Macdonald-Kelce Library Blog

The world is evolving rapidly, and a novel tool is permeating every aspect of our lives. Just as the typewriter transformed writing in the 1880s and word processors revolutionized it again in the 1980s, Large Language Models (LLMs) are currently reshaping our world. In the near future, OpenAI variants will seamlessly integrate with nearly all virtual assistants. Our phones and computers will incorporate LLMs into every interaction.

I’ve witnessed the evolution of ChatGPT, from version 3.5 to the relatively new ChatGPT 4.0 (available for $20 per month). Alongside ChatGPT, a plethora of competitive products have emerged. Many of these tools are built on OpenAI technology, including Perplexity, Poe and Llama. Meanwhile, Google is investing billions in Gemini, and Microsoft is channeling even more resources into CoPilot. Whether you prefer mobile apps or desktop usage, you can install your tool of choice. Personally, I’ve grown fond of CoPilot, although ChatGPT 4.0 remains impressive.

Verify usage of Open AI with your professor to be sure your application complies with the Academic Integrity Policy and the Student Code of Conduct.

Subscribing to ChatGPT4 grants access to unlimited DALL·E. MidJourney, DALL-E, DreamStudio, and CoPilot, all excel in image and photo creation. Whether you’re refining a prompt to craft a stellar response, writing code, or creating a masterpiece painting or photograph, patience is essential. You will often need to re-write prompts many times to generate what you seek.

There are boundaries when it comes to some topics, and the AI may outright decline to respond. Beware of systems that might fabricate quotes, facts, and citations—these are often referred to as “hallucinations,” but I consider them fictitious. I’ve come across stories of lawyers using AI-generated legal briefs containing fictitious court cases! Before relying on AI-generated content, always verify facts and sources. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to consult a librarian; we’re here to guide you through the genuine fact-checking processes.