Learn Prompt logo

Mastering ChatGPT: The Ultimate Prompts Guide for Academic Writing Excellence

ChatGPT, with its advanced AI capabilities, has emerged as a game-changer for many. Yet, its true potential is unlocked when approached with the right queries. The prompts listed in this article have been crafted to optimize your interaction with this powerful tool. By leveraging them, you not only streamline your writing process but also enhance the quality of your research and insights. As we wrap up, we urge you not to take our word for it. Dive into the world of ChatGPT, armed with these prompts, and witness the transformation in your academic writing endeavors firsthand.

ChatGPT Prompts for Idea Generation

If you’re stuck or unsure where to begin, ChatGPT can help brainstorm ideas or topics for your paper, thesis, or dissertation.

  • Suggest some potential topics on [your broader subject or theme] for an academic paper.
  • Suggest some potential topics within the field of [your broader subject] related to [specific interest or theme].
  • I’m exploring the field of [broader subject, e.g., “psychology”]. Could you suggest some topics that intersect with [specific interest, e.g., “child development”] and are relevant to [specific context or region, e.g., “urban settings in Asia”]?
  • Within the realm of [broader subject, e.g., “philosophy”], I’m intrigued by [specific interest, e.g., “existentialism”]. Could you recommend topics that bridge it with [another field or theme, e.g., “modern technology”] in the context of [specific region or era, e.g., “21st-century Europe”]?
  • Act as my brainstorming partner. I’m working on [your broader subject or theme]. What topics could be pertinent for an academic paper?
  • Act as my brainstorming partner for a moment. Given the broader subject of [discipline, e.g., ‘sociology’], can you help generate ideas that intertwine with [specific theme or interest, e.g., ‘social media’] and cater to an audience primarily from [region or demographic, e.g., ‘South East Asia’]?

ChatGPT Prompts for Structuring Content

The model can provide suggestions for how to organize your content, including potential section headers, logical flow of arguments, etc.

  • How should I structure my paper on [your specific topic]? Provide an outline or potential section headers.
  • I’m writing a paper about [your specific topic]. How should I structure it and which sub-topics should I cover within [chosen section, e.g., “Literature Review”]?
  • For a paper that discusses [specific topic, e.g., “climate change”], how should I structure the [chosen section, e.g., “Literature Review”] and integrate studies from [specific decade or period, e.g., “the 2010s”]?
  • I’m compiling a paper on [specific topic, e.g., “biodiversity loss”]. How should I arrange the [chosen section, e.g., “Discussion”] to incorporate perspectives from [specific discipline, e.g., “socio-economics”] and findings from [specified region or ecosystem, e.g., “tropical rainforests”]?
  • Act as an editor for a moment. Based on a paper about [your specific topic], how would you recommend I structure it? Are there key sections or elements I should include?
  • Act as a structural consultant for my paper on [topic, e.g., ‘quantum physics’]. Could you suggest a logical flow and potential section headers, especially when I aim to cover aspects like [specific elements, e.g., ‘quantum entanglement and teleportation’]?
  • Act as my editorial guide. For a paper focused on [specific topic, e.g., “quantum computing”], how might I structure my [chosen section, e.g., “Findings”]? Especially when integrating viewpoints from [specific discipline, e.g., “software engineering”] and case studies from [specified region, e.g., “East Asia”]?

ChatGPT Prompts for Proofreading

While it might not replace a human proofreader, ChatGPT can help you identify grammatical errors, awkward phrasing, or inconsistencies in your writing.

  • Review this passage for grammatical or stylistic errors: [paste your text here].
  • Review this paragraph from my [type of document, e.g., “thesis”] for grammatical or stylistic errors: [paste your text here].
  • Please review this passage from my [type of document, e.g., “dissertation”] on [specific topic, e.g., “renewable energy”] for potential grammatical or stylistic errors: [paste your text here].
  • Kindly scrutinize this segment from my [type of document, e.g., “journal article”] concerning [specific topic, e.g., “deep-sea exploration”]. Highlight any linguistic or structural missteps and suggest how it might better fit the style of [target publication or audience, e.g., “Nature Journal”]: [paste your text here].
  • Act as my proofreader. In this passage: [paste your text here], are there any grammatical or stylistic errors I should be aware of?
  • Act as my preliminary proofreader. I’ve drafted a section for my [type of document, e.g., “research proposal”] about [specific topic, e.g., “nanotechnology”]. I’d value feedback on grammar, coherence, and alignment with [target publication or style, e.g., “IEEE standards”]: [paste your text here].

ChatGPT Prompts for Citation Guidance

Need help formatting citations or understanding the nuances of different citation styles (like APA, MLA, Chicago)? ChatGPT can guide you.

  • How do I format this citation in [desired style, e.g., APA, MLA]? Here’s the source: [paste source details here].
  • I’m referencing a [type of source, e.g., “conference paper”] authored by [author’s name] in my document. How should I format this citation in the [desired style, e.g., “Chicago”] style?
  • Act as a citation guide. I need to reference a [source type, e.g., ‘journal article’] for my work. How should I format this using the [citation style, e.g., ‘APA’] method?
  • Act as my citation assistant. I’ve sourced a [type of source, e.g., “web article”] from [author’s name] published in [year, e.g., “2018”]. How should I present this in [desired style, e.g., “MLA”] format?

ChatGPT Prompts for Paraphrasing

If you’re trying to convey information from sources without plagiarizing, the model can assist in rephrasing the content.

  • Can you help me paraphrase this statement? [paste your original statement here].
  • Help me convey the following idea from [source author’s name] in my own words: [paste the original statement here].
  • I’d like to reference an idea from [source author’s name]’s work on [specific topic, e.g., “quantum physics”]. Can you help me paraphrase this statement without losing its essence: [paste the original statement here]?
  • Act as a wordsmith. I’d like a rephrased version of this statement without losing its essence: [paste your original statement here].
  • Act as my rephraser. Here’s a statement from [author’s name]’s work on [topic, e.g., ‘cognitive development’]: [paste original statement here]. How can I convey this without plagiarizing?
  • Act as my plagiarism prevention aid. I’d like to include insights from [source author’s name]’s research on [specific topic, e.g., “solar energy”]. Help me convey this in my own words while maintaining the tone of my [type of work, e.g., “doctoral thesis”]: [paste the original statement here].

ChatGPT Prompts for Vocabulary Enhancement

If you’re looking for more sophisticated or subject-specific terminology, ChatGPT can suggest synonyms or alternative phrasing.

  • I want a more academic or sophisticated way to express this: [paste your sentence or phrase here].
  • In the context of [specific field or subject], can you suggest a more academic way to express this phrase: [paste your phrase here]?
  • I’m writing a paper in the field of [specific discipline, e.g., “bioinformatics”]. How can I convey this idea more academically: [paste your phrase here]?
  • Within the purview of [specific discipline, e.g., “astrophysics”], I wish to enhance this assertion: [paste your phrase here]. What terminologies or phrasing would resonate more with an audience well-versed in [related field or topic, e.g., “stellar evolution”]?
  • Act as my thesaurus. For this phrase: [paste your sentence or phrase here], is there a more academic or sophisticated term or phrase I could use?
  • Act as a lexicon expert in [field, e.g., ‘neuroscience’]. How might I express this idea more aptly: [paste your phrase here]?

ChatGPT Prompts for Clarifying Concepts

If you’re working in a field that’s not your primary area of expertise, the model can provide explanations or definitions for unfamiliar terms or concepts.

  • Can you explain the concept of [specific term or concept] in the context of academic research?
  • In [specific field, e.g., “sociology”], what does [specific term or concept] mean? And how does it relate to [another term or concept]?
  • In the realm of [specific discipline, e.g., “neuroscience”], how would you define [term or concept A], and how does it differentiate from [term or concept B]?
  • Act as my tutor. I’m a bit lost on the concept of [specific term or concept]. Can you break it down for me in the context of [specific academic field]?
  • Act as my academic tutor for a moment. I’ve encountered some challenging terms in [specific discipline, e.g., “metaphysics”]. Could you elucidate the distinctions between [term A], [term B], and [term C], especially when applied in [specific context or theory, e.g., “Kantian philosophy”]?

ChatGPT Prompts for Draft Review

You can share sections or excerpts of your draft, and ChatGPT can provide general feedback or points for consideration.

  • Please provide feedback on this excerpt from my draft: [paste excerpt here].
  • Could you review this excerpt from my [type of document, e.g., “research proposal”] and provide feedback on [specific aspect, e.g., “clarity and coherence”]: [paste excerpt here]?
  • I’d appreciate feedback on this fragment from my [type of document, e.g., “policy analysis”] that centers on [specific topic, e.g., “renewable energy adoption”]. Specifically, I’m looking for guidance on its [specific aspect, e.g., “argumentative flow”] and how it caters to [intended audience, e.g., “policy-makers in Southeast Asia”]: [paste excerpt here].
  • Act as a reviewer for my journal submission. Could you critique this section of my draft: [paste excerpt here]?
  • Act as my critique partner. I’ve written a segment for my [type of document, e.g., “literature review”] on [specific topic, e.g., “cognitive biases”]. Could you assess its [specific quality, e.g., “objectivity”], especially considering its importance for [target audience or application, e.g., “clinical psychologists”]: [paste excerpt here].

ChatGPT Prompts for Reference Pointers

If you’re looking for additional sources or literature on a topic, ChatGPT can point you to key papers, authors, or studies (though its knowledge is up to 2022, so it won’t have the latest publications).

  • Can you recommend key papers or studies related to [your topic or research question]?
  • I need references related to [specific topic] within the broader field of [your subject area]. Can you suggest key papers or authors?
  • I’m researching [specific topic, e.g., “machine learning in healthcare”]. Can you suggest seminal works from the [specific decade, e.g., “2000s”] within the broader domain of [your general field, e.g., “computer science”]?
  • My study orbits around [specific topic, e.g., “augmented reality in education”]. I’m especially keen on understanding its evolution during the [specific time frame, e.g., “late 2010s”]. Can you direct me to foundational papers or figures within [your overarching domain, e.g., “educational technology”]?
  • Act as a literature guide. I’m diving into [your topic or research question]. Do you have suggestions for seminal papers or must-read studies?
  • Act as my literary guide. My work revolves around [specific topic, e.g., “virtual reality in pedagogy”]. I’d appreciate direction towards key texts or experts from the [specific era, e.g., “early 2000s”], especially those that highlight applications in [specific setting, e.g., “higher education institutions”].

ChatGPT Prompts for Writing Prompts

For those facing writer’s block, ChatGPT can generate prompts or questions to help you think critically about your topic and stimulate your writing.

  • I’m facing writer’s block on [your topic]. Can you give me some prompts or questions to stimulate my thinking?
  • I’m writing about [specific topic] in the context of [broader theme or issue]. Can you give me questions that would enhance my discussion?
  • I’m discussing [specific topic, e.g., “urban planning”] in relation to [another topic, e.g., “sustainable development”] in [specific region or country, e.g., “Latin America”]. Can you offer some thought-provoking prompts?
  • Act as my muse. I’m struggling with [your topic]. Could you generate some prompts or lead questions to help steer my writing?
  • Act as a muse for my writer’s block. Given the themes of [topic A, e.g., ‘climate change’] and its impact on [topic B, e.g., ‘marine ecosystems’], can you generate thought-provoking prompts?

ChatGPT Prompts for Thesis Statements

If you’re struggling with framing your thesis statement, ChatGPT can help you refine and articulate it more clearly.

  • Help me refine this thesis statement for clarity and impact: [paste your thesis statement here].
  • Here’s a draft thesis statement for my paper on [specific topic]: [paste your thesis statement]. How can it be made more compelling?
  • I’m drafting a statement for my research on [specific topic, e.g., “cryptocurrency adoption”] in the context of [specific region, e.g., “European markets”]. Here’s my attempt: [paste your thesis statement]. Any suggestions for enhancement?
  • Act as my thesis advisor. I’m shaping a statement on [topic, e.g., ‘blockchain in finance’]. Here’s my draft: [paste your thesis statement]. How might it be honed further?

ChatGPT Prompts for Abstract and Summary

The model can help in drafting, refining, or summarizing abstracts for your papers.

  • Can you help me draft/summarize an abstract based on this content? [paste main points or brief content here].
  • I’m submitting a paper to [specific conference or journal]. Can you help me summarize my findings from [paste main content or points] into a concise abstract?
  • I’m aiming to condense my findings on [specific topic, e.g., “gene therapy”] from [source or dataset, e.g., “recent clinical trials”] into an abstract for [specific event, e.g., “a biotech conference”]. Can you assist?
  • Act as an abstracting service. Based on the following content: [paste main points or brief content here], how might you draft or summarize an abstract?
  • Act as my editorial assistant. I’ve compiled findings on [topic, e.g., ‘genetic modifications’] from my research. Help me craft or refine a concise abstract suitable for [event or publication, e.g., ‘an international biology conference’].

ChatGPT Prompts for Methodological Assistance

If you’re unsure about the methodology section of your paper, ChatGPT can provide insights or explanations about various research methods.

  • I’m using [specific research method, e.g., qualitative interviews] for my study on [your topic]. Can you provide insights or potential pitfalls?
  • For a study on [specific topic], I’m considering using [specific research method]. Can you explain its application and potential challenges in this context?
  • I’m considering a study on [specific topic, e.g., “consumer behavior”] using [research method, e.g., “ethnographic studies”]. Given the demographic of [target group, e.g., “millennials in urban settings”], what might be the methodological challenges?
  • My exploration of [specific topic, e.g., “consumer sentiment”] deploys [research method, e.g., “mixed-method analysis”]. Given my target demographic of [specific group, e.g., “online shoppers aged 18-25”], what are potential methodological challenges and best practices in [specific setting or platform, e.g., “e-commerce platforms”]?
  • Act as a methodological counselor. I’m exploring [topic, e.g., ‘consumer behavior patterns’] using [research technique, e.g., ‘qualitative interviews’]. Given the scope of [specific context or dataset, e.g., ‘online retail platforms’], what insights can you offer?

ChatGPT Prompts for Language Translation

While not perfect, ChatGPT can assist in translating content to and from various languages, which might be helpful for non-native English speakers or when dealing with sources in other languages.

  • Please translate this passage to [desired language]: [paste your text here].
  • I’m integrating a passage for my research on [specific topic, e.g., “Mesoamerican civilizations”]. Could you assist in translating this content from [source language, e.g., “Nahuatl”] to [target language, e.g., “English”] while preserving academic rigor: [paste your text here]?
  • Act as my translation assistant. I have this passage in [source language, e.g., ‘French’] about [topic, e.g., ‘European history’]: [paste your text here]. Can you render it in [target language, e.g., ‘English’] while maintaining academic integrity?

ChatGPT Prompts for Ethical Considerations

ChatGPT can provide a general overview of ethical considerations in research, though specific guidance should come from institutional review boards or ethics committees.

  • What are some general ethical considerations when conducting research on [specific topic or population]?
  • I’m conducting research involving [specific group or method, e.g., “minors” or “online surveys”]. What are key ethical considerations I should be aware of in the context of [specific discipline or field]?
  • My investigation encompasses [specific method or technique, e.g., “genome editing”] on [target population or organism, e.g., “plant species”]. As I operate within the framework of [specific institution or body, e.g., “UNESCO guidelines”], what ethical imperatives should I foreground, especially when considering implications for [broader context, e.g., “global food security”]?
  • Act as an ethics board member. I’m conducting research on [specific topic or population]. Could you outline key ethical considerations I should bear in mind?
  • Act as an ethics overview guide. My research involves [specific technique or method, e.g., ‘live human trials’] in the realm of [specific discipline, e.g., ‘medical research’]. What general ethical considerations might be paramount, especially when targeting [specific population or group, e.g., ‘adolescents’]?

ChatGPT’s advanced AI capabilities have made it a standout tool in the world of academic writing. However, its real strength shines when paired with the right questions. The prompts in this article are tailored to optimize your experience with ChatGPT. By using them, you can streamline your writing and elevate the depth of your research. But don’t just take our word for it. Explore ChatGPT with these prompts and see the transformation in your academic writing for yourself. Excellent writing is just one prompt away.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Celebrating 150 years of Harvard Summer School. Learn about our history.

Should I Use ChatGPT to Write My Essays?

Everything high school and college students need to know about using — and not using — ChatGPT for writing essays.

Jessica A. Kent

ChatGPT is one of the most buzzworthy technologies today.

In addition to other generative artificial intelligence (AI) models, it is expected to change the world. In academia, students and professors are preparing for the ways that ChatGPT will shape education, and especially how it will impact a fundamental element of any course: the academic essay.

Students can use ChatGPT to generate full essays based on a few simple prompts. But can AI actually produce high quality work, or is the technology just not there yet to deliver on its promise? Students may also be asking themselves if they should use AI to write their essays for them and what they might be losing out on if they did.

AI is here to stay, and it can either be a help or a hindrance depending on how you use it. Read on to become better informed about what ChatGPT can and can’t do, how to use it responsibly to support your academic assignments, and the benefits of writing your own essays.

What is Generative AI?

Artificial intelligence isn’t a twenty-first century invention. Beginning in the 1950s, data scientists started programming computers to solve problems and understand spoken language. AI’s capabilities grew as computer speeds increased and today we use AI for data analysis, finding patterns, and providing insights on the data it collects.

But why the sudden popularity in recent applications like ChatGPT? This new generation of AI goes further than just data analysis. Instead, generative AI creates new content. It does this by analyzing large amounts of data — GPT-3 was trained on 45 terabytes of data, or a quarter of the Library of Congress — and then generating new content based on the patterns it sees in the original data.

It’s like the predictive text feature on your phone; as you start typing a new message, predictive text makes suggestions of what should come next based on data from past conversations. Similarly, ChatGPT creates new text based on past data. With the right prompts, ChatGPT can write marketing content, code, business forecasts, and even entire academic essays on any subject within seconds.

But is generative AI as revolutionary as people think it is, or is it lacking in real intelligence?

The Drawbacks of Generative AI

It seems simple. You’ve been assigned an essay to write for class. You go to ChatGPT and ask it to write a five-paragraph academic essay on the topic you’ve been assigned. You wait a few seconds and it generates the essay for you!

But ChatGPT is still in its early stages of development, and that essay is likely not as accurate or well-written as you’d expect it to be. Be aware of the drawbacks of having ChatGPT complete your assignments.

It’s not intelligence, it’s statistics

One of the misconceptions about AI is that it has a degree of human intelligence. However, its intelligence is actually statistical analysis, as it can only generate “original” content based on the patterns it sees in already existing data and work.

It “hallucinates”

Generative AI models often provide false information — so much so that there’s a term for it: “AI hallucination.” OpenAI even has a warning on its home screen , saying that “ChatGPT may produce inaccurate information about people, places, or facts.” This may be due to gaps in its data, or because it lacks the ability to verify what it’s generating. 

It doesn’t do research  

If you ask ChatGPT to find and cite sources for you, it will do so, but they could be inaccurate or even made up.

This is because AI doesn’t know how to look for relevant research that can be applied to your thesis. Instead, it generates content based on past content, so if a number of papers cite certain sources, it will generate new content that sounds like it’s a credible source — except it likely may not be.

There are data privacy concerns

When you input your data into a public generative AI model like ChatGPT, where does that data go and who has access to it? 

Prompting ChatGPT with original research should be a cause for concern — especially if you’re inputting study participants’ personal information into the third-party, public application. 

JPMorgan has restricted use of ChatGPT due to privacy concerns, Italy temporarily blocked ChatGPT in March 2023 after a data breach, and Security Intelligence advises that “if [a user’s] notes include sensitive data … it enters the chatbot library. The user no longer has control over the information.”

It is important to be aware of these issues and take steps to ensure that you’re using the technology responsibly and ethically. 

It skirts the plagiarism issue

AI creates content by drawing on a large library of information that’s already been created, but is it plagiarizing? Could there be instances where ChatGPT “borrows” from previous work and places it into your work without citing it? Schools and universities today are wrestling with this question of what’s plagiarism and what’s not when it comes to AI-generated work.

To demonstrate this, one Elon University professor gave his class an assignment: Ask ChatGPT to write an essay for you, and then grade it yourself. 

“Many students expressed shock and dismay upon learning the AI could fabricate bogus information,” he writes, adding that he expected some essays to contain errors, but all of them did. 

His students were disappointed that “major tech companies had pushed out AI technology without ensuring that the general population understands its drawbacks” and were concerned about how many embraced such a flawed tool.

Explore Our High School Programs

How to Use AI as a Tool to Support Your Work

As more students are discovering, generative AI models like ChatGPT just aren’t as advanced or intelligent as they may believe. While AI may be a poor option for writing your essay, it can be a great tool to support your work.

Generate ideas for essays

Have ChatGPT help you come up with ideas for essays. For example, input specific prompts, such as, “Please give me five ideas for essays I can write on topics related to WWII,” or “Please give me five ideas for essays I can write comparing characters in twentieth century novels.” Then, use what it provides as a starting point for your original research.

Generate outlines

You can also use ChatGPT to help you create an outline for an essay. Ask it, “Can you create an outline for a five paragraph essay based on the following topic” and it will create an outline with an introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion, and a suggested thesis statement. Then, you can expand upon the outline with your own research and original thought.

