I’ve been using ChatGPT for a while now, and I want to share my honest perspective on what it is, what it isn’t, and how I think about prompt engineering.

What ChatGPT actually is

ChatGPT is a large language model trained on vast amounts of internet text data using the Transformer architecture. It can generate human-like responses to natural language queries, making conversations feel surprisingly natural. But here’s the thing: it’s not generating new knowledge. It’s reorganizing and presenting what already exists in its training data in a more digestible form.

Each model version has a knowledge cutoff date - the point beyond which it hasn’t seen new information. The specific cutoff varies depending on which model you’re using and when it was trained. This means ChatGPT might not know about recent events, current trends, or information published after its training period. The model also sometimes generates false information or repeats itself. You need to know what accurate and inaccurate information looks like before trusting any generated content.

How I approach prompting

I’ve learned that how you ask matters. A lot.

Instead of treating it like Google with simple queries, I build context through conversation. I might start broad, then narrow down, asking follow-up questions to refine the output. But I’ve also discovered that being specific and directive in a single prompt often works better.

For example, when I need technical writing, I specify the tone, structure, and style I want. I tell it to use evidence, ask transitional questions, write in an academic context, or mimic a particular writing style. I can limit word counts, require specific keywords, or ask it to transition between contexts.

The key is being deliberate about what you want. Prompt engineering is a skill that develops over time through experimentation.

My honest assessment

ChatGPT is a helpful research sidekick, not a replacement for critical thinking. I use it to:

• Quickly understand unfamiliar topics
• Generate initial drafts that I heavily edit
• Explore different perspectives on a subject
• Save time on routine writing tasks

But I never blindly trust its output. I verify facts, check sources when possible, and apply my own judgment. The convenience is real, but so are the limitations.

At the end of the day, nothing beats human critical thinking. ChatGPT is a tool, and like any tool, its value depends on how skillfully you use it. I focus on what I’m trying to learn and let the tool assist, not replace, my thinking process.

Worth exploring

If you want to dive deeper into prompt engineering, check out this Twitter thread by Rob Lennon. He shares clever techniques for creating prompts that generate more cohesive outputs.

You can start experimenting at chat.openai.com with the free tier.