ChatGPT has taken the world by storm, offering to change how we work and interact with advanced technology. But for many, the prospect of using an AI tool can feel rather daunting. If you're curious about ChatGPT but unsure where to start, you're in the right place! In this guide we will walk you through everything you need to know to get up and running, step by step.
Author: Dr. Sarah Mitchell, Founder & CEO Anadyne IQ
In This Article |
1. What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot developed by OpenAI. Launched in November 2022, it quickly gained popularity for its ability to engage in human-like conversations, answer questions, and assist with various tasks. Whether you need help with writing, brainstorming ideas, coding, or solving problems, ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in your arsenal.
For many new users, the idea of interacting with an AI tool can feel a bit intimidating. You might be wondering:
How do I even start a conversation with ChatGPT?
Can I trust the information it provides?
What if I don't know the right questions to ask?
These are all valid questions, and you're not alone in having them. The good news is that ChatGPT is designed to be user-friendly, and with a bit of guidance, you'll be using it effectively in no time.
2. Getting Started: Creating Your ChatGPT Account
Setting up your ChatGPT account is straightforward. Let's break it down step by step:
1) Visit https://chatgpt.com/
You'll be taken to the ChatGPT interface. You can sign up to create a free account or get started by popping a question for ChatGPT in the grey box (below). I recommend creating an account as you'll get access to features such as chat history and privacy controls etc.
2) Click "Sign Up" in the top right corner
The ChatGPT chat interface. Source: ChatGPT
3) Choose how you'd like to sign up
Create an account using your email address, or your Google, Microsoft, or Apple credentials.
3) If you choose email, enter your email address and click "Continue"
4) A password box will appear. Create a strong password for your account and click "Continue"
5) You'll receive a verification email. Click the link in the email to verify your account
6) You're ready to get started!
Once you've completed these steps, you'll be taken to the ChatGPT interface. Don't worry if it looks a bit bare at first – we'll explore how to use it in the next section.
Pro Tip:
If you're using a work email, check with your IT department about any policies regarding AI tools. Some organizations have specific guidelines about using external AI services.
3. Navigating the ChatGPT Interface
Let's walk through the key elements of the ChatGPT interface:
A) Side Menu Controls
The top left button will open or close the side menu (grey panel). This side menu is where you can click to start a new chat, view your chat history, and upgrade to the paid version.
B) New Chat Button
Found in the top right corner of the grey side panel, this button will start a fresh conversation. Click this when you want to switch to a new topic or task. Don't worry, you won't lose your current chat, it will be stored in the chat history.
C) Conversation History
On the left side, you'll see a list of your past conversations for easy access. Tip: right click and rename the chat with something memorable if you intend to come back to it often. Even a simple "***" prefix will help it stand out when you have a long chat history.
D) Chat Window
This is the main area where your conversation with ChatGPT takes place. A bit like a text message chat, your messages appear on the right of this window, and ChatGPT's responses will appear on the left.
E) Prompt Box
Located at the bottom of the screen and coloured grey, this is where you type your questions or instructions (aka prompts) for ChatGPT. Think of it as your way of communicating with the AI.
F) Settings
In the top right corner, you can access account settings, theme options, and other preferences.
G) Help & Policies
In the bottom right corner, you can access help, FAQs, and terms and policies. Pro tip: If you haven't already, take a quick look at the policies so you are clear on how ChatGPT might use or store your data.
I recommend taking a moment to familiarize yourself with these elements. The more comfortable you are with the interface, the easier it will be to use ChatGPT effectively.
4. Adjusting ChatGPT Safety Settings
Now that you're orientated with the interface, it's time to adjust some key settings for your safety and ease of use. Firstly, let's make sure that ChatGPT won't use your chat messages to train their models. Why? Well, there is a risk your information may be surfaced back to other users.
1) Click the settings button in the top right of your screen
2) Go to Settings
3) Go to the Data controls menu and click on the option "Improve the model for everyone"
4) Toggle to off & click done
Also, take this opportunity to scroll through the other settings and adjust them to your liking. You'll notice in the Personalisation menu there are options called Custom Instructions and Memory. We'll dive into how to get the most out of these features in a future post.
5. Your First ChatGPT Conversation
Now for the exciting part – starting your first conversation with ChatGPT! Let's begin with a super simple example:
Type in the prompt box: "Hello ChatGPT! Can you explain what you are in one sentence?"
Press Enter or click the send button
View ChatGPT's response
Here's Step 1 & 2:
And here's what the output looks like:
Note, the response you'll get from ChatGPT may be slightly different to mine. Why? Well, it's because of the way ChatGPT processes and generates text - the model predicts words based on patterns it has learned and the specific context of the conversation. This means even exactly the same question may generate responses with subtle differences.
6. ChatGPT Output Options
Well done, you've started your first chat message! Now you might spot there's a few grey icons below ChatGPT's response. What do these buttons do? Let's take a look:
A) Read aloud
Click this to hear the response spoken out loud.
B) Copy
Use this button to quickly copy the response text for easy sharing or saving.
C) Regenerate
Want to see an alternative output? Click this button to see a different version of the last response.
D) Thumbs Down
Use this to let the system know the response wasn’t helpful.
E) Choose Model
This allows you to select a different version of the AI for your conversation. The current options for the free tier are GPT-4o, best for complex tasks, and GPT-4o mini which is faster for everyday tasks.
Don't be afraid to have a play with these options. Give the read aloud option a go, you'll find ChatGPT speaks surprisingly naturally. Listening to the chat output is very nearly like listening to a mini-podcast by an actual person. Don't like ChatGPT's voice? That easy to change. Head over to Settings > Speech and pick a different voice option.
