What is ChatGPT? FAQs and Key Features Explained
ChatGPT has become one of the most talked-about technologies in recent years. Whether you're new to AI or looking to understand how it can help your business, this guide covers everything you need to know.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI. It's designed to understand natural language and generate human-like responses to questions, requests, and conversations.
The "GPT" in ChatGPT stands for "Generative Pre-trained Transformer," which describes the underlying technology. In simple terms, it's a large language model (LLM) that has been trained on massive amounts of text data from the internet, books, and other sources.
Key Point
ChatGPT doesn't actually "know" things the way humans do. Instead, it predicts what words should come next based on patterns it learned during training. This is why it can sometimes generate plausible-sounding but incorrect information.
Key Features of ChatGPT
💬 Natural Conversations
Chat naturally like you would with a human. Ask follow-up questions and have back-and-forth discussions.
✍️ Content Creation
Write emails, articles, marketing copy, social media posts, and more in seconds.
💻 Code Generation
Write, debug, and explain code in dozens of programming languages.
📊 Data Analysis
Analyze data, create summaries, and generate insights from information you provide.
🎨 Image Generation
Create images from text descriptions using DALL-E (available with ChatGPT Plus).
🤖 Custom GPTs
Create specialized AI assistants for specific tasks without any coding required.
ChatGPT Versions Explained
| Version | Access | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| GPT-3.5 | Free tier | Basic tasks, quick questions, simple writing |
| GPT-4 | ChatGPT Plus ($20/mo) | Complex reasoning, professional content, coding |
| GPT-4 Turbo | ChatGPT Plus | Longer documents, more current knowledge |
| GPT-4o | ChatGPT Plus | Multimodal tasks, voice, images |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ChatGPT free to use?
Yes, ChatGPT offers a free tier with access to GPT-3.5. For more advanced features including GPT-4, DALL-E image generation, and custom GPTs, you'll need ChatGPT Plus at $20/month.
How accurate is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is highly capable but not always accurate. It can sometimes generate incorrect information (called "hallucinations"). Always verify important facts, especially for business, legal, or medical decisions.
Is my data safe with ChatGPT?
OpenAI may use conversations to improve their models unless you opt out. For sensitive business data, consider ChatGPT Enterprise or using the API with data processing agreements in place.
Can ChatGPT replace human workers?
ChatGPT is best used as a productivity tool, not a replacement. It excels at augmenting human work- handling drafts, research, and repetitive tasks-while humans provide judgment, creativity, and oversight.
What are ChatGPT's limitations?
ChatGPT has a knowledge cutoff date, can generate incorrect information, doesn't have access to the internet (unless using plugins), and cannot learn from your conversations permanently.
Can I use ChatGPT for my business?
Absolutely. Businesses use ChatGPT for customer service, content creation, data analysis, coding, and workflow automation. For enterprise needs, ChatGPT Enterprise offers enhanced security and privacy.
How Businesses Use ChatGPT
Customer Service
Automate responses to common inquiries with AI chatbots trained on your business knowledge.
Content Creation
Generate marketing copy, blog posts, social media content, and email campaigns.
Data Analysis
Upload spreadsheets and get instant analysis, summaries, and insights.
Internal Knowledge Base
Create custom GPTs that answer employee questions using your company documentation.
Workflow Automation
Integrate ChatGPT with tools like Zapier to automate repetitive business processes.
Getting Started with ChatGPT
- Go to chat.openai.com
- Create a free account with your email or Google/Microsoft account
- Start chatting! Type a question or request in the message box
- Experiment with different prompts to see what works best
- Consider upgrading to ChatGPT Plus for advanced features
💡 Pro Tip:
The quality of ChatGPT's output depends heavily on how you ask. Be specific, provide context, and don't hesitate to ask for revisions. Check out our 10 Essential Business Prompts guide for proven prompts you can use right away.
Want to Use ChatGPT for Your Business?
We help Canadian businesses implement ChatGPT and AI solutions that deliver real results. From custom GPT development to workflow automation, we can help you get started.
AI consultants with 100+ custom GPT builds and automation projects for 50+ Canadian businesses across 20+ industries. Based in Markham, Ontario. PIPEDA-compliant solutions.