Decoding AI: Understanding the Terms Behind the Tech

Part 2 of The Catholic Church and AI Series

Welcome to your no-frills guide to understanding AI terms. No lofty language, no pontificating, just the essentials—like the straightforward instructions you wish came with every piece of IKEA furniture. Here you go!

AI (Artificial Intelligence): It's what you get when a computer is programmed to think like a human. Imagine a robot that can do more than beep and bop—it can make decisions based on what it learns.

ChatGPT: Think of it as a virtual chatterbox that can converse on a multitude of topics, from the Sistine Chapel's artistry to the best way to bake lasagna. It's a program that uses AI to generate human-like text based on the prompts you give it.

Prompt: A user-provided input that triggers the AI to generate a response or perform a task. It's essentially an instruction or question that guides the AI's output. For example, with language models like ChatGPT, the prompt is the text you type in, to which the AI formulates a relevant reply based on its training and algorithms.

Data Set: The facts and figures that AI learns from. The quality of a data set, much like the ingredients of a meal, can make a world of difference in how well AI performs. It could be as specific as a single document to as wide as the entire internet.

Machine Learning (ML): It's the method AI uses to improve over time, similar to how you get better at a video game the more you play. AI analyzes data to learn patterns and make decisions with minimal human intervention.

Neural Network: Picture a digital spider web where each thread is a piece of data connected to many others. This network mimics the neurons in the human brain, working together to process information and reach conclusions.

Natural Language Processing (NLP): This is how AI understands and responds to human language. It's the technology that allows ChatGPT to read your message and craft a reply that makes sense.

GPT (Generative Pretrained Transformer): It's a sophisticated model that's been trained on a wide variety of internet text. 'Generative' means it can generate new text, 'Pretrained' means it has been trained before you even use it, and 'Transformer' is the type of neural network it uses to understand and generate language.

GPT Builder: This is a toolkit that allows you to build a custom version of ChatGPT tailored to specific topics or tasks. Think of it as personalizing your AI to be an expert in what matters to you—like having a chef who specializes in your favorite dishes.

And there you have it—a basic rundown of the key terms you'll encounter in the world of AI. With these in your lexicon, you’re ready to explore how tools like GPT Builder can be a boon for various projects.

READ MORE: Crafting Your Custom GPT with GPT Builder: A Step-by-Step Guide