What is ChatGPT?
By the end of this lesson you will understand what ChatGPT actually is, what it can help you do, and how to create your free account.
Understand what ChatGPT is
ChatGPT is an AI — an artificial intelligence — made by a company called OpenAI. It has read almost everything that has ever been written on the internet — books, articles, research, conversations — and it uses all of that knowledge to answer your questions and help you with tasks. You talk to it by typing, just like a WhatsApp chat. It responds in seconds. It can write, explain, translate, summarise, brainstorm, calculate, and much more.
See what it can help you with right now
ChatGPT can write the first draft of almost anything — an essay, a cover letter, a business description, a social media caption, a speech. It can explain confusing topics in simple language. It can help you prepare for JAMB by quizzing you on any subject. It can help you come up with business ideas. It can translate text to and from Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin, and Hausa. It can suggest what to charge for a service. It is like having a very knowledgeable friend available 24/7 on your phone.
Create your free ChatGPT account
Go to chat.openai.com on your browser or download the ChatGPT app from the Play Store or App Store. Tap "Sign up". Create an account with your email address or Google account. The free version of ChatGPT is powerful enough for everything in this course. Once you are logged in, you will see a text box at the bottom of the screen. That is where you type your messages to the AI.
Open ChatGPT right now and type this message: 'I am a secondary school student in Lagos, Nigeria. Can you explain what artificial intelligence is in simple language, using examples from everyday Nigerian life?' Read the response. Then ask it a follow-up question about something it said.