7. Your Next ChatGPT Conversation
Ok, now that you've got started with ChatGPT, let's create a chat thread that will be helpful and tailored to you. Let's start with this prompt below, replacing text in the square brackets with information specific to you:
I'm a [your job] in [industry] working on [specific task]. How can you help me with this? Let's figure it out together, ask me some questions to start.
The secret sauce of this prompt is: "Let's figure it out together".
This sentence may sound like a totally unimportant afterthought, but it's actually a really critical piece of the prompt - it will ensure the conversation takes an interactive question-driven approach. A conversational approach is what will help you get the results you're looking for. You're wanting to interact with ChatGPT by creating a back-and-forth dialogue that builds detail and understanding, not by asking single question like you would with Google search.
Here's a few examples to get you thinking:
Sales Manager
"I’m a sales manager in the healthcare industry working on a strategy to boost sales for our new medical devices. How can you help me with this? Let’s figure it out together, ask me some questions to start."
HR Specialist
"I’m an HR specialist in the education sector working on improving our employee onboarding process. How can you help me with this? Let’s figure it out together, ask me some questions to start."
Restaurant Owner
"I’m a restaurant owner in the hospitality industry working on a new seasonal menu that will attract more customers. How can you help me with this? Let’s figure it out together, ask me some questions to start."
You can even have a bit of fun with it, I'm thinking dragons might be the theme of the day...
Dragon Tamer
"I’m a dragon tamer in the creature management industry working on training a young dragon to safely interact with humans. How can you help me with this? Let’s figure it out together, ask me some questions to start."
Dragon Dentist
"I’m a dragon dentist in the health industry working on treating a dragon with a toothache from chewing enchanted objects. How can you help me with this? Let’s figure it out together, ask me some questions to start."
Remember, in order to get helpful results, the most important thing is to work with ChatGPT in the style of a conversation, much like you would if you were to ask a person for help. If you're not sure exactly what you need, or you're not sure how to start, ask it to help you!
8. Free vs. Paid: Which Version is Right for You?
ChatGPT offers both free and paid versions. You can find more information here. For most beginners, the free version is a great place to start. It allows you to explore ChatGPT's capabilities and determine how useful it is for your needs. If you find yourself using ChatGPT frequently, hitting usage limits, or needing the advanced features (we'll explore these in a future post), upgrading to Plus might be worth considering.
For more information about free version capability, check out ChatGPT's Free Tier FAQs.
9. ChatGPT Safety and Limitations
Before we wrap up, let's take a quick look at how to use ChatGPT safely. No AI tool is perfect, and there's always risks and limitations. Here's a few important things to consider:
Information Accuracy
ChatGPT can sometimes generate incorrect information. You may have heard of hallucinations, this is where ChatGPT essentially makes stuff up. That's because it is not a search engine, it is a really smart pattern recognition model. So, it's really important that you always verify facts and output from reliable sources.
Knowledge Cutoff
ChatGPT's knowledge has a cutoff date - the latest date of the training data. Depending on the model, this can sometimes be over a year ago. This means, unless you specifically connect to the web in your chat, you may not have information about very recent events or developments. Tip: if you want to know ChatGPT's knowledge cutoff date for the version you are using, just ask it.
Privacy Considerations
Avoid sharing personal or sensitive information in your chats. That means things like names, contact information, bank details, or company data. Anything you wouldn't tell a stranger, or wouldn't want known publicly, don't tell ChatGPT. While OpenAI has privacy measures in place, it's best to err on the side of caution. I recommend toggling off "Improve the model for everyone" in Settings > Data Controls.
Potential Biases
Like any AI, ChatGPT may exhibit biases present in its training data. This tool is not impartial or perfect. One of the reasons why is because it is trained on vast quantities of human-generated information that is also neither impartial nor perfect. It's important to remember this when dealing with sensitive topics in a ChatGPT interaction.
By keeping these points in mind, you'll be better equipped to use ChatGPT effectively while avoiding potential pitfalls. Remember, ChatGPT is a tool to augment your capabilities, not replace your critical thinking.
10. Next Steps
Congratulations! If you've made this far, you should now be set up and familiar with the basics of ChatGPT. Now's the time to keep practicing and exploring. Here's a few ideas of next steps to enhance your ChatGPT experience:
Experiment with different types of questions and tasks
Try asking for help with writing, problem-solving, or creative brainstorming.
Explore the ChatGPT settings to customize your experience
You can adjust things like theme and language preferences.
Practice crafting effective prompts (more on this in a future post).
The quality of your input greatly affects the quality of ChatGPT's output.
Stay updated on new features and improvements.
ChatGPT is constantly evolving, so keep an eye out for announcements.
Consider our ChatGPT Crash Course
For more no-fuss, hands-on learning and advanced techniques. Click below to learn more.
Remember, the key to mastering ChatGPT is to keep experimenting. Don't be afraid to try new things and push the boundaries of what you can do with this powerful AI tool.
Happy chatting, and welcome to the world of ChatGPT!
Here at Anadyne IQ, we're all about making AI less complicated. Whether you're interested in working with ChatGPT or other AI solutions, we've got you covered. We can help you get started and learn how to use these tools effectively and responsibly. A great starting point is our no-fuss AI workshops, which are designed to boost your practical knowledge and confidence with AI tools so you can supercharge your workday.
Intrigued by what AI could do for you or your business? Let's have a chat. Reach out for a no-pressure discovery call to learn more about our practical AI workshops and our AI consulting services.
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