Generate titles for your essays

Titles should draw a reader into your essay, yet they’re often hard to get right. Have ChatGPT help you by prompting it with, “Can you suggest five titles that would be good for a college essay about [topic]?”

The Benefits of Writing Your Essays Yourself

Asking a robot to write your essays for you may seem like an easy way to get ahead in your studies or save some time on assignments. But, outsourcing your work to ChatGPT can negatively impact not just your grades, but your ability to communicate and think critically as well. It’s always the best approach to write your essays yourself.

Create your own ideas

Writing an essay yourself means that you’re developing your own thoughts, opinions, and questions about the subject matter, then testing, proving, and defending those thoughts. 

When you complete school and start your career, projects aren’t simply about getting a good grade or checking a box, but can instead affect the company you’re working for — or even impact society. Being able to think for yourself is necessary to create change and not just cross work off your to-do list.

Building a foundation of original thinking and ideas now will help you carve your unique career path in the future.

Develop your critical thinking and analysis skills

In order to test or examine your opinions or questions about a subject matter, you need to analyze a problem or text, and then use your critical thinking skills to determine the argument you want to make to support your thesis. Critical thinking and analysis skills aren’t just necessary in school — they’re skills you’ll apply throughout your career and your life.

Improve your research skills

Writing your own essays will train you in how to conduct research, including where to find sources, how to determine if they’re credible, and their relevance in supporting or refuting your argument. Knowing how to do research is another key skill required throughout a wide variety of professional fields.

Learn to be a great communicator

Writing an essay involves communicating an idea clearly to your audience, structuring an argument that a reader can follow, and making a conclusion that challenges them to think differently about a subject. Effective and clear communication is necessary in every industry.

Be impacted by what you’re learning about : 

Engaging with the topic, conducting your own research, and developing original arguments allows you to really learn about a subject you may not have encountered before. Maybe a simple essay assignment around a work of literature, historical time period, or scientific study will spark a passion that can lead you to a new major or career.

Resources to Improve Your Essay Writing Skills

While there are many rewards to writing your essays yourself, the act of writing an essay can still be challenging, and the process may come easier for some students than others. But essay writing is a skill that you can hone, and students at Harvard Summer School have access to a number of on-campus and online resources to assist them.

Students can start with the Harvard Summer School Writing Center , where writing tutors can offer you help and guidance on any writing assignment in one-on-one meetings. Tutors can help you strengthen your argument, clarify your ideas, improve the essay’s structure, and lead you through revisions. 

The Harvard libraries are a great place to conduct your research, and its librarians can help you define your essay topic, plan and execute a research strategy, and locate sources. 

Finally, review the “ The Harvard Guide to Using Sources ,” which can guide you on what to cite in your essay and how to do it. Be sure to review the “Tips For Avoiding Plagiarism” on the “ Resources to Support Academic Integrity ” webpage as well to help ensure your success.

Sign up to our mailing list to learn more about Harvard Summer School

The Future of AI in the Classroom

ChatGPT and other generative AI models are here to stay, so it’s worthwhile to learn how you can leverage the technology responsibly and wisely so that it can be a tool to support your academic pursuits. However, nothing can replace the experience and achievement gained from communicating your own ideas and research in your own academic essays.

About the Author

Jessica A. Kent is a freelance writer based in Boston, Mass. and a Harvard Extension School alum. Her digital marketing content has been featured on Fast Company, Forbes, Nasdaq, and other industry websites; her essays and short stories have been featured in North American Review, Emerson Review, Writer’s Bone, and others.

5 Key Qualities of Students Who Succeed at Harvard Summer School (and in College!)

This guide outlines the kinds of students who thrive at Harvard Summer School and what the programs offer in return.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education Logo

Navigation Menu

Search code, repositories, users, issues, pull requests..., provide feedback.

We read every piece of feedback, and take your input very seriously.

Saved searches

Use saved searches to filter your results more quickly.

To see all available qualifiers, see our documentation .

  • Notifications You must be signed in to change notification settings

This list of writing prompts covers a range of topics and tasks, including brainstorming research ideas, improving language and style, conducting literature reviews, and developing research plans.

ahmetbersoz/chatgpt-prompts-for-academic-writing

Folders and files.

NameName
28 Commits

Repository files navigation

✨ NEW UPDATE: Literature Review Generator

A Custom GPT for Literature Review Generator has been released. It efficiently parses PDF files of research publications, extracts key themes, and creates a literature review section for your academic publications.

TRY NOW: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-G3U8pZGwC-literature-review-generator

ChatGPT Prompts for Academic Writing

In this repository, this list of writing prompts covers a range of topics and tasks, including brainstorming research ideas, improving language and style, conducting literature reviews, and developing research plans. Whether you're a student, researcher, or academic professional, these prompts can help you hone your writing abilities and tackle your writing projects with confidence.

Use directly in: chat.openai.com

The list is regularly updated, so you can keep track of new prompts by following this repository.

TIPS: As there is a limit to the number of words that can be used in ChatGPT, you can input your text multiple times using the prompt "Read this [PARAPGRAPH]:" and then run your final prompt "Considering the above text...".

You can also use prompts splitter: chatgpt-prompt-splitter.jjdiaz.dev

BRAINSTORMING

Article sections, title/topic sentence, introduction, literature review.

NOTE: Be careful and double-check article existence. ChatGPT may generate fake references

Methodology

Experiments, future works, improving language, summarization, plan/presentation, working with documents (available only in gpt-4).

Upload a PDF file of a paper then:

Upload a PDF file of your paper then:

Upload PDF files of papers then:

Upload a figure image then:

Contributors 4

@ahmetbersoz

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

  • Backchannel
  • Newsletters
  • WIRED Insider
  • WIRED Consulting

David Nield

5 Ways ChatGPT Can Improve, Not Replace, Your Writing

Sheets of blank white paper flying out of vintage manual typewriter on a yellow and purple backdrop

It's been quite a year for ChatGPT, with the large language model (LLM) now taking exams, churning out content , searching the web, writing code, and more. The AI chatbot can produce its own stories , though whether they're any good is another matter.

If you're in any way involved in the business of writing, then tools like ChatGPT have the potential to complete up-end the way you work—but at this stage, it's not inevitable that journalists, authors, and copywriters will be replaced by generative AI bots.

What we can say with certainty is that ChatGPT is a reliable writing assistant, provided you use it in the right way. If you have to put words in order as part of your job, here's how ChatGPT might be able to take your writing to the next level—at least until it replaces you, anyway.

Using a thesaurus as a writer isn't particularly frowned on; using ChatGPT to come up with the right word or phrase shouldn’t be either. You can use the bot to look for variations on a particular word, or get even more specific and say you want alternatives that are less or more formal, longer or shorter, and so on.

Where ChatGPT really comes in handy is when you're reaching for a word and you're not even sure it exists: Ask about "a word that means a sense of melancholy but in particular one that comes and goes and doesn't seem to have a single cause" and you'll get back "ennui" as a suggestion (or at least we did).

If you have characters talking, you might even ask about words or phrases that would typically be said by someone from a particular region, of a particular age, or with particular character traits. This being ChatGPT, you can always ask for more suggestions.

Everything Apple Announced at WWDC

By Boone Ashworth

The Best Hearing Aids We’ve Personally Tested and Vetted With an Expert

By Christopher Null

AI Is Apple’s Best Shot at Getting You to Upgrade Your iPhone

By Lauren Goode

The Top New Features Coming to Apple’s iOS 18 and iPadOS 18

By Julian Chokkattu

Screenshot of ChatGPT in a browser window

ChatGPT is never short of ideas.

Whatever you might think about the quality and character of ChatGPT's prose, it's hard to deny that it's quite good at coming up with ideas . If your powers of imagination have hit a wall then you can turn to ChatGPT for some inspiration about plot points, character motivations, the settings of scenes, and so on.

This can be anything from the broad to the detailed. Maybe you need ideas about what to write a novel or an article about—where it's set, what the context is, and what the theme is. If you're a short story writer, perhaps you could challenge yourself to write five tales inspired by ideas from ChatGPT.

Alternatively, you might need inspiration for something very precise, whether that's what happens next in a scene or how to summarize an essay. At whatever point in the process you get writer's block, then ChatGPT might be one way of working through it.

Writing is often about a lot more than putting words down in order. You'll regularly have to look up facts, figures, trends, history, and more to make sure that everything is accurate (unless your next literary work is entirely inside a fantasy world that you're imagining yourself).

ChatGPT can sometimes have the edge over conventional search engines when it comes to knowing what food people might have eaten in a certain year in a certain part of the world, or what the procedure is for a particular type of crime. Whereas Google might give you SEO-packed spam sites with conflicting answers, ChatGPT will actually return something coherent.

That said, we know that LLMs have a tendency to “hallucinate” and present inaccurate information—so you should always double-check what ChatGPT tells you with a second source to make sure you're not getting something wildly wrong.

Getting fictional character and place names right can be a challenge, especially when they're important to the plot. A name has to have the right vibe and the right connotations, and if you get it wrong it really sticks out on the page.

ChatGPT can come up with an unlimited number of names for people and places in your next work of fiction, and it can be a lot of fun playing around with this too. The more detail you give about a person or a place, the better—maybe you want a name that really reflects a character trait for example, or a geographical feature.

The elements of human creation and curation aren't really replaced, because you're still weighing up which names work and which don't, and picking the right one—but getting ChatGPT on the job can save you a lot of brainstorming time.

Screenshot of ChatGPT in a browser window

Get your names right with ChatGPT.

With a bit of cutting and pasting, you can quickly get ChatGPT to review your writing as well: It'll attempt to tell you if there's anything that doesn't make sense, if your sentences are too long, or if your prose is too lengthy.

From spotting spelling and grammar mistakes to recognizing a tone that's too formal, ChatGPT has plenty to offer as an editor and critic. Just remember that this is an LLM, after all, and it doesn't actually “know” anything—try to keep a reasonable balance between accepting ChatGPT's suggestions and giving it too much control.

If you're sharing your work with ChatGPT, you can also ask it for better ways to phrase something, or suggestions on how to change the tone—though this gets into the area of having the bot actually do your writing for you, which all genuine writers would want to avoid.

WIRED has teamed up with Jobbio to create WIRED Hired , a dedicated career marketplace for WIRED readers. Companies who want to advertise their jobs can visit WIRED Hired to post open roles, while anyone can search and apply for thousands of career opportunities. Jobbio is not involved with this story or any editorial content.

You Might Also Like …

In your inbox: Will Knight's Fast Forward explores advances in AI

Welcome to the hellhole of programmatic advertising

How many EV charging stations does the US need to replace gas stations?

A nonprofit tried to fix tech culture —but lost control of its own

It's always sunny: Here are the best sunglasses for every adventure

Learning to Live With Google's AI Overviews

Michael Calore

Apple Makes It Easier to Stare at Your Phone in the Car

Boone Ashworth

Everything Google Announced at I/O 2024

Julian Chokkattu

Here’s What the ‘Matter’ Smart Home Standard Is All About

Lauren Goode

How to Remove Your Personal Info From Google’s Search Results

Reece Rogers

WIRED COUPONS

https://www.wired.com/coupons/static/shop/32697/logo/FINAL_TurboTax_logo.png

Save $7 To $23 On Turbo Tax Online

https://www.wired.com/coupons/static/shop/37832/logo/H_R_Block_Coupon_Code.png

20% Off All H&R Block 2024 Tax Software | H&R Block Coupon

https://www.wired.com/coupons/static/shop/37974/logo/Instacart_logo_-_22__1_.png

Enjoy $15 Off Your Orders With Instacart Coupon When You Spend $50

https://www.wired.com/coupons/static/shop/30208/logo/_0047_Dyson--coupons.png

Extra 20% Off Select Dyson Technology With Owner Rewards

https://www.wired.com/coupons/static/shop/31565/logo/GoPro_logo_2024.png

GoPro Promo Code: 15% Off When You Sign Up

https://www.wired.com/coupons/static/shop/30173/logo/Samsung_promo_code.png

Get Up To An Extra 45% Off May Secret Sale

  • Helldivers 2
  • Dragon’s Dogma 2
  • Wuthering Waves
  • Genshin Impact
  • Counter Strike 2
  • Honkai Star Rail
  • Lego Fortnite
  • Stardew Valley
  • NYT Strands
  • NYT Connections
  • Apple Watch
  • Crunchyroll
  • Prime Video
  • Jujutsu Kaisen
  • Demon Slayer
  • Chainsaw Man
  • Solo Leveling
  • Beebom Gadgets

How to Use ChatGPT to Write Essays That Impress

' src=

Step 1: Use ChatGPT to Find and Refine Essay Topics

  • Log into the service and type the following prompt into ChatGPT:

How to Use ChatGPT to Write Essays That Impress

  • As you can see, ChatGPT gave several good ideas for our essay. If you want to refine the idea further, you can ask the chatbot to cut out some parts of the idea and replace them. Or, you can ask for more context in certain parts. Example – “Expand more on topic number 5 and what it means.”

Step 2: Ask ChatGPT to Construct an Outline

  • With the same chat open, type out “ Give me an essay outline for <selected topic>. Make sure to keep it structured as I’ll use it to write my essay .” In this case, I will use topic number 2 since it aligns with what I had in mind.

Essay outline chatgpt

  • As you can see above, we now have a structured outline for our essay. We can use this to write our essay or have ChatGPT do that job. Nonetheless, it’s a good starting point. As always, you can have the AI chatbot cut out parts of the outline or specifically add new ones depending on your requirement.

Step 3: Get ChatGPT to Cite Sources for Your Essay

Even though we have the idea and the outline, we will need to do our research for proof supporting our essay. Thankfully, ChatGPT can be of some help here. Since the chatbot is adept at moderate research, users can get a general idea of where to look for gathering information. Let’s begin doing that.

  • Let’s begin asking ChatGPT for sources. With the same chat open, type in the following prompt:

Credible sources chatgpt

  • Now we have a list of 10 sources we can reference from. However, you can also see that ChatGPT mentions the year 2021 in some of them. Therefore, it’s best to use these websites but navigate to the latest pages pertaining to your essay for research. This applies to every topic, so always do it. Also, chatbots like ChatGPT have a habit of hallucinating and making up information, so do be careful.

Step 4: Have ChatGPT Write the Essay

  • In the same chat, type the following prompt – “With the topic and outline available to you, generate a 700-word essay. Make sure to keep it structured and concise yet informational. Also, keep in mind my target audience is <Insert target audience> so cater to that accordingly.”
  • In the middle of the essay, ChatGPT might stop and not answer. Simply type “ Continue ,” and it will finish the rest of the essay.

Finished essay ChatGPT

Step 5: Edit the Essay with ChatGPT

No matter if you have used ChatGPT to draft a complete essay or have written one yourself, you can use this step to make ChatGPT your co-editor and grammar checker. While your essay might need an initial look from a human, you can definitely use the bot to hash out the tone and add little details.

  • Either open up the same chat or have your essay already in the clipboard. With that done, type out the following prompt:

How to Use ChatGPT to Write Essays That Impress

Step 6: Export the Essay for Submission

However, for those who want to export the essay into a more aesthetic format, we have just the thing for you. There is no shortage of best ChatGPT Chrome extensions on the internet right now. We have one such selection linked in our list that can export selective chats onto beautiful image formats if you want to show off your essay. Check it out and let us know how you liked it.

Bonus: ChatGPT and AI Apps to Write Essays

1. writesonic.

writesonic chatgpt essay

Ryter is another helpful AI writing assistant that not only helps with essays but all types of articles. The service is powered by a language model that gives it intelligence. Rytr comes with 40+ different use cases and 20+ writing tones for all types of written material. For those who don’t want to stick to English, it even comes with support for 30+ languages.

Rytr chatgpt essay

Upanishad Sharma

Combining his love for Literature and Tech, Upanishad dived into the world of technology journalism with fire. Now he writes about anything and everything while keeping a keen eye on his first love of gaming. Often found chronically walking around the office.

Im student i want to become financially independent woman in life so I want esay essay write

I am housewife and I want easy essay I want to change my life my husband was job less and I want to work online part time job plz help I am enter pass

Add new comment

Here's Why Elon Musk is Wrong About Apple Intelligence

  • PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
  • EDIT Edit this Article
  • EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
  • Browse Articles
  • Learn Something New
  • Quizzes Hot
  • This Or That Game
  • Train Your Brain
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Online Communications

How to Get ChatGPT to Write an Essay: Prompts, Outlines, & More

Last Updated: June 2, 2024 Fact Checked

Getting ChatGPT to Write the Essay

Using ai to help you write, expert interview.

This article was written by Bryce Warwick, JD and by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA . Bryce Warwick is currently the President of Warwick Strategies, an organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area offering premium, personalized private tutoring for the GMAT, LSAT and GRE. Bryce has a JD from the George Washington University Law School. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 48,271 times.

Are you curious about using ChatGPT to write an essay? While most instructors have tools that make it easy to detect AI-written essays, there are ways you can use OpenAI's ChatGPT to write papers without worrying about plagiarism or getting caught. In addition to writing essays for you, ChatGPT can also help you come up with topics, write outlines, find sources, check your grammar, and even format your citations. This wikiHow article will teach you the best ways to use ChatGPT to write essays, including helpful example prompts that will generate impressive papers.

Things You Should Know

  • To have ChatGPT write an essay, tell it your topic, word count, type of essay, and facts or viewpoints to include.
  • ChatGPT is also useful for generating essay topics, writing outlines, and checking grammar.
  • Because ChatGPT can make mistakes and trigger AI-detection alarms, it's better to use AI to assist with writing than have it do the writing.

Step 1 Create an account with ChatGPT.

  • Before using the OpenAI's ChatGPT to write your essay, make sure you understand your instructor's policies on AI tools. Using ChatGPT may be against the rules, and it's easy for instructors to detect AI-written essays.
  • While you can use ChatGPT to write a polished-looking essay, there are drawbacks. Most importantly, ChatGPT cannot verify facts or provide references. This means that essays created by ChatGPT may contain made-up facts and biased content. [1] X Research source It's best to use ChatGPT for inspiration and examples instead of having it write the essay for you.

Step 2 Gather your notes.

  • The topic you want to write about.
  • Essay length, such as word or page count. Whether you're writing an essay for a class, college application, or even a cover letter , you'll want to tell ChatGPT how much to write.
  • Other assignment details, such as type of essay (e.g., personal, book report, etc.) and points to mention.
  • If you're writing an argumentative or persuasive essay , know the stance you want to take so ChatGPT can argue your point.
  • If you have notes on the topic that you want to include, you can also provide those to ChatGPT.
  • When you plan an essay, think of a thesis, a topic sentence, a body paragraph, and the examples you expect to present in each paragraph.
  • It can be like an outline and not an extensive sentence-by-sentence structure. It should be a good overview of how the points relate.

Step 3 Ask ChatGPT to write the essay.

  • "Write a 2000-word college essay that covers different approaches to gun violence prevention in the United States. Include facts about gun laws and give ideas on how to improve them."
  • This prompt not only tells ChatGPT the topic, length, and grade level, but also that the essay is personal. ChatGPT will write the essay in the first-person point of view.
  • "Write a 4-page college application essay about an obstacle I have overcome. I am applying to the Geography program and want to be a cartographer. The obstacle is that I have dyslexia. Explain that I have always loved maps, and that having dyslexia makes me better at making them."

Tyrone Showers

Tyrone Showers

Be specific when using ChatGPT. Clear and concise prompts outlining your exact needs help ChatGPT tailor its response. Specify the desired outcome (e.g., creative writing, informative summary, functional resume), any length constraints (word or character count), and the preferred emotional tone (formal, humorous, etc.)

Step 4 Add to or change the essay.

  • In our essay about gun control, ChatGPT did not mention school shootings. If we want to discuss this topic in the essay, we can use the prompt, "Discuss school shootings in the essay."
  • Let's say we review our college entrance essay and realize that we forgot to mention that we grew up without parents. Add to the essay by saying, "Mention that my parents died when I was young."
  • In the Israel-Palestine essay, ChatGPT explored two options for peace: A 2-state solution and a bi-state solution. If you'd rather the essay focus on a single option, ask ChatGPT to remove one. For example, "Change my essay so that it focuses on a bi-state solution."

Step 5 Ask for sources.

Pay close attention to the content ChatGPT generates. If you use ChatGPT often, you'll start noticing its patterns, like its tendency to begin articles with phrases like "in today's digital world." Once you spot patterns, you can refine your prompts to steer ChatGPT in a better direction and avoid repetitive content.

Step 1 Generate essay topics.

  • "Give me ideas for an essay about the Israel-Palestine conflict."
  • "Ideas for a persuasive essay about a current event."
  • "Give me a list of argumentative essay topics about COVID-19 for a Political Science 101 class."

Step 2 Create an outline.

  • "Create an outline for an argumentative essay called "The Impact of COVID-19 on the Economy."
  • "Write an outline for an essay about positive uses of AI chatbots in schools."
  • "Create an outline for a short 2-page essay on disinformation in the 2016 election."

