The excitement surrounding ChatGPT is remarkable. Considering the emergence of various new technologies, it is astonishing how rapidly ChatGPT has made an impact. For example, it took Spotify 150 days and Instagram around 75 days to reach one million downloads or users[1]. In contrast, ChatGPT achieved this milestone in just five days[2], signaling that the long-anticipated AI revolution has officially arrived, with us all witnessing it firsthand.
ChatGPT is still in its early stages. At present, it mainly focuses on responding to questions as effectively as possible. With Microsoft's version and numerous other AI-based integrations emerging, the ability to provide answers is rapidly becoming a common commodity. Despite these advancements, the fundamental principle remains unchanged—understanding the questions posed and delivering contextual responses based on the given inputs.
What does this mean for the future? We must address significant concerns, such as identifying which skills may become obsolete and which will remain valuable. Understanding where our contributions can genuinely make a difference is essential.
One thing is evident—the rise of ChatGPT makes the art of asking questions even more critical, and those who excel at framing the right queries will thrive. This is not a novel idea. Throughout history, asking the right questions in the appropriate context has been the key to unlocking the true potential of any advancement. While each technological innovation has improved our ability to answer questions, mastering the art of questioning has always been the foundation for major breakthroughs.
Take the late Renaissance period as an example when the scientific revolution began to take shape. A new approach to systematic experimentation, known as the ‘scientific method,’ emerged within the scientific community. The essence of this method was formulating various questions to establish causal relationships. This method is widely regarded as the driving force behind subsequent technological advancements.
Years later, with the invention of computers, computational speed became the primary focus. Technology enabled us to handle extensive numerical operations repeatedly. However, the crucial question remained—what should be computed?
Over time, we have consistently evolved the science of asking questions to match our growing capacity to answer them. Just as the scientific method shaped the Renaissance, a new problem-solving theory emerged in the 1960s when computers gained prominence. Pioneered by American scientist Herbert Simon and others, this approach emphasized a thorough examination of problem statements by posing different questions. This concept eventually evolved into ‘design thinking,’ retaining its core principles.
In the late 1990s, the importance of asking the right questions became evident again. The creation of Google by Larry Page and Sergey Brin revolutionized information access, making searches more efficient. However, users still needed to master the skill of framing the right queries to utilize Google's search engine effectively, making ‘googling’ an essential skill.
ChatGPT is perhaps the latest technological development that highlights the significance of asking the right questions in the right context. As we move toward a future where context holds immense importance, the ability to understand and frame the right questions will distinguish success from failure. In an age where information, insights, and knowledge are abundant, we all play the role of curators, striving to ask meaningful questions that cut through the noise and provide valuable information for timely decision-making.
Bibliography
1. Shontell, Alyson. “Here’s How Long It Took 15 Hot Startups to Get 1,000,000 Users.” Business Insider, January 8, 2012. https://www.businessinsider.com/one-million-users-startups-2012-1?IR=T.
2. Mollman, Steve. “CHATGPT Gained 1 Million Users in under a Week. Here’s Why the AI Chatbot Is Primed to Disrupt Search as We Know It.” Yahoo!, December 10, 2022. https://www.yahoo.com/video/chatgpt-gained-1-million-followers-224523258.html?guccounter=2&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90ZXN0LW1hdGhjby53cHdvcmtzLmFwcC8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKNzFZ8Grf_-p2xBr8pHOde5bef8WVfvcmErtdVeVQ-2m0LHGeLv09tkosu3uGnapstSSeEeCvcViiWrwDofJEm1nTp0GCkEEuo3KppLvY0s5FoC4UUIVA_NXsqB3yE0PbUjDRsWDilAWFsuCmZMZn_lFtx0CJViQEfGAuPruIcQ.