Auto-GPT breakthrough - A new AI game changer?
While millions of people around the world are still discovering the possibilities of ChatGPT, an even more powerful AI tool has entered the stage.
Since its release on March 30, 2023 AutoGPT has been blown up on social media.
We are talking about an experimental, open-source Python application that uses GPT-4 to act autonomously.
While it is built on ChatGPT’s framework, Auto-GPT is quite a different AI tool, thanks to its ability to make decisions on its own, unlike ChatGPT which requires manual command.
In the following paragraphs we will tackle:
- AutoGPT abilities
- How it can be approached
- Its challenges and to what extent it affects further AI development
What is Auto-GPT?
As it is defined on GitHub: “Auto-GPT is an experimental open-source application showcasing the capabilities of the GPT-4 language model. This program, driven by GPT-4, chains together LLM "thoughts", to autonomously achieve whatever goal you set. As one of the first examples of GPT-4 running fully autonomously, Auto-GPT pushes the boundaries of what is possible with AI”.
Auto-GPT was released by Toran Bruce Richards, the founder of video game company Significant Gravitas Ltd. Shortly after its release, it gained widespread attention, and became the top trending repository on GitHub and buzzword on social networks, Twitter indeed.
Why has Auto-GPT revolutionized our understanding of AI? Current AI applications are designed for specific tasks, becoming much better with more data input.
Auto-GPT represents a form of generalized AI that can potentially perform various tasks, even those it wasn't initially designed for, similar to how humans can. Unlike AI tools that require human prompts to accomplish even the simplest tasks, Auto-GPT relies on AI agents to make decisions and take actions based on predefined goals and rules.
Auto-GPT is likely to be seen as the first glimpse of artificial general intelligence (AGI), a type of AI that can perform intellectual tasks at a human level without extensive human supervision. They have the ability to autonomously use the results they generate to create new queries, binding these operations together to complete complex tasks.
How is AutoGPT different from ChatGPT?
Compared to ChatGPT, Auto-GPT expands the range of tasks that can be accomplished. We have become aware of how ChatGPT can do amazing things such as debugging code or writing a song or an email, but Auto-GPT is capable of handling even more advanced tasks with minimal instructions.
Although Auto-GPT and ChatGPT are built on the same technology, their functionalities differ significantly. The key distinction lies in Auto-GPT's ability to operate autonomously without human agents, whereas ChatGPT requires human assistance to operate.
As an illustration, if you wanted to plan your wedding party using ChatGPT, you would need to provide specific prompts such as "Help me plan my wedding." ChatGPT would then generate suggestions for aspects such as decoration, venue, or food. But for each subsequent step like sending invitations, you would have to prompt ChatGPT anew.
Unlike ChatGPT, Auto-GPT can self-prompt and handle each aspect of a problem independently without human intervention. It has internet access and the ability to read/write files. It also has the ability to autonomously handle assigned tasks and goals until they are successfully completed. So, if you asked Auto-GPT to plan your wedding party, it could generate guest lists, and send out invitations, all on its own.
How does it work?
Auto-GPT works similarly to ChatGPT, with the added feature of AI agents, programmed to make decisions and take actions based on a set of rules and predefined goals. This additional feature enhances Auto-GPT's functionality and opens up exciting possibilities for future developments in AI technology.
You can ask this AI tool to even complete a task about which you have limited knowledge, and it will effortlessly handle all the necessary work. Searching the internet, you will find examples that users have observed Auto-GPT building an app for them without requiring any input or effort.
Users have been sharing online the diverse ways in which they are utilizing Auto-GPT. Some examples include leveraging it to generate a new startup. It builds a website from scratch, can manage social media accounts, respond to customer inquiries, or serve as a valuable tool for financial advisors, analyzing financial data and offering recommendations.
By having the capability to make autonomous decisions, AI agents can support businesses and individuals in achieving their objectives with greater efficiency in various areas.
How to use it?
Accessing Auto-GPT is not as easy as accessing ChatGPT. Auto-GPT can be found on GitHub as a publicly available resource. However, to know how to use it, you will need a certain level of programming experience.
In contrast to ChatGPT, which is easily accessible through a web browser, accessing Auto-GPT involves downloading specific software and being acquainted with Python. The prerequisites include Python 3.8, an OpenAI API key, a PINECONE API key. Once you have installed and obtained all these components, you can proceed with the actual installation by following the comprehensive instructions. Online you can find tons of articles explaining how to download and install it step by step.
Auto-GPT limitations
As a technology that aims to demonstrate the potential of GPT-4, AutoGPT is still an experimental AI tool and has certain limitations that should be considered.
Due to its experimental nature, users may need to invest more time and effort into understanding its features and functionalities than more user-friendly tools.
Because it’s built on OpenAI’s language models, AutoGPT showcases the potential of GPT-4, but it may still inherit some limitations of the GPT model, including the occasional generation of incorrect or nonsensical responses.
According to the TechCrunch article and experts explanation, “after successfully completing a task, Auto-GPT usually doesn’t recall how to perform it for later use, and — even when it does — it often won’t remember to use the program”.
This AI technology still doesn’t really solve any of the problems associated with generative AI, such as the potential for abuse of intellectual property rights. And there is still an ethical consideration that like any AI system, AutoGPT relies on the data it was trained on, which can introduce biases or propagate existing societal issues.
Influencing the Future of AI
As an impressive AI tool, Auto-GPT is reshaping our understanding of artificial intelligence. While accessibility to Auto-GPT may be limited due to its installation process, those who have access to it can achieve outstanding results.
AI tools capable of performing more complex tasks than ChatGPT are expected to become more prevalent. In the near future, we can anticipate the emergence of AI outputs that are more creative, sophisticated, diverse, and useful compared to the familiar text and image-based outputs we are accustomed to. These advancements will undoubtedly have a significant impact on various aspects of our lives, including work, and communication.
Being an experimental project, Auto-GPT may take some time before it becomes widely adopted, but thanks to its ongoing research and development efforts, it continues to lead the way in AI innovation. Nevertheless, it is important to remain mindful of its limitations as well.
Have you tested Auto-GPT yet? Share your opinion about this AI tool with Joberty community.
