Introducing ChatGPT (2022)
OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, a conversational AI model fine-tuned from GPT-3.5. It interacts in a dialogue format, allowing follow-up questions, admitting mistakes, challenging incorrect premises, and rejecting inappropriate requests. The release marked a major milestone in making advanced AI accessible to the public.
Background
- ChatGPT is a conversational AI chatbot launched by OpenAI in November 2022. It is based on a large language model (GPT-3.5) fine-tuned to follow instructions and engage in dialogue.
- OpenAI is the company behind GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) models. Originally a non-profit research lab, it later shifted to a "capped-profit" structure and became a central player in the AI boom, backed by Microsoft.
- ChatGPT was a turning point: it was the first time a powerful language model was released as a free, publicly accessible chatbot. Within five days it reached one million users, signaling a shift in how the public interacts with AI.
- The launch set off a chain reaction: competitors (Google's Bard/Gemini, Anthropic's Claude, Meta's Llama) rushed similar products, and the term "generative AI" entered mainstream conversation. It also sparked debates about AI safety, plagiarism, and the future of knowledge work.