Step 3 Find sources.

  • "Find peer-reviewed sources for advances in using MRNA vaccines for cancer."
  • "Give me a list of sources from academic journals about Black feminism in the movie Black Panther."
  • "Give me sources for an essay on current efforts to ban children's books in US libraries."

Step 4 Create a sample essay.

  • "Write a 4-page college paper about how global warming is changing the automotive industry in the United States."
  • "Write a 750-word personal college entrance essay about how my experience with homelessness as a child has made me more resilient."
  • You can even refer to the outline you created with ChatGPT, as the AI bot can reference up to 3000 words from the current conversation. For example: "Write a 1000 word argumentative essay called 'The Impact of COVID-19 on the United States Economy' using the outline you provided. Argue that the government should take more action to support businesses affected by the pandemic."

Step 5 Use ChatGPT to proofread and tighten grammar.

  • One way to do this is to paste a list of the sources you've used, including URLs, book titles, authors, pages, publishers, and other details, into ChatGPT along with the instruction "Create an MLA Works Cited page for these sources."
  • You can also ask ChatGPT to provide a list of sources, and then build a Works Cited or References page that includes those sources. You can then replace sources you didn't use with the sources you did use.

Expert Q&A

  • Because it's easy for teachers, hiring managers, and college admissions offices to spot AI-written essays, it's best to use your ChatGPT-written essay as a guide to write your own essay. Using the structure and ideas from ChatGPT, write an essay in the same format, but using your own words. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Always double-check the facts in your essay, and make sure facts are backed up with legitimate sources. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • If you see an error that says ChatGPT is at capacity , wait a few moments and try again. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

best chatgpt essays

  • Using ChatGPT to write or assist with your essay may be against your instructor's rules. Make sure you understand the consequences of using ChatGPT to write or assist with your essay. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • ChatGPT-written essays may include factual inaccuracies, outdated information, and inadequate detail. [3] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

Talk to Girls Online

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about completing school assignments, check out our in-depth interview with Bryce Warwick, JD .

  • ↑ https://help.openai.com/en/articles/6783457-what-is-chatgpt
  • ↑ https://platform.openai.com/examples/default-essay-outline
  • ↑ https://www.ipl.org/div/chatgpt/

About This Article

Bryce Warwick, JD

  • Send fan mail to authors

Is this article up to date?

Am I Smart Quiz

Featured Articles

Deal With a Friend Who Has Changed

Trending Articles

Why Is My Facebook Feed All Ads and Suggested Posts?

Watch Articles

Put a Bracelet on by Yourself

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

How to use ChatGPT for writing

AI can make you a better writer, if you know how to get the best from it

a bunch of cute robots helping a sitting man to write

Summarizing other works

Worldbuilding, creating outlines, building characters, how to improve your chatgpt responses.

ChatGPT has taken the world by storm in a very short period of time, as users continue to test the boundaries of what the AI chatbot can accomplish. And so far, that's a lot. 

Some of it is negative, of course: for instance Samsung workers accidentally leaking top-secret data while using ChatGPT , or the AI chatbot being used for malware scams . Plagiarism is also rampant, with the use of ChatGPT for writing college essays a potential problem.

However, while ChatGPT can and has been used for wrongdoing, to the point where the Future of Life Institution released an open letter calling for the temporary halt of OpenAI system work , AI isn’t all bad. Far from it.

For a start, anyone who writes something may well have used AI to enhance their work already. The most common applications, of course, are the grammar and spelling correction tools found in everything from email applications to word processors. But there are a growing number of other examples of how AI can be used for writing. So, how do you bridge the gap between using AI as the tool it is, without crossing over into plagiarism city?

In fact, there are many ways ChatGPT can be used to enhance your skills, particularly when it comes to researching, developing, and organizing ideas and information for creative writing. By using AI as it was intended - as a tool, not a crutch - it can enrich your writing in ways that help to better your craft, without resorting to it doing everything for you. 

Below, we've listed some of our favorite ways to use ChatGPT and similar AI chatbots for writing. 

A key part of any writing task is the research, and thanks to the internet that chore has never been easier to accomplish. However, while finding the general sources you need is far less time-consuming than it once was, actually parsing all that information is still the same slog it’s always been. But this is where ChatGPT comes in. You can use the AI bot to do the manual labor for you and then reap the benefits of having tons of data to use for your work.

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

The steps are slightly different, depending on whether you want an article or book summarized . 

For the article, there are two ways to have ChatGPT summarize it. The first requires you to type in the words ‘TLDR:’ and then paste the article’s URL next to it. The second method is a bit more tedious, but increases the accuracy of your summary. For that, you’ll need to copy and paste the article itself into the prompt . 

Summarizing a book is much easier, as long as it was published before 2021. Simply type into the prompt ‘summarize [book title]’ and it should do the rest for you.

This should go without saying, but for any articles or books, make sure you read the source material first before using any information presented to you. While ChatGPT is an incredibly useful tool that can create resources meant for future reference, it’s not a perfect one and is subject to accidentally inserting misinformation into anything it gives you.

screenshot of a conversation with chatgpt

One of the most extensive and important tasks when crafting your creative work is to properly flesh out the world your characters occupy. Even for works set in a regular modern setting, it can take plenty of effort to research the various cultures, landmarks, languages, and neighborhoods your characters live in and encounter. 

Now, imagine stories that require their own unique setting, and how much more work that entails in terms of creating those same details from scratch. While it’s vital that the main ideas come from you, using ChatGPT can be a great way to streamline the process, especially with more tedious details.

For instance, if you need certain fictional words without wanting to create an entirely fictional language, you can prompt ChatGPT with the following : “Create a language including an alphabet, phonetics, grammar, and the most common 100 words. Base it on [insert real-life languages here]” and it will give you some good starting points. However, it’s imperative that you take these words and look them up, to ensure you aren’t appropriating sensitive terms or using offensive real-life words.

Another example is useful for those who write scenarios for games, especially tabletop games such as Dungeons & Dragons or Call of Cthulhu . Dungeon Masters (who run the games) may often need to create documents or other fake materials for their world, but doing so takes a lot of time and effort. Now, they can prompt ChatGPT to quickly create filler text that sounds interesting or authentic but is inherently useless; it's essentially like ' Lorem Ipsum ' text, but more immersive.

screenshot of a conversation with chatgpt

When writing a story, many people will use an outline to ensure they stay on track and that the narrative flows well. But actually sitting down and organizing everything in your head in order to create a cohesive reference is a lot more daunting than it seems. It’s one of those steps that can be crucial to a well-structured work of fiction, but it can also become a hurdle. This is another area where ChatGPT can come in handy.

The key to writing an effective outline is remembering that you don’t need to have all the answers first. It’s there to structure your content, by helping you hit critical points and not miss important details in the process. While there are AI generators with a more specific focus on this topic, ChatGPT will do a good job at taking a general prompt and returning points for you to keep in mind while you research and write around that topic.

For instance, I prompted ChatGPT with “I want to write a story about a black woman in 16th century England” and it gave me a well-thought-out series of steps to help me create a story that would reflect my topic. An outline such as this would be particularly useful for those needing a resource they can quickly turn to for inspiration when writing. After that, you can begin to develop more complex ideas and have the AI organize those specifics into much easier-to-follow steps.

What makes any great story are the characters that inhabit it. Writing strong, fleshed-out characters is the cornerstone of any creative work and, naturally, the process of creating such a character can be difficult. Their background, manner of speech, goals, dreams, look, and more must be carefully considered and planned out. And this is another aspect of writing that ChatGPT can aid with, if you know how to go about it.

A basic way to use ChatGPT in this regard is to have it generate possible characters that could populate whatever setting you’re writing for. For example, I prompted it with “Provide some ideas for characters set in 1920s Harlem” and it gave me a full list of people with varied and distinctive backstories to use as a jumping-off point. Each character is described with a single sentence, enough to help start the process of creating them, but still leaving the crux of developing them up to me.

One of the most interesting features of ChatGPT is that you can flat-out roleplay with a character, whether they're a historical figure or one that you created but need help fleshing out. Take that same character you just created and have a conversation with them by asking them questions on their history, family life, profession, etc. Based on my previous results, I prompted with “Pretend to be a jazz musician from 1920s Harlem. Let's have a conversation.” I then asked questions from there, basing them on prior answers. Of course, from there you need to parse through these responses to filter out unnecessary or inaccurate details, while fleshing out what works for your story, but it does provide you with a useful stepping stone.

a hand open with the words chatgpt and ai hovering

If you’re having issues getting the results you want, the problem could be with how you’re phrasing those questions or prompts in the first place. We've got a full guide to how to improve your ChatGPT prompts and responses , but here are a few of the best options:

  • Specify the direction you want the AI to go, by adding in relevant details 
  • Prompt from a specific role to guide the responses in the proper direction
  • Make sure your prompts are free of typos and grammatical errors
  • Keep your tone conversational, as that’s how ChatGPT was built
  • Learn from yours and its mistakes to make it a better tool
  • Break up your conversations into 500 words or less, as that’s when the AI begins to break down and go off topic
  • If you need something clarified, ask the AI based on its last response
  • Ask it to cite sources and then check those sources
  • Sometimes it’s best to start fresh with a brand new conversation

Of course, many of the above suggestions apply not just to ChatGPT but also to the other chatbots springing up in its wake. Check out our list of the best ChatGPT alternatives and see which one works best for you.

Named by the CTA as a CES 2023 Media Trailblazer, Allisa is a Computing Staff Writer who covers breaking news and rumors in the computing industry, as well as reviews, hands-on previews, featured articles, and the latest deals and trends. In her spare time you can find her chatting it up on her two podcasts, Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, as well as playing any JRPGs she can get her hands on.

Yahoo will take on Apple Intelligence and Google Gemini with its own AI features, in a move that will definitely make it relevant again

Good news, Scarlett Johansson, you may not have to use ChatGPT with Siri

HP E45c G5: a huge, immersive monitor, but it comes at a price

Most Popular

  • 2 Farewell, Nvidia GeForce Experience – you were a terrible app and I hated you, but at least something better is on the way
  • 3 Trying to walk 10,000 steps a day? These three top tips from a walking expert will help you cross the finish line
  • 4 The best budget display you can buy is this Hisense 4K TV for $258 at Walmart
  • 5 Nvidia RTX 5000 specs are leaked, and PC gamers are already unhappy with the way next-gen GPUs look to be shaping up
  • 2 Nvidia RTX 5000 specs are leaked, and PC gamers are already unhappy with the way next-gen GPUs look to be shaping up
  • 3 Apple Intelligence: here's a full list of the iPhones, iPads and Macs that'll get Apple’s new AI powers
  • 4 Apple shows off next-gen CarPlay – here's what it looks like
  • 5 I tried Chris Hemsworth’s Furiosa workout using just a couple of dumbbells, and it was more effective than I expected

best chatgpt essays

Get the Reddit app

Subreddit dedicated to discussions on the advanced capabilities and professional applications of ChatGPT.

Using ChatGPT for academic essays

Hi there I have done another video on using chat for education. I show how you can plan, your essay, ask clarifying questions, rewrite parts of your work and mark your essay with feedback before submission video is 7 min long I tried to keep as focused as possible to not waste anyone time. Happy to answer any other questions you may have. I actually have written an essay for this video which is crazy :P

https://youtu.be/SpSP5CWhOK8

Chat description for TL:DW

In this video, I show you how to write an essay using chart GPT as your assistant. The video is divided into chapters, making it easy for you to navigate through it. I aim to keep it brief and productive for you.

I start the chart by giving it a prompt to explain the context of our conversation. In this case, we are writing an assessment for a university level course in health and social care, with the chart acting as my mentor and assistant, who is an expert in the field. I will be bouncing ideas off the chart and asking for help with my work.

The topic I found was posted online from one of the social care degrees assignments. The topic is about the legislative framework for health, safety and risk management in a work setting. The chart provided me with an outline, which includes introduction, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations and reporting of injuries.

I asked the chart to give me three points to include in the introduction, and it gave me legal requirements, responsibilities of employers, employee wellbeing and workplace productivity. I then asked for a list of five relevant registration regulations and a list of key provisions in the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Using my knowledge in health and social care, I was able to write my first draft of the essay using the information provided by the chart. I then used my grading scheme to grade my essay and receive feedback from the chart. The chart acted as a British university professor who is strict and critical of student work, providing constructive criticism to help shape students into the best they can be.

The essay was graded at 7 out of 10, and the chart provided me with five pieces of feedback and five potential improvements. The chart also suggested how I could make the introduction stronger by including a physics statement and provided me with a suggestion for the conclusion.

In conclusion, using chart GPT as an assistant was helpful in writing my essay. It provided me with an outline, points to include in my introduction and conclusion, and gave me feedback to improve my work. I was able to use my knowledge in the field to make the most of the information provided by the chart.

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • View all journals
  • Explore content
  • About the journal
  • Publish with us
  • Sign up for alerts
  • NEWS EXPLAINER
  • 09 December 2022

AI bot ChatGPT writes smart essays — should professors worry?

  • Chris Stokel-Walker

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Between overwork, underpayment and the pressure to publish, academics have plenty to worry about. Now there’s a fresh concern: ChatGPT , an artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbot that creates surprisingly intelligent-sounding text in response to user prompts, including homework assignments and exam-style questions. The replies are so lucid, well-researched and decently referenced that some academics are calling the bot the death knell for conventional forms of educational assessment. How worried should professors and lecturers be?

Access options

Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals

Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription

24,99 € / 30 days

cancel any time

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

185,98 € per year

only 3,65 € per issue

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-04397-7

Reprints and permissions

Related Articles

best chatgpt essays

Are ChatGPT and AlphaCode going to replace programmers?

How language-generation AIs could transform science

Open-source language AI challenges big tech’s models

  • Computer science

Experiment-free exoskeleton assistance via learning in simulation

Experiment-free exoskeleton assistance via learning in simulation

Article 12 JUN 24

Meta’s AI translation model embraces overlooked languages

Meta’s AI translation model embraces overlooked languages

News & Views 05 JUN 24

Scaling neural machine translation to 200 languages

Scaling neural machine translation to 200 languages

Article 05 JUN 24

Hybrid working has benefits over fully in-person working — the evidence mounts

Hybrid working has benefits over fully in-person working — the evidence mounts

Editorial 12 JUN 24

Science profits most when people of faith feel equally welcomed

Correspondence 11 JUN 24

Equality doesn’t equal sustainability — even high-welfare states must do more

Need a policy for using ChatGPT in the classroom? Try asking students

Need a policy for using ChatGPT in the classroom? Try asking students

Career Column 05 JUN 24

Why China has been a growing study destination for African students

Why China has been a growing study destination for African students

Nature Index 05 JUN 24

Brazil’s plummeting graduate enrolments hint at declining interest in academic science careers

Brazil’s plummeting graduate enrolments hint at declining interest in academic science careers

Career News 21 MAY 24

Postdoctoral positions at University of Pennsylvania

Postdoctoral positions funded by NIH are for study of meiosis and spermatogonial stem cells using mouse models. Generous stipend and benefits.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (US)

University of Pennsylvania - Department of Biomedical Sciences

Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Materials Science)

Associate or Senior Editor (Materials Science) Organization: Nature Communications Location(s): New York, Jersey City, Philadelphia, Beijing, Hong ...

New York (US)

Springer Nature Ltd

best chatgpt essays

Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Medicine

Associate or Senior, Nature Medicine: Infectious Diseases New York, Shanghai or Beijing - Hybrid Working Application Deadline: August 1, 2024   Nat...

New York City, New York (US)

Post-doctoral Fellow

Funded investigator has an immediate opening for a post-doctoral fellow to develop therapies for genetic diseases.

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, East Baltimore Campus

Johns Hopkins University Department of Medicine

Postdoctoral Fellow PhD

Houston, Texas (US)

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM)

best chatgpt essays

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Quick links

  • Explore articles by subject
  • Guide to authors
  • Editorial policies

PrepScholar

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, can you use chatgpt for your college essay.

author image

College Admissions , College Essays

feaeture-robot-writing-studying-AI-cc0

ChatGPT has become a popular topic of conversation since its official launch in November 2022. The artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot can be used for all sorts of things, like having conversations, answering questions, and even crafting complete pieces of writing.

If you’re applying for college, you might be wondering about ChatGPT college admissions’ potential.  Should you use a ChatGPT college essay in your application ?

By the time you finish reading this article, you’ll know much more about ChatGPT, including how students can use it responsibly and if it’s a good idea to use ChatGPT on college essays . We’ll answer all your questions, like:

  • What is ChatGPT and why are schools talking about it?
  • What are the good and bad aspects of ChatGPT?
  • Should you use ChatGPT for college essays and applications?
  • Can colleges detect ChatGPT?
  • Are there other tools and strategies that students can use, instead?

We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

body-robot-teacher-cc0-1

Schools and colleges are worried about how new AI technology affects how students learn. (Don't worry. Robots aren't replacing your teachers...yet.)

What Is ChatGPT and Why Are Schools Talking About It?

ChatGPT (short for “Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer”) is a chatbot created by OpenAI , an artificial intelligence research company. ChatGPT can be used for various tasks, like having human-like conversations, answering questions, giving recommendations, translating words and phrases—and writing things like essays. 

In order to do this, ChatGPT uses a neural network that’s been trained on thousands of resources to predict relationships between words. When you give ChatGPT a task, it uses that knowledge base to interpret your input or query. It then analyzes its data banks to predict the combinations of words that will best answer your question. 

So while ChatGPT might seem like it’s thinking, it’s actually pulling information from hundreds of thousands of resources , then answering your questions by looking for patterns in that data and predicting which words come next.  

Why Schools Are Concerned About ChatGPT

Unsurprisingly, schools are worried about ChatGPT and its misuse, especially in terms of academic dishonesty and plagiarism . Most schools, including colleges, require students’ work to be 100% their own. That’s because taking someone else’s ideas and passing them off as your own is stealing someone else’s intellectual property and misrepresenting your skills. 

The problem with ChatGPT from schools’ perspective is that it does the writing and research for you, then gives you the final product. In other words, you’re not doing the work it takes to complete an assignment when you’re using ChatGPT , which falls under schools’ plagiarism and dishonesty policies.  

Colleges are also concerned with how ChatGPT will negatively affect students’ critical thinking, research, and writing skills . Essays and other writing assignments are used to measure students’ mastery of the material, and if students submit ChatGPT college essays, teachers will just be giving feedback on an AI’s writing…which doesn’t help the student learn and grow. 

Beyond that, knowing how to write well is an important skill people need to be successful throughout life. Schools believe that if students rely on ChatGPT to write their essays, they’re doing more than just plagiarizing—they’re impacting their ability to succeed in their future careers. 

Many Schools Have Already Banned ChatGPT

Schools have responded surprisingly quickly to AI use, including ChatGPT. Worries about academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and mis/disinformation have led many high schools and colleges to ban the use of ChatGPT . Some schools have begun using AI-detection software for assignment submissions, and some have gone so far as to block students from using ChatGPT on their internet networks. 

It’s likely that schools will begin revising their academic honesty and plagiarism policies to address the use of AI tools like ChatGPT. You’ll want to stay up-to-date with your schools’ policies. 

body-technical-problem-oops-cc0

ChatGPT is pretty amazing...but it's not a great tool for writing college essays. Here's why.

ChatGPT: College Admissions and Entrance Essays

College admissions essays—also called personal statements—ask students to explore important events, experiences, and ideas from their lives. A great entrance essay will explain what makes you you !  

ChatGPT is a machine that doesn’t know and can’t understand your experiences. That means using ChatGPT to write your admissions essays isn’t just unethical. It actually puts you at a disadvantage because ChatGPT can’t adequately showcase what it means to be you. 

Let’s take a look at four ways ChatGPT negatively impacts college admissions essays.

#1: ChatGPT Lacks Insight

We recommend students use u nexpected or slightly unusual topics because they help admissions committees learn more about you and what makes you unique. The chat bot doesn’t know any of that, so nothing ChatGPT writes can’t accurately reflect your experience, passions, or goals for the future. 

Because ChatGPT will make guesses about who you are, it won’t be able to share what makes you unique in a way that resonates with readers. And since that’s what admissions counselors care about, a ChatGPT college essay could negatively impact an otherwise strong application.  

#2: ChatGPT Might Plagiarize 

Writing about experiences that many other people have had isn’t a very strong approach to take for entrance essays . After all, you don’t want to blend in—you want to stand out! 

If you write your essay yourself and include key details about your past experiences and future goals, there’s little risk that you’ll write the same essay as someone else. But if you use ChatGPT—who’s to say someone else won’t, too? Since ChatGPT uses predictive guesses to write essays, there’s a good chance the text it uses in your essay already appeared in someone else’s.  

Additionally, ChatGPT learns from every single interaction it has. So even if your essay isn’t plagiarized, it’s now in the system. That means the next person who uses ChatGPT to write their essay may end up with yours. You’ll still be on the hook for submitting a ChatGPT college essay, and someone else will be in trouble, too.

#3: ChatGPT Doesn’t Understand Emotion 

Keep in mind that ChatGPT can’t experience or imitate emotions, and so its writing samples lack, well, a human touch ! 

