If you’ve been spending even the littlest amount of time on the internet, you must have heard of ChatGPT and the frenzy created around it. This application has quickly taken the world by storm and for good reasons. However, there is a new key player on the market that has got everyone buzzing and that is AutoGPT.
Much like its predecessor, AutoGPT has been the center of attention ever since its release. It has managed to both impress the world and divide it at the same time. While some are intrigued by its power, others fail to see its benefits and fear its ability to replicate human tasks.
If you’d like to know more about AutoGPT and how it can be helpful to your business, keep reading! In this blog, you will learn what AutoGPT is and how it differs from ChatGPT but also get to know some of the use cases of AutoGPT, which you may find useful for your business.
Let’s start!
What is AutoGPT?
AutoGPT is an open-source AI program that generates human-like text, without given input. It channels the GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 models to give itself instructions and perform tasks autonomously.
Created by game developer and founder of Significant Gravitas Toran Bruce Richards, AutoGPT makes use of a generative pre-trained transformer (GPT), a language model that uses deep-learning methods to replicate human-like text. This helps the application learn patterns based on previous conversations. In order to train the model, a large amount of text data is fed to the system, to create natural-sounding text.
At first sight, it may look as if AutoGPT works similarly to ChatGPT. However, that’s not the case. While they are both powered by artificial intelligence and generate human-like text, AutoGPT is a task-oriented tool, while ChatGPT is simply a chatbot. To give you a better understanding of how these programs differ from each other, let’s look at what makes each of them distinct.
What Are the Differences between ChatGPT and AutoGPT?
To offer you some clarity into what makes these two applications so different from one another, let’s take a look at their main discrepancies:
- AutoGPT is a task-oriented tool, while ChatGPT is simply a chatbot: The purpose of AutoGPT is to solve a task or achieve a set goal using specific and structured answers. ChatGPT however, uses many more words in its answers, which leads to ChatGPT’s answers being vague and even contradictory at times.
- AutoGPT is much more autonomous in comparison to ChatGPT: Given that it’s a task-oriented program, AutoGPT has the ability to self-generate sub-tasks that will help achieve the set goal. On the contrary, ChatGPT requires human prompts at all times and its aim is to simply offer an answer to the given inquiry.
But how can AutoGPT generate tasks for itself, without any human input? Let’s take a closer look at the technology behind the latest AI development.
How Does AutoGPT Work?
AutoGPT has gained everyone’s attention due to its most interesting feature, which is the ability to self-generate prompts. However, this is not the case, or at least, not completely. While AutoGPT can indeed generate prompts on its own, this is only possible if the user first generates a main goal or task for the bot to complete.
For example, let’s say you ask AutoGPT to help you create an expansion strategy for your retail business. You’d give the bot a main prompt, including the goal you want to achieve. Then, by using the existing GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 models, the bot generates the solution or the plan. This is where things get interesting. In order to achieve the goal, AutoGPT then generates its own sub-tasks that help achieve the goal, step-by-step.
For the best results, the user has to assign the bot a name, a role, and an objective. The more precise the details are, the better the answer will be. Only then, AutoGPT is able to fully comprehend what its task is and which sub-tasks it needs to generate.
What makes AutoGPT more sophisticated in comparison to ChatGPT is the combination of natural language processing, machine learning, and deep learning, which creates an elevated form of AI. This combination is set to facilitate repetitive daily tasks and be an aid to working individuals.
If you’re just excited as we are about using AutoGPT, then keep reading! In the next section, we’ll cover how you can access AutoGPT, so you can start putting it to good use in no time!
Building and Accessing AutoGPT
To install AutoGPT, you first need to obtain an OpenAI API key. Afterward, there are two main steps in the process: installing the program and accessing it through OpenAI’s platform.
Instructions show that installing AutoGPT can be done via:
- Docker
- Python 3.10 or later
- VScode in combination with dev containers
After installing AutoGPT, you can access it by creating a paid account at OpenAI. The previously acquired OpenAI API connects AutoGPT to your paid account. The API allows AutoGPT to communicate with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and GPT-4 in order to generate the text. In addition, your paid OpenAI account is billed accordingly, based on your usage.
The pricing is based on a charge per unit of measurement, also called a “token”. Each token is equivalent to 4 characters or 0.75 words. For instance, this paragraph stands at a total of 48 tokens.
Naturally, the usage cost is determined by the number of tokens sent through the API as a prompt and the number of tokens in the output. Moreover, the pricing is determined based on which model you are using, GPT-3.5 or GPT-4. OpenAI pricing starts at $0,002 for 1000 tokens.
Understanding how AutoGPT works is relatively straightforward. What brings more concern and raises questions amongst individuals is how safe it is to use the program. If you also have doubts about using AutoGPT or AI in general, keep reading.
Is Using AutoGPT Safe?
The most known fear surrounding AI is that it will replace many roles that are now completed by humans. The sole fact that bots are able to function autonomously, with little or no human input, makes individuals resent AI and frankly, AutoGPT is no exception. However, AutoGPT could never replace humans.
AutoGPT acts as a personal assistant, if you may. It helps you break down big tasks into smaller ones and completes them on your behalf. However, it has the ability to do so only as long as you let it. With no tasks given by the prompter and no connection via the API, AutoGPT has no power to function, let alone replace human input.
AutoGPT can act on your behalf only if you give it access to your computer terminal, bank details, or address. For example, if your prompt asks AutoGPT to purchase the best smartphone on the market, the program will create sub-tasks, such as conducting market research, analyzing different smartphone models, and choosing the best one. Afterward, it places the order and just like that, AutoGPT completed its goal.
General consensus is that AutoGPT is indeed safe to use. Keep in mind that this program is still very much reliant on your prompt and the information you give it access to. Without any of these, it has no power on its own and will not replace humankind. Yet, if used accordingly, it can be a very helpful tool. Let’s see how AutoGPT can help you and your business improve.
Use Cases for AutoGPT
As mentioned before, AutoGPT is best suited for accomplishing goals that require detailed sub-tasks. For instance, you may ask AutoGPT to help you create a monthly content plan for your marketing department or help you generate the strategy behind your upcoming business.
AutoGPT can also be useful to your business in contexts such as:
- Filing and organizing logistics or financial documents: You can use it to file, for example, invoices based on the name, number, date, or any other requirement set by you in the prompt.
- Organizing your business workflow: With the right prompt, AutoGPT is able to schedule meetings, create to-do lists and even send out emails to your selected mailing list.
At first sight, using AutoGPT for your business may seem a straightforward process. The truth is, it can be quite challenging, especially if you don’t fully comprehend how AI works or how it can benefit business processes. This is where data and AI consultation services, such as DataNorth, step in and help you.
Interested in Using AI for Your Business?
DataNorth offers AI consulting services, to help your business grow and enhance it using artificial intelligence. With DataNorth, you can get insight on:
- Quality inspection
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No matter if you’re just starting with AI or you’re already an expert in the matter, our services are tailored to your business’s needs. Contact us for more details or any questions you might have, and see how AI can significantly empower your organization.
