Careers Now: While the usage of ChatGPT grows in the workplace, AI training should be a priority

DEAR READERS: There’s no doubt that more and more people are embracing ChatGPT in the workplace. An online survey conducted in March by learning-management system TalentLMS found that many people had used ChatGPT for work purposes. However, relatively few had been trained to use it correctly.

“ChatGPT is an AI tool that has become increasingly popular in education and various fields,” says Jonathan H. Westover, managing partner and principal at Human Capital Innovations. “However, as with any new technology, it is crucial to consider the potential benefits and risks associated with its use.”

There are several benefits, according to TalentLMS. Sixty-one percent of its survey respondents who had used ChatGPT said it had improved their time management, and 57% said it had helped boost their productivity.

However, there are risks that can overshadow those benefits if the technology isn’t used correctly.

“Our survey showed that one of employees’ main concerns when using ChatGPT is providing misinformation or factually incorrect information,” says Thanos Papangelis, CEO and co-founder of Epignosis. “Without proper training, users may fail to identify biased or incorrect information or (fail) to interpret the results correctly.”

Other potential pitfalls include relying too heavily on AI and encountering the privacy and security issues that can arise, Papangelis adds.

“Research already shows that employees have pasted confidential company data in ChatGPT that the platform, in turn, incorporates into its publicly available knowledge base,” he notes.

What are some steps professionals should take to learn how to use ChatGPT? Westover and Papangelis offer some advice.

• Learn about the technology. That means understanding the capabilities and limitations of ChatGPT, how it works and how it differs from other AI tools such as Google search engines, Westover explains.

“This will help them to make informed decisions about how to use ChatGPT effectively and appropriately,” he says.

• Receive training. Papangelis says training should include information on the strengths and limitations of AI tools and how to work with them effectively.

“Mastering the art of AI prompts is definitely something that training should include,” he stresses. “Employees should learn how to avoid relying on potentially biased or incorrect information and fact-check their answers. Training should also cover topics such as ethics and privacy concerns related to the use of AI in the workplace.”

• Identify specific use cases. Using ChatGPT to generate initial drafts for reports or research papers, to help with data analysis or to find relevant research articles are some options Westover suggests.
• Develop guidelines.

“Once professionals have identified specific use cases, they should develop guidelines for how to use ChatGPT appropriately in those contexts,” Westover advises. “These guidelines should consider factors such as the reliability of the information provided by ChatGPT, the potential for plagiarism and the need to use ChatGPT in conjunction with other sources.”

• Foster a culture of responsible use. Providing training to colleagues or students, monitoring the use of ChatGPT to ensure it is being used appropriately and encouraging open communication about the benefits and risks of using ChatGPT are steps Westover suggests taking.