A great entrance essay will explore experiences or topics you’re genuinely excited about or proud of . This is your chance to show your chosen schools what you’ve accomplished and how you’ll continue growing and learning, and an essay without emotion would be odd considering that these should be real, lived experiences and passions you have!

#4: ChatGPT Produced Mediocre Results

If you’re still curious what would happen if you submitted a ChatGPT college essay with your application, you’re in luck. Both Business Insider and Forbes asked ChatGPT to write a couple of college entrance essays, and then they sent them to college admissions readers to get their thoughts. 

The readers agreed that the essays would probably pass as being written by real students—assuming admissions committees didn’t use AI detection software—but that they both were about what a “very mediocre, perhaps even a middle school, student would produce.” The admissions professionals agreed that the essays probably wouldn’t perform very well with entrance committees, especially at more selective schools.  

That’s not exactly the reaction you want when an admission committee reads your application materials! So, when it comes to ChatGPT college admissions, it’s best to steer clear and write your admission materials by yourself. 

body-magnifying-glass-icon-cc0

Can Colleges Detect ChatGPT?

We’ve already explained why it’s not a great idea to use ChatGPT to write your college essays and applications , but you may still be wondering: can colleges detect ChatGPT? 

In short, yes, they can! 

Software Can Detect ChatGPT

As technology improves and increases the risk of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and mis/disinformation, software that can detect such technology is improving, too. For instance, OpenAI, the same company that built ChatGPT, is working on a text classifier that can tell the difference between AI-written text and human-written text .  

Turnitin, one of the most popular plagiarism detectors used by high schools and universities, also recently developed the AI Innovation Lab —a detection software designed to flag submissions that have used AI tools like ChatGPT. Turnitin says that this tool works with 98% confidence in detecting AI writing. 

Plagiarism and AI companies aren’t the only ones interested in AI-detection software. A 22-year old computer science student at Princeton created an app to detect ChatGPT writing, called Zero GPT. This software works by measuring the complexity of ideas and variety of sentence structures.  

Human Readers Can Detect ChatGPT 

It’s also worth keeping in mind that teachers can spot the use of ChatGPT themselves , even if it isn’t confirmed by a software detector. For example, if you’ve turned in one or two essays to your teacher already, they’re probably familiar with your unique writing style. If you submit a college essay draft essay that uses totally different vocabulary, sentence structures, and figures of speech, your teacher will likely take note.

Additionally , admissions committees and readers may be able to spot ChatGPT writing, too. ChatGPT (and AI writing, in general) uses more simplistic sentence structures with less variation, so that could make it easier to tell if you’ve submitted a ChatGPT college essay. These professionals also read thousands of essays every year, which means they know what a typical essay reads like. You want your college essay to catch their attention…but not because you used AI software! 

body-children-celebrating-computer-cc0

If you use ChatGPT responsibly, you can be as happy as these kids.

Pros and Cons of ChatGPT: College Admissions Edition

ChatGPT is a brand new technology, which means we’re still learning about the ways it can benefit us. It’s important to think about the pros and the cons to any new tool …and that includes artificial intelligence!

Let’s look at some of the good—and not-so-good—aspects of ChatGPT below. 

ChatGPT: The Good

It may seem like we’re focused on just the negatives of using ChatGPT in this article, but we’re willing to admit that the chatbot isn’t all bad. In fact, it can be a very useful tool for learning if used responsibly !

Like we already mentioned, students shouldn’t use ChatGPT to write entire essays or assignments. They can use it, though, as a learning tool alongside their own critical thinking and writing skills.

Students can use ChatGPT responsibly to:

  • Learn more about a topic . It’s a great place to get started for general knowledge and ideas about most subjects.
  • Find reputable and relevant sources on a topic. Students can ask ChatGPT for names and information about leading scholars, relevant websites and databases, and more. 
  • Brainstorm ideas for assignments. Students can share the ideas they already have with ChatGPT, and in return, the chatbot can suggest ideas for further exploration and even organization of their points.
  • Check work (that they’ve written themselves!) for errors or cla rity. This is similar to how spell- and grammar-checking software is used. ChatGPT may be even better than some competitors for this, because students can actually ask ChatGPT to explain the errors and their solutions—not just to fix them. 

Before you use ChatGPT—even for the tasks mentioned above—you should talk to your teacher or school about their AI and academic dishonesty policies. It’s also a good idea to include an acknowledgement that you used ChatGPT with an explanation of its use. 

body-man-sad-cc0

This guy made some bad decisions using ChatGPT. Don't be this guy.

ChatGPT: The Bad

The first model of ChatGPT (GPT-3.5) was formally introduced to the public in November 2022, and the newer model (GPT-4) in March 2023. So, it’s still very new and there’s a lot of room for improvement .  

There are many misconceptions about ChatGPT. One of the most extreme is that the AI is all-knowing and can make its own decisions. Another is that ChatGPT is a search engine that, when asked a question, can just surf the web for timely, relevant resources and give you all of that information. Both of these beliefs are incorrect because ChatGPT is limited to the information it’s been given by OpenAI . 

Remember how the ‘PT’ in ChatGPT stands for “Pre-trained”? That means that every time OpenAI gives ChatGPT an update, it’s given more information to work with (and so it has more information to share with you). In other words, it’s “trained” on information so it can give you the most accurate and relevant responses possible—but that information can be limited and biased . Ultimately, humans at OpenAI decide what pieces of information to share with ChatGPT, so it’s only as accurate and reliable as the sources it has access to.

For example, if you were to ask ChatGPT-3.5 what notable headlines made the news last week, it would respond that it doesn’t have access to that information because its most recent update was in September 2021!

You’re probably already familiar with how easy it can be to come across misinformation, misleading and untrue information on the internet. Since ChatGPT can’t tell the difference between what is true and what isn’t, it’s up to the humans at OpenAI to make sure only accurate and true information is given to the chatbot . This leaves room for human error , and users of ChatGPT have to keep that in mind when using and learning from the chatbot.

These are just the most obvious problems with ChatGPT. Some other problems with the chatbot include:

  • A lack of common sense. ChatGPT can create seemingly sensical responses to many questions and topics, but it doesn’t have common sense or complete background knowledge.
  • A lack of empathy. ChatGPT doesn’t have emotions, so it can’t understand them, either. 
  • An inability to make decisions or problem solve . While the chatbot can complete basic tasks like answering questions or giving recommendations, it can’t solve complex tasks. 

While there are some great uses for ChatGPT, it’s certainly not without its flaws.

body-bootcamp-cc0

Our bootcamp can help you put together amazing college essays that help you get into your dream schools—no AI necessary.

What Other Tools and Strategies Can Help Students Besides ChatGPT?

While it’s not a good idea to use ChatGPT for college admissions materials, it’s not the only tool available to help students with college essays and assignments.

One of the best strategies students can use to write good essays is to make sure they give themselves plenty of time for the assignment. The writing process includes much more than just drafting! Having time to brainstorm ideas, write out a draft, revise it for clarity and completeness, and polish it makes for a much stronger essay. 

Teachers are another great resource students can use, especially for college application essays. Asking a teacher (or two!) for feedback can really help students improve the focus, clarity, and correctness of an essay. It’s also a more interactive way to learn—being able to sit down with a teacher to talk about their feedback can be much more engaging than using other tools.

Using expert resources during the essay writing process can make a big difference, too. Our article outlines a complete list of strategies for students writing college admission essays. It breaks down what the Common Application essay is, gives tips for choosing the best essay topic, offers strategies for staying focused and being specific, and more.

You can also get help from people who know the college admissions process best, like former admissions counselors. PrepScholar’s Admissions Bootcamp guides you through the entire application process , and you’ll get insider tips and tricks from real-life admissions counselors that’ll make your applications stand out. Even better, our bootcamp includes step-by-step essay writing guidance, so you can get the help you need to make sure your essay is perfect.

If you’re hoping for more technological help, Grammarly is another AI tool that can check writing for correctness. It can correct things like misused and misspelled words and grammar mistakes, and it can improve your tone and style. 

It’s also widely available across multiple platforms through a Windows desktop app, an Android and iOS app, and a Google Chrome extension. And since Grammarly just checks your writing without doing any of the work for you, it’s totally safe to use on your college essays. 

The Bottom Line: ChatGPT College Admissions and Essays

ChatGPT will continue to be a popular discussion topic as it continues evolving. You can expect your chosen schools to address ChatGPT and other AI tools in their academic honesty and plagiarism policies in the near future—and maybe even to restrict or ban the use of the chatbot for school admissions and assignments.

As AI continues transforming, so will AI-detection. The goal is to make sure that AI is used responsibly by students so that they’re avoiding plagiarism and building their research, writing, and critical thinking skills. There are some great uses for ChatGPT when used responsibly, but you should always check with your teachers and schools beforehand.

ChatGPT’s “bad” aspects still need improving, and that’s going to take some time.Be aware that the chatbot isn’t even close to perfect, and it needs to be fact-checked just like other sources of information.

Similarly to other school assignments, don’t submit a ChatGPT college essay for college applications, either. College entrance essays should outline unique and interesting personal experiences and ideas, and those can only come from you.  

Just because ChatGPT isn’t a good idea doesn’t mean there aren’t resources to help you put together a great college essay. There are many other tools and strategies you can use instead of ChatGPT , many of which have been around for longer and offer better feedback. 

body-next-future-cc0

What’s Next?

Ready to write your college essays the old-fashioned way? Start here with our comprehensive guide to the admissions essays.  

Most students have to submit essays as part of their Common Application . Here's a complete breakdown of the Common App prompts —and how to answer them.

The most common type of essay answers the "why this college?" prompt. We've got an expert breakdown that shows you how to write a killer response , step by step. 

Want to write the perfect college application essay?   We can help.   Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will help you craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay to proudly submit to colleges.   Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

  • For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Follow us on Facebook (icon)

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

best chatgpt essays

Should I Use ChatGPT for My Essays?

best chatgpt essays

Artificial intelligence has finally come to the world of academia. Students have been tempted to use LLM-based instruments such as ChatGPT for writing essays and other research papers by simply writing a prompt and clicking “Generate.” 

The burning question, however, revolves around the quality of work that AI can produce. Is the technology advanced enough to deliver on its promises, or does it fall short of expectations? Students are grappling with the decision of whether to entrust AI with their essay writing and contemplating the potential trade-offs involved.

In this article, we offer you the opportunity to explore if chat gpt good at writing essays, the pros and cons of AI writing tools to gain a deeper understanding of why it’s more of a hindrance for students rather than a salvation. For those of you who would like to jump straight to the conclusion, using a college essay writing service provided by human authors rather than machines is still a better alternative than trusting such a foundational component of any course as an essay to a machine.

What Is Generative AI and How Does It Work

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a subset of machine learning that focuses on creating systems capable of producing new and original content rather than simply analyzing and interpreting existing data. What is generative AI compared to other forms of artificial intelligence? Unlike traditional AI models that rely on predefined rules and patterns, generative AI can generate novel outputs by learning from vast amounts of diverse data. This form of AI is often employed in tasks such as text and image generation, where the goal is to create indistinguishable content from human-created content.

The functioning of generative AI is rooted in neural networks, which are designed to mimic the human brain's structure and function. These networks consist of interconnected nodes organized into layers, each processing and extracting features from the input data. Generative models typically employ a type of neural network called a "generative model," which learns to understand the underlying patterns and structures in the training data. During the training process, the model refines its understanding of the data and becomes capable of generating new, coherent outputs by making predictions based on the learned patterns.

Seriously Considering ChatGPT to Write Your Essay?

When in a hurry, GenAI is not the best option. When in a rush, relying on expert writers is always an optimal solution.  

Generative AI Setbacks

Now, let’s move on to the pros and cons of Chat GPT as the most popular GenAI instrument. It operates through sophisticated neural network architectures to produce text content, with recurrent neural networks (RNNs) and transformer models being commonly employed. The primary objective of generative AI in this context is to generate coherent and contextually relevant text passages autonomously. 

The model is trained on large datasets containing diverse examples of human-written text, learning the intricacies of language, grammar, and contextual relationships. While generative AI can produce impressive text content, it's important to note that it doesn't possess true comprehension or consciousness but rather mimics linguistic patterns learned from its training data. 

chat gpt pros and cons

Quality Concerns

One significant drawback of relying on ChatGPT for scholarly writing is the variable output quality. While it can generate coherent text, it might lack the depth, critical thinking, and nuanced understanding that human-generated content often possesses. The AI might struggle to grasp complex topics or provide insightful analysis, potentially leading to subpar essay quality. Even if you ask the GenAI system, ‘Can I use Chat GPT for essays?’ it will reply, ‘Yes, but no. There are several major considerations.’

Lack of Originality

Another disadvantage is the risk of essays lacking originality. ChatGPT learns from existing datasets, and without proper guidance, it may reproduce common ideas and phrases. This lack of originality can affect the uniqueness and authenticity of the essay, potentially leading to issues related to plagiarism and academic integrity.

Limited Subject Expertise

ChatGPT's knowledge is broad but not necessarily deep or specialized. It might lack expertise in specific academic subjects, leading to inaccuracies or oversimplifications in content. Students relying solely on ChatGPT may find it challenging to produce essays demonstrating a profound understanding of specialized topics.

Contextual Misinterpretation

ChatGPT may struggle with nuanced contextual understanding, leading to misinterpretations of prompts or generating contextually inappropriate content. This lack of contextual finesse can result in essays that deviate from the intended meaning or fail to address the nuances specific to a given topic. Students may spend additional time correcting or clarifying the output to align it with the intended context.

Dependency and Skill Erosion

Over-reliance on ChatGPT might hinder the development of essential writing and critical-thinking skills. Suppose students consistently use AI to compose essays. In that case, they may miss out on the learning opportunities that come from grappling with the complexities of research, analysis, and creative expression, ultimately impacting their academic growth.

AI Hallucination

While using ChatGPT for college essays, an unwary student might face the phenomenon known as "AI hallucination." This occurs when the model generates information that may sound plausible but is ultimately fictional or inaccurate. ChatGPT does not possess real-world knowledge and can unintentionally fabricate details or provide misleading information. Relying on such hallucinated content can compromise the reliability and factual accuracy of the essay, posing a risk to academic credibility. Students need to be vigilant in fact-checking and verifying information to ensure the accuracy of their AI-generated content.

Tried ChatGPT, but the Result Is Dissapointing?

Try a professional essay service – a time-tested instrument for students seeking good results with minimal effort.  

How GenAI May Actually Help You with Essays

Generative AI can enhance essay production by offering valuable assistance in brainstorming ideas, overcoming writer's block, and providing creative inspiration, allowing students to refine and expand their own thoughts. The tool's ability to generate coherent sentences and structures can serve as a foundation upon which students build their essays, fostering a collaborative writing process. While it can assist in generating content, students must use the technology judiciously, actively engage in the writing process, and ensure the final output reflects their own voice and understanding of the subject matter. Here are three no-nonsense tips on how to use ChatGPT to write an essay:

Idea Generation and Brainstorming

ChatGPT can be used as a creative companion, helping students generate ideas for essays and overcome writer's block. By providing prompts or asking questions, the AI can inspire diverse perspectives and angles for the essay topic, kickstarting the thought process and expanding the range of potential content. ChatGPT not only assists in overcoming initial hurdles but also facilitates a dynamic exchange of ideas. By engaging in a virtual dialogue with the AI, students can explore different perspectives, receive real-time feedback, and foster a collaborative brainstorming process that goes beyond the traditional confines of solitary ideation, ultimately enriching the depth and diversity of their essay content.

Structural Assistance and Coherent Expression

The tool generates well-structured and coherent sentences, supporting organizing thoughts and expressing ideas fluently. ChatGPT's ability to understand context allows it to contribute to the development of clear introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions, providing a solid foundation that students can build upon for a more polished essay structure. Similar to the best essay writing apps , ChatGPT aids in developing entire paragraphs and sections, ensuring a seamless flow of ideas throughout the essay. Its contextual understanding can guide students in creating a well-organized narrative that strengthens the overall coherence and impact of their written work.

Language Enhancement and Vocabulary Enrichment

ChatGPT can help enhance the language and vocabulary used in an essay. By exposing users to a wide range of phrasing and terminology, the AI can assist in refining the language style and ensuring a more sophisticated and nuanced expression of ideas, thereby contributing to the overall eloquence and professionalism of the written piece. ChatGPT for writing essays can become a linguistic mentor for international students, suggesting alternative phrasings and introducing varied vocabulary, thereby refining the eloquence and richness of the essay. The GetAI can enhance immediate writing tasks and contribute to the long-term development of language skills, fostering a more nuanced and sophisticated command of written expression.

Why Doing Essays by Yourself Is Always a Better Choice

While ChatGPT offers valuable support in writing, doing essays independently holds several advantages that contribute to a more enriching and authentic academic experience. Working on essays individually provides a deep engagement with the subject matter, allowing for a genuine exploration of personal insights and understanding. It enhances critical thinking skills, encourages original thought, and builds a strong foundation for academic growth. Although generative AI can be an assistant, it’s you who should be in charge of the writing process and deliver the final result. 

Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills

Independent essay writing promotes the cultivation of critical thinking and analytical skills. By grappling with the complexities of a topic without external assistance, students develop the ability to analyze, synthesize information, and construct well-reasoned arguments, contributing to a more profound understanding of the subject matter. Learn how to write an essay outline to make the first step to mastering the art of academic writing.

Personalized Exploration of Ideas

Writing an essay independently allows students to embark on a personalized journey of idea exploration. They can delve into their unique perspectives, draw connections between concepts, and explore creative approaches to presenting their thoughts, fostering a deeper intellectual engagement with the material.

Enhanced Research Competence

Independently crafting essays necessitates comprehensive research, honing students' research skills and information retrieval abilities. This process not only ensures a more thorough understanding of the topic but also equips students with the skills necessary for conducting effective and independent research in future academic and professional endeavors.

Cultivation of Writing Style

Independent writing contributes to the development of an individual writing style. Through the iterative process of drafting, revising, and refining, students refine their voice, expression, and linguistic choices. This personal touch not only makes the essay more compelling but also contributes to the development of a unique and identifiable writing style.

Ownership and Satisfaction

Crafting essays independently fosters a sense of ownership over one's work. The satisfaction derived from overcoming challenges, expressing ideas authentically, and producing a piece of writing that reflects individual effort contributes to a deeper appreciation for the learning process and academic accomplishments.

Professional Writers: The Best of Two Worlds

When writing on your own is not an option and motivation levels occasionally drop, students often struggle with the decision, ‘Should I use ChatGPT for my essays?’ While it may seem like a quick “push-button” solution, the imperfections and the need for extensive polishing can be time-consuming and frustrating. In such cases, entrusting the task to professional writers proves to be a mindful choice. With expertise, tailored content, and a commitment to quality, expert writers offer a streamlined alternative for those who seek well-crafted essays without compromising on excellence or spending hours refining AI-generated drafts.

Professional Writers vs chat gpt

Expertise and Specialized Knowledge

Experts of an essay service often possess specialized knowledge and expertise in various subjects. Unlike ChatGPT, which may lack depth in specific areas, human writers bring a nuanced understanding of complex topics, ensuring a higher level of accuracy, depth, and sophistication in the content. This expertise allows for incorporating relevant research, current trends, and a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

Tailored and Customized Content

Seasoned essay writers excel in tailoring content to specific requirements and individual preferences. While ChatGPT provides general suggestions, human writers can adapt their writing style, tone, and content to match the unique needs of a particular assignment or client. This personalized touch ensures that the essay meets specific guidelines, aligns with the student's voice, and addresses the nuances of the given topic more effectively.

Quality Assurance and Revisions

Professional writing platforms often come with quality assurance and revision policies. Human writers can produce polished, well-structured essays with attention to detail, grammar, and coherence. Moreover, these services typically offer revision options, allowing students to request modifications or clarifications until they are satisfied with the final product. This level of personalized attention and quality control when writing an essay surpasses the capabilities of ChatGPT by a great amount.

What Are Students Saying

Despite the buzz surrounding generative AI, many students aren't impressed with ChatGPT's essay-writing abilities. Research reveals that students find the essays it produces too basic and broad for academic standards. Despite using ChatGPT for multiple semesters, they struggle to generate papers with the required depth and focus.

Detection is another issue. Tools like Turnitin easily spot AI-written content, causing concerns among students. One student reported that nearly all of their ChatGPT-generated essay was flagged as AI-written, even after attempting to disguise it by altering sentence structures.

Trust is a significant issue. Despite some students' attempts to utilize ChatGPT for simple problems in accounting, it consistently fails to provide accurate answers. Even when students tried to manipulate it, ChatGPT couldn't maintain consistency, leading to doubts about its reliability.

Furthermore, recent versions of ChatGPT seem less reliable and more biased. Responses vary widely between versions, and the AI often provides neutral or evasive answers instead of factual information. Additionally, it appears to censor or avoid certain topics, impacting the quality of assistance it offers.

Below are authentic comments from students on Reddit, sharing their concerns and observations:

chat gpt review

Overall, students are increasingly disillusioned with ChatGPT's performance, citing its inability to produce high-quality essays and provide accurate information. Its limitations in detecting AI-generated content and inconsistencies in responses contribute to growing skepticism among users.

