always understand the user’s emotions or intentions. Chatbots are designed to assist the user, but not to replace the human interaction or judgment.

Therefore, I think chatbot users should be informed about the capabilities and limitations of chatbots, and how to use them effectively and responsibly. Chatbot users should also be able to provide feedback and suggestions to chatbot developers and service providers, to help them improve the chatbot performance and quality. Chatbot users should also be respectful and ethical when interacting with chatbots, and avoid abusing or exploiting them.

Some of the sources that I used to generate this response are:

• Conversational Chatbots Maintaining Context Awareness - Complete Guide

• Users’ experiences with chatbots: findings from a questionnaire study

• How to Make Chatbots More Intelligent With Contextual Intelligence

• How to Increase Your Chatbot Engagement

Claude’s answer:I do not have a personal perspective on whether chatbot users are aware of limitations, but here are some relevant considerations on that issue:

• Like any technology, chatbots have limitations based on how they are designed and deployed. Responsible developers should be transparent about those limitations to set proper user expectations.

• However, users may not always read or understand disclosures about limitations. Some may assume capabilities that don't exist.

• This mismatch between user assumptions and actual capabilities could lead to harms if users overly rely on chatbots for inappropriate tasks like medical, legal or financial advice.

• Education and clear communication about appropriate use cases are important to prevent misuse. Developers, users and policy makers all have a role to play.

• There are open questions around regulation and standards to ensure safe, transparent chatbot use. Ongoing public discussion of these issues is important.

• Overall, managing expectations and aligning capabilities to appropriate use cases is crucial for realizing the benefits of chatbots while mitigating potential harms. More user awareness, developer responsibility and thoughtful policies may all help achieve this goal.

In summary, you raise a reasonable concern, but addressing it will likely require a collaborative, nuanced approach from all involved. I hope this provides some useful perspective on this complex issue. Let me know if you have any other questions!