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Some people fear ChatGPT will dethrone Google in only two years. Do you believe that?
ChatGPT has been a boom since its release in November 2022. ChatGPT jumped to fame when the media reported millions were using it to write high school and university assignments. “Eureka! I found it!” said many students.
Thereafter, ChatGPT hasn’t stopped making headlines around the world.
What is ChatGPT?
This is what ChatGPT says about what ChatGPT is:
Based on this, I’m not surprised ChatGPT has passed professional exams. It has access to all the possible information published online. Can we say ChatGPT is like Wikipedia on steroids?
Jobs in jeopardy
Several news outlets have written about vulnerable jobs that ChatGPT or other similar chatbots will replace in the short run, such as journalists (OMG), copywriters, writers, programmers, lawyers, and maybe other professions in the future.
Regarding writers, an article published by the Wall Street Journal said that only poor authors should be worried about ChatGPT.
But this is not the concerning part. What is depressing is hearing some prophets of disaster say that Google is in dire straits or Google will disappear because of ChatGPT.
Last night, I couldn’t sleep; I had to write about it.
ChatGPT vs Google
I am no expert on the matter. I’m a journalist (whose job is in jeopardy, thank you, ChatGPT).
But ChatGPT is not a search engine; it is an AI chatbot.
The fact it can answer questions in many fields and imitates a human doesn’t mean it’s able to replace a search engine like Google, which shows us the websites where the information is coming from, as well as images, news and videos, amongst many other things.
I am not a Google guardian, but not only does this company have all the aforementioned qualities, it also gives us trends, analytics, and an amount of data only possible with a huge platform and years of accumulated experience.
So far, ChatGPT does not do that. Perhaps soon, but not now. In two years? I don’t know.
I have tried ChatGPT and, as I said before, Wikipedia on steroids. It tells you all about everything with a blink of an eye. Also, it can advise you on how to lose belly fat or outline a blog post. It’s amazing; we can’t deny it.
But I’m not convinced Google’s days are numbered.
Google might miss a slice of the cake if OpenAI, ChatGPT’s parent company, continues growing and decides to become a search engine.
Anyhow. Here’s my list of pros and cons of ChatGPT.
ChatGPT Advantages
It answers any questions we ask (accurately or not)
Assists us with research (although we’ve got to verify later on)
It’s like talking to a friend (good point)
For programmers, writes and checks codes for errors
Converts ideas from English into programming language (ditto)
Writes emails and human resources letters (a time saver)
Produces advertising copy (saving agencies money)
Drafts press releases and legal documents such as wills, nondisclosure and lease agreements (good for lawyers and journalists)
Translates documents (useful)
ChatGPT Disadvantages
Its answers are not always correct
It doesn’t show the source of the information (we could ask for it)
Wordy answers (GPT3’s are not so; I’ve tried both)
Some topics sound robotic (can be improved; not an issue)
It gets stuck, sometimes, unless you get the new paid version
Will ChatGPT replace Google?
As I said, ChatGPT is a chatbot, not a search engine.
If that is the intention, there’s still a long way to go for ChatGPT to depose Google. OpenAI would require a huge infrastructure, top-notch personnel, and it couldn’t be done overnight.
I reckon a behemoth like Google would know when a storm is coming.
What have been the strengths of ChatGPT until now? It drafts emails quickly, writes essays faster, allows agencies to write their own copies without paying a copywriter, writes programming code, etc.
So, if high school or university students only want to present an essay and not study, they could use ChatGPT. However, they could get a low mark if their teacher notices.
But I reckon that if any of us want to create something trustworthy, and accurate, we should not rely on ChatGPT alone.
I am not against ChatGPT; au contraire, I love it. But it has its limitations; as does everything else.
At least for a while, Google will continue on the iron throne. But it doesn’t mean it will be this way forever.
I can’t imagine ChatGPT as a menace to Google. I feel it is an amazing tool that, if used correctly, could get our feet out of the mud.
Let’s see ChatGPT as a friend of Google, not as its enemy, let alone a threat.