ChatGPT isn't designed for academic writing. It lacks the critical thinking and analysis abilities of human writers. Even though it can generate text, it often lacks accuracy and credibility needed for academic essays. Besides, essays produced by AI still need to be checked, revised, and updated by humans, which defeats the purpose of using AI for essay writing. It's better to rely on human writers and trusted sources for academic papers.

In the hustle and bustle of student life, when time becomes a precious commodity and motivation wanes, the allure of quick solutions like ChatGPT might seem tempting. However, the reality often unveils itself in the imperfections and the laborious task of refining AI-generated content. 

When faced with the twin challenges of time constraints and a lack of motivation, turning to human writers emerges as the optimal choice. Professional essay writers not only offer expertise and tailored content but also serve as partners in the creative process, crafting essays that resonate with individual voices and adhere to specific requirements. 

Daniel Parker

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

best chatgpt essays

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

Related Articles

How to Write a Cover Letter for Internship

How-To Geek

How to get chatgpt to write better fiction.

With ChatGPT, it's all about the prompts.

Quick Links

Chatgpt's fiction writing capabilities and limitations, understanding fiction writing, tips for improving chatgpt's fiction writing, techniques for enhancing chatgpt's writing style, using machine learning to fine-tune chatgpt's writing.

ChatGPT has increasingly been entering creative fields once thought impossible for an AI to succeed in---such as fiction writing. However, ChatGPT needs some help. It needs solid prompts, otherwise, its writing can be very generic.

As an AI, ChatGPT does not have any innate creativity. It cannot come up with original concepts on its own or use its imagination. It needs to be given specific requests (called prompts) in order to generate bodies of text.

Keep in mind that ChatGPT remembers what you said in earlier parts of a given conversation and that you can correct it with feedback. As for its limitations, the most important one for getting it to write fiction is that ChatGPT needs to use existing world information and prompts; it can't come up with anything original by itself.

We'll teach you how to get ChatGPT to generate more interesting content, how to enhance its style, and how machine learning works so that you can further experiment on your own.

However, first, we need to break down the most important elements of fiction writing and how ChatGPT uses these elements.

There's a lot that goes into creating an interesting and engaging story. This can make it quite tricky to generate useful prompts. That's why it's crucial to phrase your prompts properly to give ChatGPT the best possible chances of generating worthwhile text.

The sequence of events that make up the story. This includes the event that begins your tale, the factors that push the story and characters along a certain path, the climactic moment, the aftereffects of that climactic moment, and some sort of resolution.

ChatGPT has been trained through many texts---including fiction ones. When asked to generate fiction, it tries to replicate patterns found in existing works of fiction. It will always use the following to generate a plot:

  • Rising action
  • Falling action

Getting ChatGPT to write an outline for a fantasy western set on Mars.

ChatGPT sees these components as crucial parts of the plot equation. It never deviates from this formula unless specifically directed otherwise. Therefore, the quality and originality of the plot will depend on the quality and originality of the data it has been trained on and the input prompts given to it.

The beings involved in the story. These can be people, animals, or other kinds of beings. Each should have their own distinct personality, motivations, and conflicts. By having a dynamic cast of characters, a story becomes more entertaining and relatable.

To create characters, ChatGPT can analyze the prompts given to it and produce the main characters based on three main factors:

  • Character descriptions
  • Relationships

Once more, this AI model follows a specific formula for creating characters (albeit a simpler one than when generating a plotline). Do you see a pattern yet?

The time and place where the story occurs. It includes the physical environment, culture, historical context, and many more worldly components. The religions, myths, and legends of a setting's sapient races all fall into this category as well.

When coming up with a setting, ChatGPT uses the following components:

  • Time period

ChatGPT comes up with a setting called Erebus in Greece.

Due to a setting being much more physically defined than other essential elements of fiction writing, the AI model has an easier time coming up with tangible parts of the described world, such as noteworthy locations and the appearance of the landscape.

Perspective

The point of view from which the story is told. It can be first-person, second-person, or third-person. It's important not to swap between any of the aforementioned three unless you have a great reason. If you do, you may end up with confusing text that leaves the reader lost and frustrated.

ChatGPT tries to pick the perspective that it thinks is best for the prompt. However, this can backfire if you leave this element unspecified, which can result in ChatGPT mixing up perspective types. This ends in a narrative that's all over the place and confusing.

The reason why the AI model has such a hard time with perspective is that it cannot quantify perspective like it can with other fiction elements. It has no formula for generating a point of view.

The central messages or ideas of the story. These can be straightforward and easy to grasp, or obscure and shrouded in mystery. Depending on your goals, either explicit or implicit themes can make your story more interesting---sometimes even both in a unique mix.

ChatGPT will be broad with themes, as it judges the importance of potential ones based on the prompt given. This ties into the components it analyzes from existing works. For example, if you get it to generate a story about aliens, it will use humanity's innate fear of the unknown as a key theme.

Due to themes being story-specific, the AI model doesn't have a true formula for generating them; it picks themes synonymous with those found in known works of fiction. It basically just copies the themes from similar stories unless you specify otherwise.

The spoken or written words between characters. This is the avenue through which characters reveal their personalities, relationships, and conflicts. Not all stories necessarily need dialogue, but it's a great way to naturally incorporate important aspects of the characters. Furthermore, dialogue breaks up the prose in ways that result in better readability for most audiences.

ChatGPT uses traits of the characters in a story to generate dialogue between them. It also tries to keep a story's context in mind. Here are the factors it will consider when creating dialogue text:

  • Internal character traits (personalities, thoughts, and emotions)
  • External character traits (speech patterns, dialects, and colloquialisms)
  • Scene context

ChatGPT writes a dialogue scene for characters from the Wreck-It Ralph universe.

The AI model will try to advance the plot through dialogue as well as reveal character motivations. Keep in mind that it can be a bit on the nose and clumsy with such story components, so you'll need to insert some subtlety via your prompt.

The author's writing style. This includes word choice, tone, and the use of literary devices. It contributes to the overall mood and atmosphere of the story. An author's life, upbringing, moral values, and more contribute to their writing style. However, don't expect ChatGPT to perfectly emulate a famous writer.

When coming up with a style through which to tell a story , ChatGPT will use the following components:

  • Mood (how readers should feel about the subject of a scene)
  • Tone (how the characters act and feel in regard to the subject of a scene)
  • Story genre

ChatGPT writing a generic story due to a too-simple prompt.

Since an AI model can only work with what it's given via details in your prompts, you need to refine them by making sure you speak ChatGPT's language.

Providing Context and Backstory

You can provide context in your prompts by including details about the setting; what the characters are seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching. Mentioning what your characters should be physically experiencing lets ChatGPT learn what the world is like without you literally mentioning everything in a location.

Incorporating flashbacks can be a solid way to reveal a backstory in a direct manner. When you tell ChatGPT to do this in a prompt, it will provide more depth and understanding of your story.

There are sometimes important story components that you can't bring up directly. As such, using a bit of exposition can close unnecessary gaps in your world-building. However, you want to use exposition sparingly, as too much can result in boring text. Give ChatGPT a parameter for how much exposition to include so that it doesn't get carried away. For example, include "Use two sentences of exposition" in your prompt for a scene.

Building a Solid Plot Structure

Start by giving clear goals for a plot's concept. Mention the genre, the main characters, and the central conflict or problem so that ChatGPT understands what you're trying to achieve with your story.

Outline the major plot points in the story. Specifically, include the inciting incident, the rising action, the climax, and the resolution in your prompt. This is pretty much the exact formula that ChatGPT is looking for in order to answer your plot equation.

Provide clear character goals and motivations. ChatGPT needs to understand the goals and motivations of the characters in the story to build a solid plot structure. Otherwise, the story may come out feeling like it lacks a direction or that the plot isn't progressing as it should.

Consider breaking down your story into three, four, or five acts. Segmenting the story and then giving it to ChatGPT via a prompt can keep things organized and balanced in terms of pacing and structure. You don't want a story with an elongated beginning and short end---or similar imbalances.

ChatGPT creating a three-act structure for a goofy story.

Developing Compelling Characters

Give ChatGPT detailed descriptions of your characters, including their physical appearance, personality traits, and personal backstory. This will help the AI model generate more nuanced and complex characters.

While mentioning a character's goals and motivations is crucial for the plot, it's equally important for developing the character themself. Guiding ChatGPT's output in this regard will help your characters become more relatable.

You can also use individual character prompts to ask ChatGPT to generate a character's backstory, a monologue from a character's perspective, or a conversation between two characters.

Related: How to Create ChatGPT Personas for Every Occasion

Crafting Engaging Dialogue

Each character should have a distinct voice, with unique speech patterns, vocabulary, and tone. Provide ChatGPT with clear character descriptions and sample dialogue to guide its output.

Avoid using overly formal language. Instead, focus on creating dialogue that sounds like something real people would say. Try to emulate a conversation you've had recently to practice coming up with good dialogue prompts.

Dialogue should be grounded in the context of the story. Provide ChatGPT with clear descriptions of the setting, the characters' relationships, and the current situation to help it generate dialogue that is appropriate for the scene.

ChatGPT coming up with an overly formal response due to a prompt that's too broad.

Furthermore, dialogue is often more engaging when there is an underlying subtext. This can be achieved through the use of indirect language, sarcasm, or implication. People also lie a lot, so throw some of those into your character conversations as well for added realism.

In addition to getting ChatGPT to generate more interesting text, you'll want to improve the style of such text. This is different than coming up with an initial style for ChatGPT with which to write fiction.

We briefly went over how to do so, but now we're going to go into more specific details on how to accomplish style improvements.

Using Descriptive Language

Give ChatGPT detailed descriptions of the setting, characters, and objects in the story. Mention physical aspects of the landscape, the appearance of characters, and why particular objects are important.

Employing Figurative Language

Figurative language refers to metaphors, similes, and allusions. Such writing techniques are more subtle ways of getting across the importance of subjects, themes, and more.

ChatGPT writing a scene full of metaphors, similes, and allusions.

Despite not being quantitative in nature, ChatGPT has a solid understanding of these techniques due to there being plenty of examples of them in existing works. Remember that this AI model learns from what humans tell it as well as what it has learned from available information about fiction writing.

Incorporating Sensory Details

Encourage ChatGPT to include sensory details, such as sights, smells, sounds, and textures, to help bring the scene to life. People are sensory beings; we perceive the world around us through what our senses tell us about our surroundings. As such, readers will become more immersed in the story if you tell ChatGPT to include such details.

Varying Sentence Structure

You want to have varying sentence structures for multiple reasons. Firstly, it makes the text more interesting to readers. On top of that, the length of a sentence can help emphasize points or explain concepts in greater depth.

Shorter sentences---including sentence fragments---can make a simple point resonate in a reader's mind. This can be done through both dialogue and prose. Conversely, longer and more complex sentences let you explore a point in better detail and allow readers to gain a better understanding of what you're trying to say.

Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence that enables computers to learn from data and determine things without being directly programmed to do so. Put simply, machine learning involves the use of algorithms to analyze large datasets, identify patterns and relationships, and make predictions or decisions based on that analysis.

How Machine Learning Works

The first step in machine learning is to collect and organize data. In regards to fiction writing, ChatGPT looks at the vast volumes of existing written works---as we've mentioned a few times before in this article.

We're stressing this point because you need to always remember that ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence that cannot do things on its own. Keeping this in mind will prevent you from getting frustrated when ChatGPT doesn't give you the results you want.

A user getting angry and giving ChatGPT negative feedback.

Once the data is collected, it must be cleaned and preprocessed to ensure that it is in a usable format. This might involve removing irrelevant or duplicate data points, standardizing the data, and more.

After the data is preprocessed, it can be used to train a machine learning algorithm. During the training phase, the algorithm analyzes the data to identify patterns and relationships. This is done by adjusting the algorithm's parameters until it can accurately predict or classify data based on the patterns it has identified. With that said, due to the amount of misinformation out there, ChatGPT is prone to sometimes generating inaccurate information---so always be wary and do your research.

Following the training process, the AI model must be tested to ensure that it can accurately predict or classify new data. This is typically done by using original data to evaluate the algorithm's performance.

Lastly, once the algorithm has been trained and tested, it can be deployed to make predictions or decisions based on new data. When getting ChatGPT to write fiction, this last part comes about when you give it prompts.

How You Can Use Machine Learning to Enhance ChatGPT's Fiction Writing

As the AI model receives feedback and is exposed to more examples of good writing, it can learn to refine its output and generate more engaging and compelling stories.

Make sure you regularly give ChatGPT feedback so that it has a chance to learn what you want from it. If you don't, you're unlikely to get the results you want. ChatGPT can only improve if you help it. It cannot make improvements on its own.

Examples of Machine Learning Techniques for Improving ChatGPT's Fiction Writing

You can fine-tune ChatGPT's writing techniques by training it on a specific task. Get it to generate stories from a specific genre, like high fantasy or cosmic horror, and then give it feedback about what you liked and didn't like regarding what it generated.

For example, if the high fantasy text it created didn't have enough magic, give the AI model feedback like "include more magic spells" or "put more wizards and witches in the story."

This can be done with all aspects of a story; not just the genre-related points. Use this method for the choice of words, theme implementation, character personalities, and more.

Here's a summary of the main points we explored in this article:

  • Remember ChatGPT's capabilities and limitations
  • Understand how ChatGPT uses fiction writing elements to generate text (plot, setting, etc.)
  • Improve ChatGPT's content by giving it solid prompts to work off
  • Enhance ChatGPT's writing style by giving it specific feedback
  • Use machine learning techniques to help you get what you want out of the AI model

The old adage "practice makes perfect" is as true here as it always is. You'll need to experiment a lot to get a suitable product from ChatGPT. It's always learning and improving---therefore you should as well---not just by coming up with good prompts, but also by deepening your understanding of fiction writing. Keep reading stories from other authors and practice writing without ChatGPT.

The most important takeaway here is that AI models are a tool to help you improve; you shouldn't expect them to do all the work for you.

Related: ChatGPT: How to Use the AI Chatbot for Free

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

I've tested dozens of AI chatbots since ChatGPT's debut. Here's my new top pick

screenshot-2024-03-27-at-4-28-37pm.png

Since the launch of ChatGPT , AI chatbots have been all of the rage because of their ability to do a wide range of tasks that can help you with your personal and work life. At your command, AI chatbots can write code , compose emails, draft a report,  generate art ,  write Excel formulas , and much more. 

ChatGPT  achieved worldwide recognition , motivating competitors to create their own versions. As a result, there are many options on the market with different strengths, use cases, difficulty levels, and other nuances.

Also: I was a Copilot diehard until ChatGPT added these 5 features

For the last year and a half, I have taken a deep dive into AI and have tested as many AI tools as possible -- including dozens of AI chatbots. Using my findings and those of other ZDNET AI experts, I have created a list of the best AI chatbots on the market. 

The list details everything you need to know before choosing your next AI assistant, including what it's best for, pros, cons, cost, its large language model (LLM), and more. Whether you are entirely new to AI chatbots or a regular user, this list should help you discover a new option you haven't tried before. 

Also:  The best AI image generators

What is the best AI chatbot right now?

In May 2024, OpenAI supercharged the free version of ChatGPT, solving its biggest pain points and lapping other AI chatbots on the market. For that reason, ChatGPT moved to the top of the list, making it the best AI chatbot available now. Keep reading to discover why and how it compares to others like Copilot, You.com, Perplexity, and more. 

The best AI chatbots of 2024

Best ai chatbot overall.

  • Writing skills
  • STEM knowledge
  • Conversational
  • Limits to GPT-4o
  • Boots free users down to GPT 3.5 when at capacity

ChatGPT is a conversational AI chatbot  released in November 2022 by OpenAI that has been massively successful because of its advanced capabilities. It can perform writing tasks well, including composing emails, essays, poems, grocery lists, and letters, in addition to STEM tasks like  writing  and  debugging code  and solving complex math equations. 

Copilot outperformed earlier versions of ChatGPT because it addressed some of ChatGPT's biggest pain points, such as having no access to the internet and a January 2022 knowledge cutoff. 

However, in May 2024, OpenAI supercharged its AI chatbot, solving all those problems and giving it some of the most competitive features on the market -- primarily its latest LLM GPT-4o, which gives the chatbot web browsing, vision, data analysis, file uploads, and GPTs. 

Many of the aforementioned features were limited to ChatGPT Plus , the chatbot's subscription tier, making the recent update a huge win for free users. 

Also: OpenAI just gave free ChatGPT users browsing, data analysis, and more

Getting started with ChatGPT is easier than ever since OpenAI stopped requiring users to log in  -- now, you can start chatting with ChatGPT simply by visiting its website. However, if you want to access the advanced features, you must sign in, and creating a free account is easy. 

ChatGPT features:  Uses OpenAI's GPT-4o or GPT-3.5 when at capacity | Can generate text, solve math problems, and code | Impressive conversation capabilities | Free to the public 

Microsoft Copilot

Best chatgpt alternative.

  • Access to the internet
  • Links back to sources
  • Uses OpenAI's LLM
  • Grounded in Bing
  • Conversation limits

In February 2023, Microsoft unveiled a new AI-improved Bing, now known as Copilot. It runs on GPT-4 Turbo, which means that Copilot has the same intelligence as ChatGPT, which runs on GPT-4o. 

The only major difference between these two LLMs is the "o" in GPT-4o, which refers to ChatGPT's advanced multimodal capabilities. These allow it to understand text, audio, image, and video inputs, as well as output text, audio, and images.

Also: What is Copilot (formerly Bing Chat)? Here's everything you need to know

Besides that, Copilot already had most of the features the free version of ChatGPT gained in the latest update, including access to current events, attribution (or linking to the sources it retrieved from), browsing the internet, uploading images and documents, generating images, and more. 

For that reason, Copilot is the best ChatGPT alternative, as it has almost all the same benefits. Copilot is free to use, and getting started is as easy as visiting the Copilot standalone website. It also has an app and is accessible via Bing. 

Copilot f eatures:  OpenAI GPT-4 Turbo | Has access to the internet | Works like a search engine with information on current events | Free

Anthrophic's Claude

Best ai chatbot for image interpretation.

  • Upload document support
  • Chat controls
  • Light and dark mode
  • Unclear usage cap
  • Knowledge cutoff

Anthropic launched its first AI assistant, Claude, in February 2023. Like the other leading competitors, Anthropic can conversationally answer prompts for anything you need assistance with, including coding, math, writing, research, and more. 

Also: This free tool from Anthropic helps you create better AI prompts

I think the biggest advantage of this chatbot is its visual assistance. Even though ChatGPT can accept image and document inputs, I noticed that Claude can assist with interpreting images in a much faster manner. 

For example, you can submit an image of handwritten notes and have them transcribed, which could be especially useful for students who write down their notes but also want to save them digitally. Similarly, it can extract text from images and convert them into any file type you want, such as a JSON file, which can be useful for web designers. 

It can also accept document uploads to help read, analyze, and summarize files. To upload a file, click on the paper clip icon next to the text box and click on the document you want to upload. Then, conversationally ask for what you want help with, whether it's summarizing the document or clarifying specific topics covered in it. 

Also: Anthropic brings Tool Use for Claude out of beta, promising sophisticated assistants

Claude is in free open beta and, as a result, has both context window and daily message limits that can vary based on demand. If you want to use the chatbot regularly, upgrading to Claude Pro may be a better option, as it offers at least five times the usage limits compared to the free version for $20 a month. 

Claude features:   Powered by Claude 3 model family | Accepts document uploads | Trained with information up to 2023 | Free

Perplexity.ai

Best ai chatbot for search.

  • Links to sources
  • Access to internet
  • Paid subscription required for GPT-4 access
  • some irrelevant suggestions

Perplexity AI is a free AI chatbot connected to the internet that provides sources and has an enjoyable UI. As soon as you visit the site , using the chatbot is straightforward -- just type your prompt into the "ask anything" box to get started. 

A title above the textbox reads, "Where knowledge begins," and it could not be more fitting. 

Also: 5 reasons why I prefer Perplexity over every other AI chatbot

When you click on the textbox, the tool offers a series of suggested prompts, mostly rooted in news. The chatbot also displays suggested prompts on evergreen topics underneath the box. All you have to do is click on the suggestions to learn more about the topic and chat about it. Additionally, Perplexity provides related topic questions you can click on to keep the conversation going. 

These extensive prompts make Perplexity a great chatbot for exploring topics that you wouldn't have thought of before, encouraging discovery and experimentation. I explored some random topics, including the history of birthday cakes, and I enjoyed every second. 

Also: This new Perplexity AI feature can create reports for you from a single prompt

Other perks include an app for iOS and Android, allowing you to tinker with the chatbot while you're on the go. Footnotes are provided after every answer with sources you can visit, and the chatbot's answers nearly always include photos and graphics.

