Exploring the Role of ChatGPT in Daily Decision-Making: A Personal Experiment and Reflection
A few months ago, I came across an intriguing YouTube video titled “Letting ChatGPT Control a Day in My Life.” Since its emergence in 2022, ChatGPT has been a topic of controversy, touching on issues such as the declining ability of critical thought and decision-making, the potential replacement of human labor by AI, the spread of misinformation, and ethical concerns, among others.
During my time in school, each professor introduced a different approach to using ChatGPT. With its easy accessibility, there has been a noticeable increase in students utilizing the program for their assignments. Some professors completely prohibited its use, while others encouraged students by assigning tasks that required the use of ChatGPT.
It’s better to experience something once than to read about it a hundred times, so I let ChatGPT control a day in my life. I asked for its opinion at every moment of decision and accepted the suggestion based on my circumstances and needs.
How it went…
First of all, I asked ChatGPT to plan my day by giving my basic information. If the schedule seemed difficult to put into action, I asked for a new plan with additional explanations about myself.
I woke up at 7 a.m., had breakfast at 7:30 a.m., and headed to the office by 8 a.m. Everything was routine until then. At 10 a.m., ChatGPT suggested that I take a short break, but I was deeply focused on my work and didn’t want to disrupt the flow, so I ignored the suggestion. After finishing my office hours at 1 p.m., ChatGPT advised me to have lunch and engage in an outdoor activity. It recommended a turkey wrap for lunch, but I chose to finish the leftover pasta from the previous day to prevent it from going bad – I did it my way again. At this point, some might label me as disobedient.
As ChatGPT suggested, I took a walk along Pacific Beach after lunch. I wanted to listen to music, so I asked it to give me a playlist. It recommended songs from indie singers like Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, and Jason Mraz. Once I played Jack Johnson’s “Better Together,” nostalgic memories wriggled in my mind, reminiscent of childhood – I had a great walk thanks to ChatGPT.
I ended up stopping at my go-to café. As ChatGPT told me to take some personal development time for about an hour and I didn’t have any extra work, I focused on personal tasks. Afterward, I read a book for a while because ChatGPT let me have some relaxation time. On my way home, I listened to music that it recommended once again.
Before going to bed, I asked ChatGPT what to wear and where to go for lunch the next day. Since I wanted to have lunch in La Jolla, it suggested “The Cottage,” a popular brunch café, which I was happy with because it’s one of my favorite places in La Jolla. I wanted to give ChatGPT a high five.
The thought that came to mind most often throughout the day was, ‘I’m doing things my way in the end, aren’t I?’ I found myself asking the same question several times until I got a satisfactory answer, which made me feel a bit uneasy about myself. Although I let ChatGPT superficially control my day, ultimately, I was the one making the decisions.
Communication skills for AI
With the commercialization of generative AI, we have gained access to high-quality search engines and are getting used to communicating with machines. Sometimes, we feel threatened by their learning and information-gathering capabilities, while at other times, we offer an optimistic outlook, dreaming that humans will be able to work less in the future.
At this juncture, experts emphasize the importance of communication. In 2022, “Theatre D’Opera Spatial,” an art piece generated by Midjourney (text-to-image AI program), won first place in the Colorado State Fair Art Show. Naturally, it stirred up controversy and provoked anger among many artists. Even though Jason M. Allen (the winner) didn’t draw the painting himself, the commands he issued to the program represented his unique ideas. Now, it has become important which commands to give and which questions to throw.
I frequently use ChatGPT but used to feel limited in my usage. I usually use it as a grammar checker or to request information. The same was true during the experiment I did for a day – I merely left the choice to ChatGPT. While it was convenient to get recommendations for restaurants or music, it didn’t significantly improve my life, nor did I take advantage of two-way communication. I realized that I should consider generative AI as more than just a fast and intelligent search engine to fully benefit from it.
Silver lining that we can see
If we stop working with generative AI only at the level of asking for writing reports or solving mathematical problems, we risk being replaced by them. Our cognitive abilities will decline continuously, while they become smarter, faster, and more capable. However, if we learn to utilize them as excellent assistants by practicing asking developmental questions that keep the conversation going and explore different topics, we will be one step closer to an optimistic future.
Through the experiment, I saw a silver lining in the fact that I was the one who made the final decisions. We, as human beings, have too many thoughts and are too stubborn to blindly obey artificial intelligence. It might be a small comfort to realize how alert we are to the worst-case scenario amid this chaotic major transformation.
In conclusion, the experiment of letting ChatGPT control a day in my life was eye-opening and thought-provoking. It highlighted the importance of communication skills when dealing with AI and the need for humans to retain their autonomy in decision-making. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of AI technology, it is crucial to approach it with a balanced perspective and utilize it as a tool for our benefit rather than a replacement for human intelligence.