Can ChatGPT 4 Be Your New Learning Coach?

Do you need a learning coach, or did the title make you click on my article? Was it the word choice or just curiosity in artificial intelligence? OR do you love to learn, and this topic piqued your interest?

I’m asking these questions to explore how artificial intelligence can spur learner engagement with limited data (curiosity). And, with so much hype in the media about AI, will we become desensitized to it?

While Generative AI can provide answers or suggestions to a myriad of questions, it requires real people to validate its effectiveness. This simple test can tell us that, yes, the title engaged you, but not the why without your feedback. And this very example illustrates where we are at this moment. We are curious about AI based on headlines, but we must dig deeper to understand the implications. 

If you are unfamiliar with AI, you may be introduced to jargon in this article used within AI environments. Here is a Coursera glossary that will give a quick overview of the basic terms for artificial intelligence. 

With the latest updates for ChatGPT, OpenAI has catered to the developer community by providing more tools to improve user experience. At times during OpenAI’s DevDay presentation, there were audible gasps from the audience at the magnitude in which the technology has advanced, and it hasn’t even been a year since it launched to the public. Think about that for a moment…

As OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman unveiled the new features, he humbly mentioned that if you like these “things,” wait until you see what’s coming next (eyes wide open). 

Suppose you were impressed by Gen AI’s capabilities before. In that case, this latest ChatGPT 4 release will put into perspective the rate at which the technology is evolving, which does two things: 

• It makes imagining where we will be in 5 years unfathomable since the world's introduction to Gen AI is JUST in the beginning stages, AND
• It takes learning new skills from an optional task to an imperative action for career survival.

(Check out the Inc. article 4 Unimaginable Ways AI Will Change Your Life Within the Next 5 Years, according to Bill Gates.)

Knowing is Half the Battle

Altman’s optimism for the products he is building does not mitigate the apprehension some people feel about the impacts of AI on the job market. 

The World Economic Forum (WEF) research provided insights into the potential changes to the workforce introduced by large language models (LLMs). However, while there is still a lot of speculation, the current information has provided breadcrumbs for where we may be headed. Essentially, Gen AI is shifting the focus for companies to be more productive via automation, forcing everyone to rethink how work gets done. Depending on the industry and role, Gen AI’s ability to absorb tasks is based on the nature of the activity and the dependencies. Further, the more significant issue in my estimation is, what are we doing to prepare?

From my perspective, Altman’s presentation was exciting and concerning at the same time. Watching the DevDay unveiling conjured many ideas for how the technology could support learning, primarily where gaps exist. In addition, the ability to accelerate skills development by creating frameworks to simplify information relative to one’s work is now a reality for achieving learning goals. This technology takes personalized learning to a whole new dimension. Still, it takes a person (humans) to navigate the biases, hallucinations, and other dangers that can occur.

Leveling Up by Learning (with AI)

So, how can one keep up? Create a learning plan, of course (you had to know I would say that). But not a traditional plan- this will be an enhanced plan by using AI to help you understand the nuances of the technology, essentially creating your own AI coach. With this latest release, you can conduct experiments using the GPT models with no code (only in ChatGPT 4).

Determine what you want it to do and ask your GPT to create it with your parameters. This is where prompt engineering is needed to receive your desired output. Of course, if you don’t want to pay the subscription price for ChatGPT4, you can explore other AI tools for free. If you have access to LinkedIn Learning, they have also included an AI coach to give you advice and learning content.

Reading is Fundamental

Recently, President Obama released his AI Reading List, and it’s inspiring to see how people are lining up on the issues. From articles to podcasts, the list provides insights from various leaders in technology and policy. 

So, What's Next?

Add this to your “to-do” list: Check out the tools and materials in my article to jumpstart your learning journey. Not engaging with AI will put you at a disadvantage. Start small with practical applications that will allow you to be productive and educated about AI. Thank you for subscribing and please share this article with your community. And whatever you do, keep learning!

Stacey Young Rivers, Ph.D. is a talent development leader with expertise in developing strategies to close skills gaps, build talent pipelines, and create internal career mobility models. Dr. Rivers is also a mom, author, and researcher - for industry and academic articles, you can find it on her site CareerBluprint.