Perplexity AI features:  OpenAI GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 for subscribers | Has access to the internet and current events | Provides prompt suggestions to get chats started | Free 

Best AI chatbot for businesses and marketers

  • 50 different writing templates
  • Copyediting features
  • Plagiarism checker
  • Need a subscription to try

Jasper is specifically for users looking to incorporate an AI chatbot into their workflow -- there is no free plan, and you can't even access the chatbot otherwise. For example, when I tried using it myself, I was met with dead ends unless I subscribed. The least expensive option, the Creator plan, is geared towards freelancers and solo-preneurs and is $39 a month. However, the investment may be worth it if you rely on an AI chatbot to generate copy for your business. 

Also: The best AI search engines of 2024: Google, Perplexity, and more

With Jasper, you can input a prompt for what you want written, and it will write it for you, just like ChatGPT would. The major difference is that Jasper offers extensive tools to produce better copy. It can check for grammar and plagiarism and write in over 50 templates, including blog posts, Twitter threads, video scripts, and more. It also offers SEO insights and can even remember your brand voice. 

Whether you are an individual, part of a smaller team, or in a larger business looking to optimize your workflow, you can access a trial or demo before you take the plunge.

Jasper features:  Uses different LLMs, including GPT-4 | Summarizes texts and generates paragraphs and product descriptions | Checks for plagiarism and grammar | Starts at $39 per month with an annual subscription

Best AI chatbot for LLM testing

  • Readily available
  • Source Citing
  • Some answers stronger than others
  • Subscription required for GPT-4 access

You.com (previously known as YouChat) is an AI assistant that functions similarly to a search engine. Like Google, you can enter any question or topic you'd like to learn more about, and immediately be met with real-time web results, in addition to a conversational response.  

Also: YouPro lets me access every popular premium AI chatbot for $20/month - but there's a catch

For example, when I asked, "Can you share some pictures of adorable dog breeds?" the chatbot provided six different web links, seven different pictures it pulled from the web, a conversational answer, and related news.

The chatbot can also provide technical assistance, with answers to anything you input, including math, coding, translating, and writing prompts. Because You.com isn't as popular as other chatbots, a huge plus is that you can hop on any time and ask away without delays.

One of the biggest standout features is that with YouPro, its premium subscription, you can toggle between the most popular AI models on the market using the Custom Model Selector.

The AI models included in Custom Model Selector include OpenAI's GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo; Anthropic's Claude Instant, Claude 2, Claude 3 Opus, Clause 3 Sonnet, and Claude 3 Haiku; Google's Gemini Pro; and Zephyr (uncensored).  

That means that, within one chatbot, you can experience some of the most advanced models on the market, which is pretty convenient if you ask me.  

You.com features:  GPT-4 with subscription | Lists sources for the text it generates | Unlike most other Chatbots, uses Google sources | Free

Chatsonic by Writesonic

Best ai chatbot for article writers.

  • Variety of use cases
  • Need to sign in
  • A bit of a lag

Chatsonic is a dependable AI chatbot. It functions much like ChatGPT, allowing users to input prompts for assistance on many tasks. 

The Writesonic platform offers tools that help generate stories, including Instant Article Writer, which creates an article from a single click; Article Rewriter, which rephrases existing content; and Article Writer 5, which generates articles using ranking competitors. 

Other tools that facilitate the creation of articles include SEO Checker and Optimizer, AI Editor, Content Rephraser, Paragraph Writer, and more. There is a free version, which gets you access to some of the features, but is limited to 25 generations per day limit. The monthly cost starts at $12 but can reach $79, depending on the number of words and users you need.

Chatsonic features:  Powered by GPT-3.5 or GPT-4 depending on subscription | Aware of current events, whereas ChatGPT is trained up to 2021 | Extensive feature suite, including voice dictation and image generation | Starts at $12 per month

Gemini (formerly Google Bard)

Best ai chatbot if you're a loyal google user.

  • Access to Google
  • Good text editing skills
  • Can't help much with code

Gemini is Google's conversational AI chatbot that functions most similarly to Copilot, sourcing its answers from the web, providing footnotes, and even generating images within its chatbot. Since its initial release in March 2023, the chatbot has undergone several upgrades, with the latest version being the most optimized it has ever been. 

Also: What is Google's Gemini AI tool (formerly Bard)? Everything you need to know

The highlight of this chatbot is that it is rooted in Google technology, search engines, and applications. The chatbot's UI and offerings will feel familiar to loyal Google users. For example, unlike most of the chatbots on this list, Google does not use an LLM in the GPT series but instead uses a model made by Google. 

"Gemini is slowly becoming a full Google experience thanks to Extensions folding the wide range of Google applications into Gemini," said ZDNET writer Maria Diaz when reviewing the chatbot. "Gemini users can add extensions for Google Workspace, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Flights, and Google Hotels, giving them a more personalized and extensive experience."

If you subscribe to Google's new 'AI Premium Plan' , you not only get access to the most advanced Google models in Gemini, such as Gemini 1.5 Pro , but you also get access to Gemini for Workspace, previously known as  Duet AI,  which infuses Google's AI assistance throughout its productivity apps, including Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet.

Gemini features:  Powered by Gemini 1.0 Pro | Includes a "Google it" feature | Generates clear text and images quickly | Free 

Socratic by Google

Best ai chatbot for kids and students.

  • Educational
  • Easy to use
  • Doesn't write text
  • No desktop version

If you want your child to use AI to lighten their workload, but within some limits, Socratic is for you. With Socratic, children can type in any question about what they learn in school. The tool will then generate a conversational, human-like response with fun, unique graphics to help break down the concept. 

"It's a powerful studying tool that could help students double-check their homework, or get across the last hurdle if a question or formula just isn't making sense. And using the app is as easy as using  Snapchat  or talking to Siri," said former ZDNET contributor Jason Cipriani in his review of the app. 

Also: How Google Socratic can help you with your homework

The app, available on the App Store and the Google App Store, also has a feature that lets your kid scan their worksheet to get a specially curated answer. The app does have some limitations; for example, it will not just write an essay or story when prompted. However, this feature could be positive because it curbs your child's temptation to get a chatbot, like ChatGPT, to write their essay. 

Socratic features:  From Google | Type in any question to generate a response | Includes fun graphics | Supports scanning worksheets to get a specially curated answer | Free

HuggingChat

Best open-source chatbot.

  • Cutomizable
  • Intermediate/advanced skills requires
  • Required to create an account

While there are evidently plenty of great options on the market, if you need a chatbot that serves your specific use case, you can always build a new one that's entirely customizable. HuggingChat is an open-source chatbot developed by Hugging Face that can be used as a regular chatbot or customized for your needs.  

Also :  Want to build your own AI chatbot? Say hello to open-source HuggingChat

As ZDNET's David Gewirtz unpacked in his hands-on article , you may not want to depend on HuggingChat as your go-to primary chatbot. However, it is a good interface to build your own chatbot. 

As Gewirtz said: "If you want something that you control, you can use HuggingChat to build a chatbot where you have visibility into every aspect of its functioning. You can choose to make that chatbot available online to other users and provide transparency to all users."

Socratic features:  Clean, Chat-GPT inspired interface | Entirely customizable | Great for developers or AI fanatics | Secure alternative | Free

What is the best AI chatbot?

The best overall AI chatbot is ChatGPT due to its exceptional performance, made possible by its upgrade to OpenAI's cutting-edge GPT-4o language model, which makes it proficient in various language tasks like writing, summarization, coding, multimodality, translation, and conversation. The model also gives it access to current events.

Another advantage of the upgraded ChatGPT is its availability to the public at no cost. Despite its immense popularity and major upgrade, ChatGPT remains free, making it an incredible resource for students, writers, and professionals who need a reliable AI chatbot. 

Best AI chatbots

Price

Language model

Current events capability

Key features

ChatGPT

Free

OpenAI's GPT-4o (GPT-3.5 when at capacity) 

Up-to-date on current events; has access to the internet

Can generate text, solve math problems, and do coding. Offers conversational capabilities.

Copilot

Free

OpenAI's GPT-4 Turbo

Up-to-date on current events; has access to the internet

Works like a search engine with information on current events.

Claude

Free

Claude 3

Limited current events capability

Users can upload documents such as PDFs to receive summaries and get questions answered.

Perplexity.ai

Free

OpenAI's GPT-3 and GPT-4 (for subscribers)

Up-to-date on current events; has access to the internet

Can provide prompt suggestions based on current events.

Jasper

Starts at $39/month

Uses different LLMs, including GPT-4

Focuses on written text; has copy-editing features and plagiarism checker

Can summarize texts and generate paragraphs and product descriptions. Has over 50 different writing templates including blog posts, Twitter threads, and video scripts.

You.com

Free

OpenAI's GPT-4 with subscription

Up-to-date on current events; has access to the internet

Outputs an answer to anything you input including math, coding, translating, and writing prompts. Lists sources for the text it generates.

Chatsonic

Starts at $12/month

Powered by GPT-3.5. or GPT-4, depending on subscription

Up-to-date on current events; has access to the internet

Offers voice dictation, AI image generation, and more.

Gemini (formerly Google Bard)

Free 

From Google

Up-to-date on current events; has access to the internet via Google

Can provide relevant and useful writing assistance.

Socratic 

Free

From Google

Kid-friendly; can help with homework 

Children can type in any question and Socratic will generate a conversational, human-like response with fun unique graphics.

HuggingChat

Free

HuggingFace

Can have access to the Internet if you'd like to 

You can build your own chatbot using HuggingChat that suits your needs

Which AI chatbot is right for you?

While I think ChatGPT is the best AI chatbot, your use case may be hyper-specific or have certain demands. If you want an AI chatbot that produces clean, reliable, business-ready copy, for example, then Jasper is for you. If you want a chatbot that acts more like a search engine, Perplexity may be for you. Lastly, if there is a child in your life, Socratic might be worth checking out. 

See our breakdown below:

Use this AI chatbot 

If you want...

ChatGPT

The best AI chatbot overall and a wide range of capabilities beyond writing, including coding, conversation, and math equations. 

Copilot

An AI chatbot with up-to-date information on current events, links back to sources, and that is free and easy to use.

Claude

The best AI chatbot if you want assistance understanding and summarizing your images and documents.

Perplexity.ai

An AI chatbot that combines the best of AI chatbots and search engines to offer users an optimized hybrid experience. 

Jasper 

An AI chatbot that offers more than 50 different writing templates, copyediting features, and a plagiarism checker making it an investment worth the monthly cost.

You.com

An AI chatbot with the most advanced large language models (LLMs) available in one place for easy experimentation and access.  

Chatsonic

An AI chatbot that can write articles for you with its ability to offer up-to-date news and stories about current events.

Gemini 

An AI chatbot infused with the Google experience you know and love, from its LLM to its UI. 

Socratic by Google 

The best AI chatbot for helping children understand concepts they are learning in school with educational, fun graphics. 

HuggingChat

An AI chatbot that's best for building or exploring how to build your very own chatbot. 

Factors to consider when choosing a chatbot

Since there are so many chatbots on the market, picking the right one can get confusing. Some factors to consider to help narrow down those options are: 

  • Large Language Model (LLM) 
  • Knowledge cutoff 
  • Access to the internet 
  • Linking to sources 
  • Best use cases 

How did I choose these AI chatbots?

To curate the list of best AI chatbots and AI writers, I considered the capabilities of each program, including the individual uses each program would excel at. As an AI reporter, I was also sure to test each one myself. Other factors I looked at were reliability, availability, and cost. 

  • Individual use case: AI chatbots have many use cases, often centered around productivity and ease of workflow. I included a variety that can serve as ideation, education, and content creation tools. 
  • Reliability: I kept information accuracy a priority during my testing. 
  • Availability : ChatGPT is popular, but not always available. I selected alternatives that don't have a user limit and are available at all times. 
  • Cost: Many of these AI programs are free, but some require monthly memberships. I included a mix of both, keeping budget-friendliness in mind. 

What is an AI chatbot?

An AI chatbot (also called an AI writer) refers to a type of AI-powered program capable of generating written content from a user's input prompt. AI chatbots can write anything from a rap song to an essay upon a user's request. The extent of what each chatbot can write about depends on its capabilities, including whether it is connected to a search engine. 

How do AI chatbots work?

AI chatbots use LLMs to train the AI to produce human-like responses. Some tools are connected to the web and that capability provides up-to-date information, while others depend solely on the information upon which they were trained. 

How much do AI chatbots cost?

AI chatbot programs vary in cost -- some are entirely free, while others cost as much as $600 a month. Many like ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and YouChat are free to use. 

What is the difference between an AI chatbot and an AI writer?

The main difference between an AI chatbot and an AI writer is the type of output they generate and their primary function.

In the past, an AI writer was used specifically to generate written content, such as articles, stories, or poetry, based on a given prompt or input. An AI writer outputs text that mimics human-like language and structure. On the other hand, an AI chatbot is designed to conduct real-time conversations with users in text or voice-based interactions. The primary function of an AI chatbot is to answer questions, provide recommendations, or even perform simple tasks, and its output is in the form of text-based conversations.

While the terms AI chatbot and AI writer are now used interchangeably by some, the original distinction was that an AI writer was used for generating static written content, while an AI chatbot was used for conversational purposes. However, with the introduction of more advanced AI technology, such as ChatGPT, the line between the two has become increasingly blurred. Many AI chatbots are now capable of generating text-based responses that mimic human-like language and structure, similar to an AI writer.

Read more about the best tools for your business and the right tools when building your business .

Artificial Intelligence

Chatgpt vs. copilot: which ai chatbot is better for you, the 10 best chatgpt plugins of 2023 (and how to make the most of them), i was a copilot diehard until chatgpt added these 5 features.

ChatGPT essays and more: How teachers and schools are dealing with AI writing

various educational images flying into outerspace from a Macbook

With the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT back in December , AI-generated plagiarism has become a cause for concern in academia as teachers and school boards across the country grapple with whether to take caution or embrace the potential of AI writing tools.

Teachers are both concerned and excited because ChatGPT and other chatbots can generate writing on any subject in almost any format. Want a sonnet in the same style as Shakespeare, maybe a limerick while you're at it? How about a 500-word English paper on the thematic meaning of blue curtains in The Great Gatsby ? You can even have tools like Quillbot paraphrase the essays ChatGPT gives you so it doesn't look too obvious.

No one is under the illusion that ChatGPT can write valedictorian-caliber essays, but as Mashable's Mike Pearl writes , "ChatGPT knows just enough to be dangerous."

Outside the narrow topic of school essays, some teachers are excited about the potential of AI writing to enhance learning experiences, while others are hesitant to incorporate them into the classroom. Here's a look at how teachers and schools across the country and on the internet are dealing with ChatGPT:

New York City blocks the use of the ChatGPT bot in its schools

In what appears to be the first policy against the use of AI bots in schools, the New York City Department of Education banned the use of ChatGPT by students and teachers on district networks and devices. According to the report by The Washington Post , it has not been made clear if the use of ChatGPT outside of school is forbidden or not.

“While the tool may be able to provide quick and easy answers to questions, it does not build critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for academic and lifelong success,” said Jenna Lyle, a spokesperson for the New York City Department of Education, in a statement to The Washington Post .

The NYCDOE is the first to take action, and many other states and school districts are still deciding their ChatGPT policies. However, at some schools, the teachers themselves have taken preventative measures for their classes in lieu of any official decision from the district.

In a report from the San Francisco Standard , teachers at Oceana High School in Pacifica, California have sent out messages to students warning against using AI-writing software for assignments. Some teachers, like Andrew Bader, told the Standard that they may require students to turn in "hand-written or multimedia assignments that students can’t copy-and-paste from AI."

To stop plagiarism, some sites have created tools to recognize AI writing like writer.com 's AI-content detector or the anti-ChatGPT tool, GPTZero.

Tweet may have been deleted

And for what it's worth, OpenAI itself says it's working on a way to digitally " watermark " its text outputs, which means making sure the text has signs of being AI-generated that a robot can spot, but a human can't.

Embracing potential

Teachers across the internet, but particularly on TikTok, are mixed in their support for or opposition to ChatGPT. For some educators, the chatbot helps to make their job easier by creating lesson plans and material for their students. As Dan Lewer comments on one of his TikTok videos , "Notice how my suggestions help teachers do their jobs better, not do their job for them. Bots cannot replace good teachers. Yet. 👍"

Another teacher on TikTok, Tyler Tarver, shared with his followers his opinion that ChatGPT "allows you to support and engage every student regardless of their ability level." To illustrate this point, Tarver used AI to create part of the script for the very video he was making. It's worth noting that Tarver said in another TikTok post that "Kids can just tell it what they want it to do [like] Write a 500-word essay on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ." But in his endorsement of ChatGPT, he focuses much more on the chatbot's potential power as a classroom tool. He notes that it can do things like generate lesson materials for teachers, and function as a discussion aid for students.

There's no consensus in these videos — with teachers expressing both optimism and hesitation regarding how content generation AI will forever change the classroom. Judging from the reaction on TikTok, teachers on the app see ChatGPT as a tool to be treated the same way calculators and cell phones are used in class — as resources to help students succeed but not do the work for them.

Ultimately, the decision to use AI writing tools in the classroom is up to the individual teachers, and the needs of their students.

Topics Artificial Intelligence

Headshot of a Black man

Currently residing in Austin, Texas, Chance Townsend is an Assistant Editor at Mashable covering tech, entertainment, dating apps, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is the proud father of one orange cat.

In his free time, he cooks, loves to sleep, and "enjoys" watching the Lions and Pistons break his heart weekly. If you have any stories, tips, recipes, or wanna talk shop about Detroit sports you can reach him at [email protected]

chatgpt mobile app icon on a smartphone screen

  • Artificial intelligence

The potential of AI technology has been percolating in the background for years. But when ChatGPT, the AI chatbot, began grabbing headlines in early 2023, it put generative AI in the spotlight. This guide is your go-to manual for generative AI, covering its benefits, limits, use cases, prospects and much more.

Amanda Hetler

  • Amanda Hetler, Senior Editor

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence ( AI ) chatbot that uses natural language processing to create humanlike conversational dialogue. The language model can respond to questions and compose various written content, including articles, social media posts, essays, code and emails.

Uses of natural language processing.

ChatGPT is a form of generative AI -- a tool that lets users enter prompts to receive humanlike images, text or videos that are created by AI.

ChatGPT is similar to the automated chat services found on customer service websites, as people can ask it questions or request clarification to ChatGPT's replies. The GPT stands for "Generative Pre-trained Transformer," which refers to how ChatGPT processes requests and formulates responses. ChatGPT is trained with reinforcement learning through human feedback and reward models that rank the best responses. This feedback helps augment ChatGPT with machine learning to improve future responses.

Who created ChatGPT?

OpenAI -- an artificial intelligence research company -- created ChatGPT and launched the tool in November 2022. It was founded by a group of entrepreneurs and researchers including Elon Musk and Sam Altman in 2015. OpenAI is backed by several investors, with Microsoft being the most notable. OpenAI also created Dall-E , an AI text-to-art generator.

How does ChatGPT work?

ChatGPT works through its Generative Pre-trained Transformer, which uses specialized algorithms to find patterns within data sequences. ChatGPT originally used the GPT-3 large language model, a neural network machine learning model and the third generation of Generative Pre-trained Transformer. The transformer pulls from a significant amount of data to formulate a response.

This article is part of

What is generative AI? Everything you need to know

  • Which also includes:
  • 8 top generative AI tool categories for 2024
  • Will AI replace jobs? 9 job types that might be affected
  • 19 of the best large language models in 2024

ChatGPT now uses the GPT-3.5 model that includes a fine-tuning process for its algorithm. ChatGPT Plus uses GPT-4 , which offers a faster response time and internet plugins. GPT-4 can also handle more complex tasks compared with previous models, such as describing photos, generating captions for images and creating more detailed responses up to 25,000 words.

ChatGPT uses deep learning , a subset of machine learning, to produce humanlike text through transformer neural networks . The transformer predicts text -- including the next word, sentence or paragraph -- based on its training data's typical sequence.

Training begins with generic data, then moves to more tailored data for a specific task. ChatGPT was trained with online text to learn the human language, and then it used transcripts to learn the basics of conversations.

Human trainers provide conversations and rank the responses. These reward models help determine the best answers. To keep training the chatbot, users can upvote or downvote its response by clicking on thumbs-up or thumbs-down icons beside the answer. Users can also provide additional written feedback to improve and fine-tune future dialogue.

What kinds of questions can users ask ChatGPT?

Users can ask ChatGPT a variety of questions, including simple or more complex questions, such as, "What is the meaning of life?" or "What year did New York become a state?" ChatGPT is proficient with STEM disciplines and can debug or write code. There is no limitation to the types of questions to ask ChatGPT. However, ChatGPT uses data up to the year 2021, so it has no knowledge of events and data past that year. And since it is a conversational chatbot, users can ask for more information or ask it to try again when generating text.

How are people using ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is versatile and can be used for more than human conversations. People have used ChatGPT to do the following:

  • Code computer programs and check for bugs in code.
  • Compose music.
  • Draft emails.
  • Summarize articles, podcasts or presentations.
  • Script social media posts.
  • Create titles for articles.
  • Solve math problems.
  • Discover keywords for search engine optimization .
  • Create articles, blog posts and quizzes for websites.
  • Reword existing content for a different medium, such as a presentation transcript for a blog post.
  • Formulate product descriptions.
  • Play games.
  • Assist with job searches, including writing resumes and cover letters.
  • Ask trivia questions.
  • Describe complex topics more simply.
  • Write video scripts.
  • Research markets for products.
  • Generate art.

