Unraveling the Mystery of ChatGPT’s Sources
If you’re part of the AI-curious crowd, you’ve probably found yourself interacting with ChatGPT, wondering how on earth it comes up with its responses. The common gripe? It churns out answers but rarely offers up the sources of its information. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s not entirely true. With a bit of AI whispering, we can persuade ChatGPT to reveal its secrets.
Coaxing the AI to Share its Secrets
Here’s the game plan. If you’re going to ask ChatGPT a question, make it one that calls for sources. The more comprehensive the query, the more substantial the AI’s response will be. But remember, ChatGPT’s knowledge is capped at 2021 and its insights about the pre-internet era are bound to be scanty.
Don’t be shy about asking ChatGPT to back up its responses with sources. A simple “Please provide sources for the previous answer” should do the trick. This method tends to yield offline sources such as books and papers. If you’re more interested in digital breadcrumbs, ask for URL sources. You can even specify the number of sources you want, although the results can be hit or miss.
Expecting More From Your AI Assistant
ChatGPT, like other AI models, responds favorably to detail and specificity. So, if you’re asking for sources, why not demand top-notch ones? Clearly state your need for reliable and accurate sources. Make known your preference for scholarly articles, peer-reviewed journals, books, or authoritative websites.
Trusting but Verifying
Here’s the kicker though. The sources ChatGPT provides are more often wrong than right. About half of the URL sources turn out to be duds, and a considerable percentage link to unrelated topics. It’s not a complete loss, though. The AI can generate interesting search queries, and that’s not nothing.
Despite ChatGPT’s flaws, it’s worth remembering that it’s a tool, not a crutch. Traditional resources like Google Scholar and JSTOR still have their place in research. And remember, if you’re trying to pass off ChatGPT sources as your own research, you’re walking on thin ice.
A Few More Tips
APA citation style can be a bit of a pain, but the Purdue OWL is a reliable starting point. Beware of online style formatters—they might not get the job done correctly.
ChatGPT’s accuracy can be a bit of a wild card, but there are workarounds. If you ask for more sources or reiterate that the ones it provided are erroneous, ChatGPT might cough up better ones. You can also rephrase your original question and ask for sources for the new answer. Just remember, ChatGPT is more of a writing assistant than a ghostwriter.
Why the Errors?
Link rot is a major culprit, especially since ChatGPT’s sources are at least three years old. And because there’s no comprehensive list of ChatGPT’s sources, it’s hard to gauge their original validity. ChatGPT’s training largely lacked human supervision, so its sources could be wrong, fabricated, or even non-existent. In the words of a wise friend of mine, “Trust, but verify.”
