ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can help you with a wide range of tasks (See our guide: What is ChatGPT and how it can help you). The free version of ChatGPT is easy to use, but it does come with some limitations.
By understanding these limitations you will be able to make the most of the free ChatGPT version and maximize its features.
The limitations for the free ChatGPT version 3.5 include:
1. Information only available before 2021
The current data in the system ends with 2021 content. ChatGPT can provide incorrect information (or outdated information) based on the data from which it pulls.
At the time of writing the free version of ChatGPT does not have access to the internet.
2. Always check and edit the output
Keep in mind that ChatGPT is not perfect, it may not be factually correct. It may at times make up facts, but they can sound convincing - you MUST double check everything before using it!
If ChatGPT does not fully understand the query, it may also provide an inaccurate response. ChatGPT is still being 'trained', so use the feedback when you think an answer is incorrect.
3. Responses may lack true insight into the question.
Chat GPT does not fully understand the complexity of human language. It's trained to generate words based on input. Because of this, responses may seem shallow and lack true insight.
4. Be very clear and specific with your prompts/instructions:
The more details you feed it the better - this could be a question, a topic, or a task you want it to help you with. The output will only be as good as the prompts you give it. A good thing to remember is 'garbage in garbage out'.
Here is a short but excellent guide to help you create good prompts (questions): https://gptbot.io/master-chatgpt-prompting-techniques-guide/ to get the information you are seeking.
Conclusion
ChatGPT is a still developing and it has the potential to revolutionise the way we interact with technology. Its full potential is yet to be tapped. With regular updates and feedback from users, it will continue to improve.
And finally, want to test out something to see how it was written and whether it was a human or AI? Then use this great site: https://gptzero.me/.
Last updated September 2023