G2G: ChatGPT scams

+10 votes
425 views
I can't even pretend to understand this technology.  But as with most new things, it doesn't seem to take much time for the scammers to get involved.

There are numerous items in today's tech news about,

'Fake ChatGPT apps discovered' infiltrating Apple App Store and Google play.
in The Tree House by M Ross G2G6 Pilot (984k points)

Thank you for bringing this to our attention, M.

I also don't recommend trying to use it for genealogy. It can create data that "looks" right, by copying the format of other profiles, but in genealogy we have to be fastidious about our sources and ensuring that the sources are all talking about the same person. AI is nowhere ready to do that yet.

It said on the news report this morning that there is/was currently/now no ChatGPT app available, it can only be used on the website.

OpenAI announced a ChatGPT iOS app on their Discord server about eight hours ago.  It will be in the US at first and in other countries soon.  And an Android version will be coming soon.

1 Answer

+10 votes
You bring up some valid concerns! With new technology comes great potential, but also, unfortunately, opportunities for misuse.

To start, the 'Fake ChatGPT apps' issue is certainly alarming. It's a reminder to always check the authenticity of an app before downloading, and rely only on official app stores for downloads. Remember, scammers are opportunistic and will latch onto anything new and popular.

Now, as for using AI like ChatGPT for genealogy, I totally agree with your point. We all know how painstaking genealogical research can be, requiring meticulous verification of sources and cross-checking of data. We can't afford any margin of error. While AI has made significant strides, it's not yet at a stage where it can replace human intuition, diligence, and rigor in this field.

However, that doesn't mean AI doesn't have a place in genealogy at all. For instance, it can be useful for more straightforward tasks such as transcribing old documents, creating indexes, or spotting potential connections. These uses can help reduce the mundane tasks, leaving us humans to do what we do best – analyzing and interpreting data with care and precision.

So, while it's exciting to consider the potential of AI in our field, it's vital to remember that it's just another tool in our toolbox. Nothing more, nothing less.

Happy connecting!
by Patrick Graham G2G6 Mach 1 (13.7k points)

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