What is Generative Artificial Intelligence?

The release of ChatGPT in November 2022 marked a significant shift in higher education. As this technology continues to evolve rapidly, this guide aims to provide an introduction to the ethical use of generative AIs (Gen AIs) and help navigate their impact.

Generative AIs, such as the popular ChatGPT, are built on a model known as the Large Language Model (LLM) Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT). This model processes vast amounts of data, often found on the internet, to predict and generate responses based on user input. However, GPT does not “think” or “understand” the same way that humans do. Instead, it predicts the next word in a sequence, similar to how autocorrect or email autofill features work.

These AI systems are capable of doing a wide array of tasks, such as recognizing patterns, analyzing data, solving problems, and “learning” from user interactions. Because of this AI technologies are now a key part of many products, services, and business systems. The rapid advancement of Generative AI has the potential to transform how we engage with technology in every aspect of our lives.

Have a look at the following video to get a better understanding of what generative artificial intelligence is: