ChatGPT ‘massive opportunity’ for civil service and beyond: Donelan

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UK's new Science Secretary Michelle Donelan acknowledged that artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT could play a role in Whitehall, thus representing a "massive opportunity" for civil service and beyond. 

Donelan, who took up the new position following the Prime Minister's departmental restructure last month, said the civil service should rely on its own specialists but did not rule out the possibility of artificial intelligence playing a role in the future.

Artificial intelligence (#AI) is revolutionizing how we interact with the world around us, from our smartphones to our homes and cars. But what does this imply for the future of education? pic.twitter.com/hPDdQbIq4l

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 4, 2023

In response to text prompts, ChatGPT can generate articles, essays, jokes, poems, and job applications. In November, OpenAI, a private startup supported by Microsoft, made it freely available to the public.

It can react to inquiries in a human-like manner and understand the context of follow-up questions in the same way that humans do, as well as write long-form pieces of writing when asked.

Donelan, Secretary of state for science, innovation, and technology, said, as quoted by the Sunday Telegraph, “I think these types of technology are going to create a whole new section of jobs and in areas that we haven’t even thought of, and where this leads us is limitless."

“We need to tap into that. Of course, we need regulation in place, we need safeguards. But we should never be afraid of these technologies; we should be embracing them and utilizing them so that they can lead to job creation here in the UK,” she added.

It is worth noting that the International Baccalaureate announced earlier this week that students may quote from ChatGPT content in their essays.

According to analysts, ChatGPT reached 100 million users within two months of its inception in February.