Unlike other chatbots, ChatGPT can remember various questions to continue the conversation in a more fluid manner.

Screenshot of ChatGPT responding to a question.

What are the benefits of ChatGPT?

Businesses and users are still exploring the benefits of ChatGPT as the program continues to evolve. Some benefits include the following:

  • Efficiency. AI-powered chatbots can handle routine and repetitive tasks, which can free up employees to focus on more complex and strategic responsibilities.
  • Cost savings. Using AI chatbots can be more cost-effective than hiring and training additional employees.
  • Improved content quality. Writers can use ChatGPT to improve grammatical or contextual errors or to help brainstorm ideas for content. Employees can take ordinary text and ask to improve its language or add expressions.
  • Education and training. ChatGPT can help provide explanations on more complex topics to help serve as a virtual tutor. Users can also ask for guides and any needed clarification on responses.
  • Better response time. ChatGPT provides instant responses, which reduces wait times for users seeking assistance.
  • Increased availability. AI models are available around the clock to provide continuous support and assistance.
  • Multilingual support. ChatGPT can communicate in multiple languages or provide translations for businesses with global audiences.
  • Personalization. AI chatbots can tailor responses to the user's preferences and behaviors based on previous interactions.
  • Scalability. ChatGPT can handle many users simultaneously, which is beneficial for applications with high user engagement.
  • Natural language understanding. ChatGPT understands and generates humanlike text, so it is useful for tasks such as generating content, answering questions, engaging in conversations and providing explanations.
  • Digital accessibility. ChatGPT and other AI chatbots can assist individuals with disabilities by providing text-based interactions, which can be easier to navigate than other interfaces.

What are the limitations of ChatGPT? How accurate is it?

Some limitations of ChatGPT include the following:

  • It does not fully understand the complexity of human language. ChatGPT is trained to generate words based on input. Because of this, responses might seem shallow and lack true insight.
  • Lack of knowledge for data and events after 2021. The training data ends with 2021 content. ChatGPT can provide incorrect information based on the data from which it pulls. If ChatGPT does not fully understand the query, it might also provide an inaccurate response. ChatGPT is still being trained, so feedback is recommended when an answer is incorrect.
  • Responses can sound like a machine and unnatural. Since ChatGPT predicts the next word, it can overuse words such as the or and . Because of this, people still need to review and edit content to make it flow more naturally, like human writing.
  • It summarizes but does not cite sources. ChatGPT does not provide analysis or insight into any data or statistics. ChatGPT might provide statistics but no real commentary on what these statistics mean or how they relate to the topic.
  • It cannot understand sarcasm and irony. ChatGPT is based on a data set of text.
  • It might focus on the wrong part of a question and not be able to shift. For example, if you ask ChatGPT, "Does a horse make a good pet based on its size?" and then ask it, "What about a cat?" ChatGPT might focus solely on the size of the animal versus giving information about having the animal as a pet. ChatGPT is not divergent and cannot shift its answer to cover multiple questions in a single response.

Learn more about the pros and cons of AI-generated content .

What are the ethical concerns associated with ChatGPT?

While ChatGPT can be helpful for some tasks, there are some ethical concerns that depend on how it is used, including bias , lack of privacy and security, and cheating in education and work.

Plagiarism and deceitful use

ChatGPT can be used unethically in ways such as cheating, impersonation or spreading misinformation due to its humanlike capabilities. Educators have brought up concerns about students using ChatGPT to cheat, plagiarize and write papers. CNET made the news when it used ChatGPT to create articles that were filled with errors.

To help prevent cheating and plagiarizing, OpenAI announced an AI text classifier to distinguish between human- and AI-generated text. However, after six months of availability, OpenAI pulled the tool due to a "low rate of accuracy."

There are online tools, such as Copyleaks or Writing.com, to classify how likely it is that text was written by a person versus being AI-generated. OpenAI plans to add a watermark to longer text pieces to help identify AI-generated content.

Because ChatGPT can write code, it also presents a problem for cybersecurity. Threat actors can use ChatGPT to help create malware. An update addressed the issue of creating malware by stopping the request, but threat actors might find ways around OpenAI's safety protocol.

ChatGPT can also be used to impersonate a person by training it to copy someone's writing and language style. The chatbot could then impersonate a trusted person to collect sensitive information or spread disinformation .

Bias in training data

One of the biggest ethical concerns with ChatGPT is its bias in training data . If the data the model pulls from has any bias, it is reflected in the model's output. ChatGPT also does not understand language that might be offensive or discriminatory. The data needs to be reviewed to avoid perpetuating bias, but including diverse and representative material can help control bias for accurate results.

Replacing jobs and human interaction

As technology advances, ChatGPT might automate certain tasks that are typically completed by humans, such as data entry and processing, customer service, and translation support. People are worried that it could replace their jobs, so it's important to consider ChatGPT and AI's effect on workers.

Rather than replacing workers, ChatGPT can be used as support for job functions and creating new job opportunities to avoid loss of employment. For example, lawyers can use ChatGPT to create summaries of case notes and draft contracts or agreements. And copywriters can use ChatGPT for article outlines and headline ideas.

Privacy issues

ChatGPT uses text based on input, so it could potentially reveal sensitive information. The model's output can also track and profile individuals by collecting information from a prompt and associating this information with the user's phone number and email. The information is then stored indefinitely.

How can you access ChatGPT?

To access ChatGPT, create an OpenAI account. Go to chat.openai.com and then select "Sign Up" and enter an email address, or use a Google or Microsoft account to log in.

After signing up, type a prompt or question in the message box on the ChatGPT homepage. Users can then do the following:

  • Enter a different prompt for a new query or ask for clarification.
  • Regenerate the response.
  • Share the response.
  • Like or dislike the response with the thumbs-up or thumbs-down option.
  • Copy the response.

What to do if ChatGPT is at capacity

Even though ChatGPT can handle numerous users at a time, it reaches maximum capacity occasionally when there is an overload. This usually happens during peak hours, such as early in the morning or in the evening, depending on the time zone.

If it is at capacity, try using it at different times or hit refresh on the browser. Another option is to upgrade to ChatGPT Plus, which is a subscription, but is typically always available, even during high-demand periods.

Is ChatGPT free?

ChatGPT is available for free through OpenAI's website. Users need to register for a free OpenAI account. There is also an option to upgrade to ChatGPT Plus for access to GPT-4, faster responses, no blackout windows and unlimited availability. ChatGPT Plus also gives priority access to new features for a subscription rate of $20 per month.

Without a subscription, there are limitations. The most notable limitation of the free version is access to ChatGPT when the program is at capacity. The Plus membership gives unlimited access to avoid capacity blackouts.

What are the alternatives to ChatGPT?

Because of ChatGPT's popularity, it is often unavailable due to capacity issues. Google announced Bard in response to ChatGPT . Google Bard will draw information directly from the internet through a Google search to provide the latest information.

Microsoft added ChatGPT functionality to Bing, giving the internet search engine a chat mode for users. The ChatGPT functionality in Bing isn't as limited because its training is up to date and doesn't end with 2021 data and events.

There are other text generator alternatives to ChatGPT, including the following:

  • Article Forge.
  • DeepL Write.
  • Google Bard.
  • Magic Write.
  • Open Assistant.
  • Peppertype.
  • Perplexity AI.

Coding alternatives for ChatGPT include the following:

  • Amazon CodeWhisperer.
  • CodeStarter.
  • Ghostwriter.
  • GitHub Copilot.
  • Mutable.ai.
  • OpenAI Codex.

Learn more about various AI content generators .

ChatGPT updates

In August 2023, OpenAI  announced  an enterprise version of ChatGPT. The enterprise version offers the higher-speed GPT-4 model with a longer context window , customization options and data analysis. This model of ChatGPT does not share data outside the organization.

In September 2023, OpenAI announced a new update that allows ChatGPT to speak and recognize images. Users can upload pictures of what they have in their refrigerator and ChatGPT will provide ideas for dinner. Users can engage to get step-by-step recipes with ingredients they already have. People can also use ChatGPT to ask questions about photos -- such as landmarks -- and engage in conversation to learn facts and history.

Users can also use voice to engage with ChatGPT and speak to it like other voice assistants . People can have conversations to request stories, ask trivia questions or request jokes among other options.

The voice update will be available on apps for both iOS and Android. Users will just need to opt-in to use it in their settings. Images will be available on all platforms -- including apps and ChatGPT’s website.

In November 2023, OpenAI announced the rollout of GPTs, which let users customize their own version of ChatGPT for a specific use case. For example, a user could create a GPT that only scripts social media posts, checks for bugs in code, or formulates product descriptions. The user can input instructions and knowledge files in the GPT builder to give the custom GPT context. OpenAI also announced the GPT store, which will let users share and monetize their custom bots.

In December 2023, OpenAI partnered with Axel Springer to train its AI models on news reporting. ChatGPT users will see summaries of news stories from Bild and Welt, Business Insider and Politico as part of this deal. This agreement gives ChatGPT more current information in its chatbot answers and gives users another way to access news stories. OpenAI also announced an agreement with the Associated Press to use the news reporting archive for chatbot responses.

Continue Reading About ChatGPT

  • 12 key benefits of AI for business
  • GitHub Copilot vs. ChatGPT: How do they compare?
  • Exploring GPT-3 architecture
  • How to detect AI-generated content
  • ChatGPT vs. GPT: How are they different?

Related Terms

NBASE-T Ethernet is an IEEE standard and Ethernet-signaling technology that enables existing twisted-pair copper cabling to ...

SD-WAN security refers to the practices, protocols and technologies protecting data and resources transmitted across ...

Net neutrality is the concept of an open, equal internet for everyone, regardless of content consumed or the device, application ...

A proof of concept (PoC) exploit is a nonharmful attack against a computer or network. PoC exploits are not meant to cause harm, ...

A virtual firewall is a firewall device or service that provides network traffic filtering and monitoring for virtual machines (...

Cloud penetration testing is a tactic an organization uses to assess its cloud security effectiveness by attempting to evade its ...

Regulation SCI (Regulation Systems Compliance and Integrity) is a set of rules adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange ...

Strategic management is the ongoing planning, monitoring, analysis and assessment of all necessities an organization needs to ...

IT budget is the amount of money spent on an organization's information technology systems and services. It includes compensation...

ADP Mobile Solutions is a self-service mobile app that enables employees to access work records such as pay, schedules, timecards...

Director of employee engagement is one of the job titles for a human resources (HR) manager who is responsible for an ...

Digital HR is the digital transformation of HR services and processes through the use of social, mobile, analytics and cloud (...

Customer retention is a metric that measures customer loyalty, or an organization's ability to retain customers over time.

A virtual agent -- sometimes called an intelligent virtual agent (IVA) -- is a software program or cloud service that uses ...

A chatbot is a software or computer program that simulates human conversation or "chatter" through text or voice interactions.

  • Share full article

Advertisement

Subscriber-only Newsletter

On Tech: A.I.

Applying to college here’s how a.i. tools might hurt, or help..

ChatGPT might change the application essay forever.

best chatgpt essays

By Natasha Singer

I spent the last week talking with university officials, teachers and high school seniors about the dreaded college admissions essay.

I cover education technology at The Times. And I’ve been thinking a lot about how artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, which can manufacture school essays and other texts, might reshape the college application process.

I was particularly interested to learn whether admissions officials were rejiggering their essay questions — or even reconsidering personal essays altogether.

Amid a deluge of high school transcripts and teacher recommendations, admissions officers often use students’ writing samples to identify applicants with unique voices, experiences, ideas and potential. How might that change now that many students are using A.I. chatbots to brainstorm topics, generate rough drafts and hone their essays?

To find out, I contacted admissions officials at more than a dozen large state universities, Ivy League schools and small private colleges, including Juan Espinoza , the director of undergraduate admissions at Virginia Tech.

Right now, he told me, many universities are still trying to figure out how the A.I. technologies work and what they mean for the admissions process.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Have a language expert improve your writing

Check your paper for plagiarism in 10 minutes, generate your apa citations for free.

  • Knowledge Base

Using AI tools

How to Write a Paper with ChatGPT | Tips & Examples

Published on August 17, 2023 by Koen Driessen . Revised on November 16, 2023.

A good research paper demonstrates your academic writing skills and knowledge of your chosen topic.

Your research paper should be based on in-depth independent research. However, generative AI tools like ChatGPT can be effectively used throughout the research process to:

  • Brainstorm research questions
  • Develop a methodology
  • Create an outline
  • Find sources
  • Summarize and paraphrase text
  • Provide feedback

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

upload-your-document-ai-proofreader

Table of contents

Brainstorming research questions, developing a methodology, creating an outline, finding sources, summarizing or paraphrasing text, receiving feedback, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions.

You can use ChatGPT to help formulate research questions , brainstorm potential thesis statements , or narrow down a broad subject area to a specific topic that interests you.

However, make sure that the outputs make sense and meet the requirements of your assignment. You can adapt these outputs manually, or use further prompts to ensure they meet your needs. For more information, see our tips for creating effective ChatGPT prompts .

  • Generate three possible research questions for a research paper on the following topic: “The role of virtual reality in enhancing training and skill development in various industries.”
  • “What are the cognitive and skill development benefits of virtual reality-based training compared to traditional training methods across different industries?”
  • “How does the level of immersion in virtual reality training impact knowledge retention and skill transfer in fields such as medicine, aviation, and manufacturing?”
  • “What are the key factors that influence the successful integration and adoption of virtual reality technology for training purposes in diverse industries, and what challenges hinder its widespread implementation?”

Check for common mistakes

Use the best grammar checker available to check for common mistakes in your text.

Fix mistakes for free

Your paper should clearly indicate the data collection and analysis methods you used in your research.

You can use ChatGPT to help decide what kind of research you will conduct (e.g., qualitative or quantitative ), how you will analyze the data, and how you will mitigate potential research bias .

Bear in mind that you should be able to rationalize your chosen methodology . For example, you should ensure that it is either a standard methodology in the field or can be justified.

  • Suggest three quantitative research methods appropriate to the following question: “What are the cognitive and skill development benefits of virtual reality-based training compared to traditional training methods in the field of healthcare?”
  • Experimental Study: Conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) where healthcare professionals are randomly assigned to either a virtual reality-based training group or a traditional training group. Both groups would receive training in specific healthcare tasks, and their cognitive and skill development outcomes would be measured and compared. Performance metrics, such as accuracy, speed, and efficiency, could be quantitatively assessed to determine the benefits of virtual reality-based training over traditional methods.
  • Survey Research: Design a comprehensive survey targeting healthcare professionals who have undergone both virtual reality-based training and traditional training. The survey could include Likert-scale questions and structured response options to gauge their perceived cognitive and skill development benefits from each training method. Additionally, open-ended questions could be included to gather qualitative insights on specific strengths and weaknesses of each training approach.
  • Task Performance Analysis: Implement a task-based assessment that simulates real-life healthcare scenarios, where participants are evaluated on their ability to handle critical situations. Participants would go through both virtual reality-based training and traditional training before being assessed in the simulated scenarios. Their performance in the assessment could be objectively measured using predefined criteria, allowing for a quantitative comparison of skill development between the two training methods.

A clear outline can help structure your paper, organize your arguments effectively, and make your research more efficient.

You can use generative AI tools like ChatGPT to formulate a potential outline to help guide your research. You can be as specific as you like, giving an overview of your research objectives , main arguments, and any evidence you intend to include in your paper.

However, ChatGPT outputs sometimes contain factual inaccuracies. It’s important to check the headings and subheadings suggested in the output and adapt them to meet your needs.

  • Create an outline for an academic research paper with the following research question:“What are the cognitive and skill development benefits of virtual reality-based training compared to traditional training methods in the field of healthcare?”The paper will be about 10 pages long.

A. Theoretical basis for cognitive and skill development in training

B. Application of cognitive theories to virtual reality-based training

C. The role of immersive learning environments in skill acquisition

D. Conceptual framework for the study

IV. Research Methodology

A. Research design and approach (e.g., quasi-experimental, pre-post intervention)

B. Selection of participants and sample size calculation

C. Description of the virtual reality-based training and traditional training programs

D. Instruments and measures for assessing cognitive and skill development

E. Data collection procedures and ethical considerations

V. Data Analysis

A. Overview of statistical methods used for data analysis

B. Treatment of data and data cleaning

C. Quantitative analysis of cognitive and skill development outcomes

D. Presentation of findings with charts and tables

VI. Results

A. Presentation of the results of the cognitive and skill development assessments

B. Comparison of outcomes between virtual reality-based training and traditional training

C. Statistical significance and effect size analysis

D. Interpretation of the results and implications

VII. Discussion

A. Interpretation of findings in the context of the research question

B. Comparison of results with existing literature

C. Explanation of how virtual reality-based training impacts cognitive processes and skill development

D. Limitations of the study and areas for future research

VIII. Practical Implications

A. Practical applications of virtual reality-based training in healthcare settings

B. Recommendations for integrating virtual reality training in healthcare education

C. Benefits of virtual reality for continuous professional development in healthcare

IX. Conclusion

A. Summary of key findings

B. Reiteration of the research question and hypothesis

C. Contributions of the study to the field of healthcare training

D. Concluding remarks

X. References

You can use ChatGPT to help find sources relevant to your research. However, it’s important to be aware of the limitations of ChatGPT (for example, it occasionally cites nonexistent sources).

Instead of asking ChatGPT for specific source recommendations, try asking it for recommendations on the types of sources relevant to your research topic. You can also use it to generate a list of relevant keywords to use in your literature search.

  • What types of sources could I use to write a research paper on the following research question?“What are the cognitive and skill development benefits of virtual reality-based training compared to traditional training methods in the field of healthcare?”
  • Academic Journals: Peer-reviewed journals are valuable sources of scholarly research. Look for articles in medical education, cognitive psychology, virtual reality applications in healthcare, and technology-enhanced learning.
  • Research Studies: Seek out published research studies that specifically investigate the impact of virtual reality-based training on cognitive and skill development in healthcare professionals.
  • Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: These studies provide comprehensive overviews of existing research on a specific topic, making them a valuable source for summarizing and analyzing the overall evidence.
  • Books and Book Chapters: Academic books and book chapters authored by experts in the fields of medical education, virtual reality, cognitive science, or instructional design can provide in-depth insights and theoretical foundations.
  • Conference Proceedings: Proceedings from relevant conferences and symposiums may present the latest findings and advancements in virtual reality-based training and healthcare education.
  • Educational Institution Websites: Universities and medical schools often publish research papers, case studies, and whitepapers related to medical education and virtual reality training.
  • Industry Reports: Reports and whitepapers from healthcare organizations or technology companies exploring the benefits of virtual reality-based training in the healthcare sector.
  • Government and Non-profit Organizations: Look for reports and publications from government agencies and non-profit organizations that focus on medical education and healthcare training.
  • Online Databases: Utilize academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, IEEE Xplore, and ScienceDirect to search for peer-reviewed research articles and conference papers.
  • Expert Interviews: If possible, conduct interviews with experts in medical education, cognitive science, and virtual reality to gain valuable insights and perspectives.
  • Surveys and Polls: Refer to reputable surveys and polls related to virtual reality-based training in the healthcare industry for additional statistical data.

Don't submit your assignments before you do this

The academic proofreading tool has been trained on 1000s of academic texts. Making it the most accurate and reliable proofreading tool for students. Free citation check included.

best chatgpt essays

Try for free

You can use ChatGPT to paraphrase or summarize text. This can help you to condense sources to their most important points and explore new ways of expressing your ideas.

Alternatively you can use the more specialized tools featured on Scribbr’s AI writing resources page (including Scribbr’s free text summarizer  and  Scribbr’s free paraphrasing tool ) which are designed specifically for these purposes and will give a smoother user experience.

  • Provide a short summary of the following text:“One of the most profound applications of VR in healthcare is its use in surgical training. Traditionally, surgical training has relied on a combination of didactic lectures, observation of procedures, and hands-on experience in the operating room. However, these methods may not provide the ideal environment for novices to develop the necessary dexterity and spatial understanding essential for complex surgeries. VR overcomes these limitations by offering immersive, true-to-life simulations that allow surgeons to navigate through intricate anatomical structures, practice incisions, and learn to manage unexpected challenges that may arise during surgeries. This hands-on experience in a risk-free environment not only enhances technical skills but also builds confidence and reduces the learning curve for new surgical techniques.”
  • Virtual Reality (VR) has a profound impact on healthcare, particularly in surgical training, as it provides immersive simulations that help surgeons develop dexterity, spatial understanding, and confidence for complex surgeries in a risk-free environment, ultimately enhancing their technical skills and reducing the learning curve.

When you’ve finished writing your research paper, you can use ChatGPT to receive feedback. You can be as specific as you like, selecting particular aspects the output should focus on (e.g., tone, clarity of structure, appropriateness of evidence to support your arguments).

You can also use ChatGPT to check grammar, spelling, and punctuation. However, it’s not designed for this purpose and occasionally misses errors. We recommend using a more specialized tool like Scribbr’s free grammar checker . Or, for more comprehensive feedback, Scribbr’s proofreading and editing service .

  • Feedback the above text with regard to appropriateness of evidence and coherence of structure.
  • The research paper demonstrates a well-structured and coherent presentation of the cognitive and skill development benefits of VR-based surgical training. The introduction effectively sets the context and rationale, while the literature review incorporates relevant historical and empirical evidence. The theoretical framework strengthens the foundation for the analysis.The methodology section could provide more details on the research design and study selection criteria. However, the sections on cognitive and skill development benefits present compelling evidence, supported by appropriate sub-sections.The exploration of improved patient outcomes lacks concrete examples but effectively outlines potential benefits. The section on challenges and future directions raises relevant points, but suggestions for solutions could enhance practicality.Overall, the paper combines theoretical, empirical, and practical evidence, offering a well-rounded approach. It establishes the significance of VR-based surgical training and concludes with a concise summary of key findings.

If you want more tips on using AI tools , understanding plagiarism , and citing sources , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations, examples, and formats.

  • Citing ChatGPT
  • Best grammar checker
  • Best paraphrasing tool
  • ChatGPT in your studies
  • Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
  • Types of plagiarism
  • Self-plagiarism
  • Avoiding plagiarism
  • Academic integrity
  • Best plagiarism checker

Citing sources

  • Citation styles
  • In-text citation
  • Citation examples
  • Annotated bibliography

Yes, you can use ChatGPT to summarize text . This can help you understand complex information more easily, summarize the central argument of your own paper, or clarify your research question.

You can also use Scribbr’s free text summarizer , which is designed specifically for this purpose.

Yes, you can use ChatGPT to paraphrase text to help you express your ideas more clearly, explore different ways of phrasing your arguments, and avoid repetition.

However, it’s not specifically designed for this purpose. We recommend using a specialized tool like Scribbr’s free paraphrasing tool , which will provide a smoother user experience.

No, it’s not a good idea to do so in general—first, because it’s normally considered plagiarism or academic dishonesty to represent someone else’s work as your own (even if that “someone” is an AI language model). Even if you cite ChatGPT , you’ll still be penalized unless this is specifically allowed by your university . Institutions may use AI detectors to enforce these rules.

Second, ChatGPT can recombine existing texts, but it cannot really generate new knowledge. And it lacks specialist knowledge of academic topics. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain original research results, and the text produced may contain factual errors.

However, you can usually still use ChatGPT for assignments in other ways, as a source of inspiration and feedback.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Driessen, K. (2023, November 16). How to Write a Paper with ChatGPT | Tips & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/ai-tools/chatgpt-research-paper/

Is this article helpful?

Koen Driessen

Koen Driessen

Other students also liked, how to write good chatgpt prompts, chatgpt citations | formats & examples, what are the limitations of chatgpt.

Koen Driessen

Koen Driessen (Scribbr Team)

Thanks for reading! Hope you found this article helpful. If anything is still unclear, or if you didn’t find what you were looking for here, leave a comment and we’ll see if we can help.

Still have questions?

"i thought ai proofreading was useless but..".

I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes”

A researcher fired by OpenAI published a 165-page essay on what to expect from AI in the next decade. We asked GPT-4 to summarize it.

  • Leopold Aschenbrenner, a fired OpenAI researcher, published a 165-page essay on the future of AI.
  • Aschenbrenner's treatise discusses rapid AI progress, security implications, and societal impact.
  • Here's what GPT-4 says about Aschenbrenner's predictions.

Insider Today

Over the past few months, several employees have left OpenAI , citing concerns about the company's commitment to safety.

Besides making pithy exit announcements on X, they haven't said much about why they're worried about OpenAI's approach to development — or the future of artificial intelligence.

That is until earlier this week, when Leopold Aschenbrenner, a researcher who was fired from OpenAI in April, published his thoughts on the AI revolution in an epic 165-page treatise.

Aschenbrenner worked on OpenAI's superalignment team, which was tasked with mitigating AI risks. Aschenbrenner said OpenAI fired him for leaking information about the company's readiness for artificial general intelligence .

For his part, Aschenbrenner said the information he shared was "totally normal" and that OpenAI might have just been looking for a reason to fire him. He was one of several employees who refused to sign a letter calling for CEO Sam Altman's return after the board briefly ousted Altman last year.

Aschenbrenner's essay doesn't appear to include sensitive details about OpenAI. Instead, as Aschenbrenner writes on the dedication page, it's based on "publicly available information, my own ideas, general field knowledge, or SF gossip."

Business Insider uploaded the tract to OpenAI's GPT-4 model . We asked it to summarize the work and relay the most significant takeaways. We also gently requested that the bot keep its summary clear and concise.

Here's ChatGPT's 57-word summary of Aschenbrenner's essay

ChatGPT distilled the essay into 57 words that outlined Aschenbrenner's views on the evolution of AI.

"Leopold Aschenbrenner's essay discusses the transformative potential of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and superintelligence, and forecasts significant advancements in AI technology in the near future. Aschenbrenner, formerly associated with OpenAI, outlines how the progression from current AI models like GPT-4 to AGI could occur much faster than anticipated, based on trends in computational power and algorithmic efficiency."

ChatGPT then offered four key takeaways from Aschenbrenner's essay

Rapid Progress in AI

Related stories

"Aschenbrenner argues that AI development is accelerating at an unprecedented rate. He predicts that by 2027, AI models could reach the capabilities of human AI researchers and engineers, potentially leading to an intelligence explosion where AI surpasses human intelligence."

Economic and Security Implications

"The essay highlights the immense economic and security implications of these advancements. Aschenbrenner points out that trillions of dollars are being invested into developing the infrastructure needed to support these AI systems, such as GPUs, data centers, and power generation. He also emphasizes the critical need for securing these technologies to prevent misuse, particularly by state actors like the CCP."

Technical and Ethical Challenges

"The essay discusses the significant challenges in controlling AI systems smarter than humans, referring to this as the 'superalignment' problem. Managing this will be crucial to prevent catastrophic outcomes."

Predictions and Societal Impact

"Aschenbrenner suggests that few people truly understand the scale of change that AI is about to bring. He discusses the potential for AI to reshape industries, enhance national security, and pose new ethical and governance challenges."

There's more

As Aschenbrenner wrote, there are probably only a few hundred people, most of them in AI labs in San Francisco, who have "situational awareness" about the industry. These people will most likely have the best insight into how AI will reshape the years ahead.

Aschenbrenner, as one of them, seems to believe AI will assume a critical role in national security.

We followed up our original prompt by asking ChatGPT to summarize the predictions Aschenbrenner made in his essay.

Here's how ChatGPT broke it down.

  • AGI by 2027: "Aschenbrenner predicts that artificial general intelligence (AGI) is strikingly plausible by 2027, highlighting the rapid progress from GPT-2 to GPT-4, which saw AI models advancing from preschool-level to smart high-schooler abilities in just four years. He expects a similar leap in the next few years based on consistent improvements in compute and algorithmic efficiency."
  • Superintelligence Following AGI: "Post-AGI, the author anticipates an 'intelligence explosion,' where AI rapidly advances from human-level to superhuman capabilities. This transition is expected to be fueled by AI's ability to automate and accelerate its own research and development."
  • Trillion-Dollar AI Clusters: "Economically, Aschenbrenner suggests that the AI sector will see an increase in investment into trillion-dollar compute clusters as corporations and governments prepare for the implications of AGI and superintelligence."
  • National and Global Security Dynamics: "There are predictions about intense national security measures being enacted to manage and control AI developments. The competition, particularly with the Chinese government, could intensify, possibly leading to an 'all-out war' if not managed properly."
  • Superalignment Challenges: "One of the most critical predictions is the struggle with 'superalignment' — the challenge of keeping superintelligent AI aligned with human values and interests. This problem is anticipated to be one of the central hurdles as AI reaches and surpasses human intelligence levels."
  • Societal and Economic Transformations: "Aschenbrenner expects AI to have a profound impact on society and the economy, potentially leading to a restructuring of industries and the job market due to AI's capability to perform tasks currently managed by humans."
  • The Project Involvement by the US Government: "Predictions include the US government becoming significantly involved in AI development by around 2027-2028 through a dedicated AGI project, likely due to the strategic importance of AI technology."
  • Technological Mobilization: "He anticipates a mobilization of technological and industrial resources similar to historical wartime efforts, focusing on AI and its supporting infrastructure as a priority for national policy."

Here's the full prompt we used:

Role: Act as an editor. Task: Read the attached essay about former OpenAI researcher Leopold Aschenbrenner. Instructions: Summarize the essay, highlighting the most significant takeaways. Focus on key contributions, research areas, and any notable impacts on the field. Ensure the summary is concise yet comprehensive, providing a clear understanding of Aschenbrenner's work and influence.

best chatgpt essays

  • Main content

What is generative AI?

A green apple split into 3 parts on a gray background. Half of the apple is made out of a digital blue wireframe mesh.

In the months and years since ChatGPT burst on the scene in November 2022, generative AI (gen AI) has come a long way. Every month sees the launch of new tools, rules, or iterative technological advancements. While many have reacted to ChatGPT (and AI and machine learning more broadly) with fear, machine learning clearly has the potential for good. In the years since its wide deployment, machine learning has demonstrated impact in a number of industries, accomplishing things like medical imaging analysis  and high-resolution weather forecasts. A 2022 McKinsey survey shows that AI adoption has more than doubled  over the past five years, and investment in AI is increasing apace. It’s clear that generative AI tools like ChatGPT (the GPT stands for generative pretrained transformer) and image generator DALL-E (its name a mashup of the surrealist artist Salvador Dalí and the lovable Pixar robot WALL-E) have the potential to change how a range of jobs are performed. The full scope of that impact, though, is still unknown—as are the risks.

Get to know and directly engage with McKinsey's senior experts on generative AI

Aamer Baig is a senior partner in McKinsey’s Chicago office;  Lareina Yee  is a senior partner in the Bay Area office; and senior partners  Alex Singla  and Alexander Sukharevsky , global leaders of QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, are based in the Chicago and London offices, respectively.

Still, organizations of all stripes have raced to incorporate gen AI tools into their business models, looking to capture a piece of a sizable prize. McKinsey research indicates that gen AI applications stand to add up to $4.4 trillion  to the global economy—annually. Indeed, it seems possible that within the next three years, anything in the technology, media, and telecommunications space not connected to AI will be considered obsolete or ineffective .

But before all that value can be raked in, we need to get a few things straight: What is gen AI, how was it developed, and what does it mean for people and organizations? Read on to get the download.

To stay up to date on this critical topic, sign up for email alerts on “artificial intelligence” here .

Learn more about QuantumBlack , AI by McKinsey.

Moving illustration of wavy blue lines that was produced using computer code

What every CEO should know about generative AI

What’s the difference between machine learning and artificial intelligence, about quantumblack, ai by mckinsey.

QuantumBlack, McKinsey’s AI arm, helps companies transform using the power of technology, technical expertise, and industry experts. With thousands of practitioners at QuantumBlack (data engineers, data scientists, product managers, designers, and software engineers) and McKinsey (industry and domain experts), we are working to solve the world’s most important AI challenges. QuantumBlack Labs is our center of technology development and client innovation, which has been driving cutting-edge advancements and developments in AI through locations across the globe.

Artificial intelligence is pretty much just what it sounds like—the practice of getting machines to mimic human intelligence to perform tasks. You’ve probably interacted with AI even if you don’t realize it—voice assistants like Siri and Alexa are founded on AI technology, as are customer service chatbots that pop up to help you navigate websites.

Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence. Through machine learning, practitioners develop artificial intelligence through models that can “learn” from data patterns without human direction. The unmanageably huge volume and complexity of data (unmanageable by humans, anyway) that is now being generated has increased machine learning’s potential , as well as the need for it.

What are the main types of machine learning models?

Machine learning is founded on a number of building blocks, starting with classical statistical techniques  developed between the 18th and 20th centuries for small data sets. In the 1930s and 1940s, the pioneers of computing—including theoretical mathematician Alan Turing—began working on the basic techniques for machine learning. But these techniques were limited to laboratories until the late 1970s, when scientists first developed computers powerful enough to mount them.

Until recently, machine learning was largely limited to predictive models, used to observe and classify patterns in content. For example, a classic machine learning problem is to start with an image or several images of, say, adorable cats. The program would then identify patterns among the images, and then scrutinize random images for ones that would match the adorable cat pattern. Generative AI was a breakthrough. Rather than simply perceive and classify a photo of a cat, machine learning is now able to create an image or text description of a cat on demand.

Circular, white maze filled with white semicircles.

Introducing McKinsey Explainers : Direct answers to complex questions

How do text-based machine learning models work how are they trained.

ChatGPT may be getting all the headlines now, but it’s not the first text-based machine learning model to make a splash. OpenAI’s GPT-3 and Google’s BERT both launched in recent years to some fanfare. But before ChatGPT, which by most accounts works pretty well most of the time (though it’s still being evaluated), AI chatbots didn’t always get the best reviews. GPT-3 is “by turns super impressive and super disappointing,” said New York Times tech reporter Cade Metz in a video where he and food writer Priya Krishna asked GPT-3 to write recipes for a (rather disastrous) Thanksgiving dinner .

The first machine learning models to work with text were trained by humans to classify various inputs according to labels set by researchers. One example would be a model trained to label social media  posts as either positive or negative. This type of training is known as supervised learning because a human is in charge of “teaching” the model what to do.

The next generation of text-based machine learning models rely on what’s known as self-supervised learning. This type of training involves feeding a model a massive amount of text so it becomes able to generate predictions. For example, some models can predict, based on a few words, how a sentence will end. With the right amount of sample text—say, a broad swath of the internet—these text models become quite accurate. We’re seeing just how accurate with the success of tools like ChatGPT.

What does it take to build a generative AI model?

Building a generative AI model has for the most part been a major undertaking, to the extent that only a few well-resourced tech heavyweights have made an attempt . OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, former GPT models, and DALL-E, has billions in funding from bold-face-name donors. DeepMind is a subsidiary of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, and even Meta has dipped a toe into the generative AI model pool with its Make-A-Video product. These companies employ some of the world’s best computer scientists and engineers.

But it’s not just talent. When you’re asking a model to train using nearly the entire internet, it’s going to cost you. OpenAI hasn’t released exact costs, but estimates indicate that GPT-3 was trained on around 45 terabytes of text data—that’s about one million feet of bookshelf space, or a quarter of the entire Library of Congress—at an estimated cost of several million dollars. These aren’t resources your garden-variety start-up can access.

What kinds of output can a generative AI model produce?

As you may have noticed above, outputs from generative AI models can be indistinguishable from human-generated content, or they can seem a little uncanny. The results depend on the quality of the model—as we’ve seen, ChatGPT’s outputs so far appear superior to those of its predecessors—and the match between the model and the use case, or input.

ChatGPT can produce what one commentator called a “ solid A- ” essay comparing theories of nationalism from Benedict Anderson and Ernest Gellner—in ten seconds. It also produced an already famous passage describing how to remove a peanut butter sandwich from a VCR in the style of the King James Bible. Image-generating AI models like DALL-E 2 can create strange, beautiful images on demand, like a Raphael painting of a Madonna and child, eating pizza . Other generative AI models can produce code, video, audio, or business simulations .

But the outputs aren’t always accurate—or appropriate. When Priya Krishna asked DALL-E 2 to come up with an image for Thanksgiving dinner, it produced a scene where the turkey was garnished with whole limes, set next to a bowl of what appeared to be guacamole. For its part, ChatGPT seems to have trouble counting, or solving basic algebra problems—or, indeed, overcoming the sexist and racist bias that lurks in the undercurrents of the internet and society more broadly.

Generative AI outputs are carefully calibrated combinations of the data used to train the algorithms. Because the amount of data used to train these algorithms is so incredibly massive—as noted, GPT-3 was trained on 45 terabytes of text data—the models can appear to be “creative” when producing outputs. What’s more, the models usually have random elements, which means they can produce a variety of outputs from one input request—making them seem even more lifelike.

What kinds of problems can a generative AI model solve?

The opportunity for businesses is clear. Generative AI tools can produce a wide variety of credible writing in seconds, then respond to criticism to make the writing more fit for purpose. This has implications for a wide variety of industries, from IT and software organizations that can benefit from the instantaneous, largely correct code generated by AI models to organizations in need of marketing copy. In short, any organization that needs to produce clear written materials potentially stands to benefit. Organizations can also use generative AI to create more technical materials, such as higher-resolution versions of medical images. And with the time and resources saved here, organizations can pursue new business opportunities and the chance to create more value.

We’ve seen that developing a generative AI model is so resource intensive that it is out of the question for all but the biggest and best-resourced companies. Companies looking to put generative AI to work have the option to either use generative AI out of the box or fine-tune them to perform a specific task. If you need to prepare slides according to a specific style, for example, you could ask the model to “learn” how headlines are normally written based on the data in the slides, then feed it slide data and ask it to write appropriate headlines.

What are the limitations of AI models? How can these potentially be overcome?

Because they are so new, we have yet to see the long tail effect of generative AI models. This means there are some inherent risks  involved in using them—some known and some unknown.

The outputs generative AI models produce may often sound extremely convincing. This is by design. But sometimes the information they generate is just plain wrong. Worse, sometimes it’s biased (because it’s built on the gender, racial, and myriad other biases of the internet and society more generally) and can be manipulated to enable unethical or criminal activity. For example, ChatGPT won’t give you instructions on how to hotwire a car, but if you say you need to hotwire a car to save a baby, the algorithm is happy to comply. Organizations that rely on generative AI models should reckon with reputational and legal risks involved in unintentionally publishing biased, offensive, or copyrighted content.

These risks can be mitigated, however, in a few ways. For one, it’s crucial to carefully select the initial data used to train these models to avoid including toxic or biased content. Next, rather than employing an off-the-shelf generative AI model, organizations could consider using smaller, specialized models. Organizations with more resources could also customize a general model based on their own data to fit their needs and minimize biases. Organizations should also keep a human in the loop (that is, to make sure a real human checks the output of a generative AI model before it is published or used) and avoid using generative AI models for critical decisions, such as those involving significant resources or human welfare.

It can’t be emphasized enough that this is a new field. The landscape of risks and opportunities  is likely to change rapidly in coming weeks, months, and years. New use cases are being tested monthly, and new models are likely to be developed in the coming years. As generative AI becomes increasingly, and seamlessly, incorporated into business, society, and our personal lives, we can also expect a new regulatory climate  to take shape. As organizations begin experimenting—and creating value—with these tools, leaders will do well to keep a finger on the pulse of regulation and risk.

Articles referenced include:

  • " Implementing generative AI with speed and safety ,” March 13, 2024, Oliver Bevan, Michael Chui , Ida Kristensen , Brittany Presten, and Lareina Yee
  • “ Beyond the hype: Capturing the potential of AI and gen AI in tech, media, and telecom ,” February 22, 2024, Venkat Atluri , Peter Dahlström , Brendan Gaffey , Víctor García de la Torre, Noshir Kaka , Tomás Lajous , Alex Singla , Alex Sukharevsky , Andrea Travasoni , and Benjamim Vieira
  • “ As gen AI advances, regulators—and risk functions—rush to keep pace ,” December 21, 2023, Andreas Kremer, Angela Luget, Daniel Mikkelsen , Henning Soller , Malin Strandell-Jansson, and Sheila Zingg
  • “ The economic potential of generative AI: The next productivity frontier ,” June 14, 2023, Michael Chui , Eric Hazan , Roger Roberts , Alex Singla , Kate Smaje , Alex Sukharevsky , Lareina Yee , and Rodney Zemmel
  • “ What every CEO should know about generative AI ,” May 12, 2023, Michael Chui , Roger Roberts , Tanya Rodchenko, Alex Singla , Alex Sukharevsky , Lareina Yee , and Delphine Zurkiya
  • “ Exploring opportunities in the generative AI value chain ,” April 26, 2023, Tobias Härlin, Gardar Björnsson Rova , Alex Singla , Oleg Sokolov, and Alex Sukharevsky
  • “ The state of AI in 2022—and a half decade in review ,” December 6, 2022,  Michael Chui ,  Bryce Hall ,  Helen Mayhew , Alex Singla , and Alex Sukharevsky
  • “ McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook 2023 ,” July 20, 2023,  Michael Chui , Mena Issler,  Roger Roberts , and  Lareina Yee  
  • “ An executive’s guide to AI ,” Michael Chui , Vishnu Kamalnath, and Brian McCarthy
  • “ What AI can and can’t do (yet) for your business ,” January 11, 2018,  Michael Chui , James Manyika , and Mehdi Miremadi

This article was updated in April 2024; it was originally published in January 2023.

A green apple split into 3 parts on a gray background. Half of the apple is made out of a digital blue wireframe mesh.

Want to know more about generative AI?

Related articles.

High population density abstract city - stock photo

The data dividend: Fueling generative AI

Multicolored light trails moving at high speed and radiating out from a single point.

Don’t wait—create, with generative AI

More From Forbes

5 chatgpt prompts to smash through limits (overcome limiting beliefs).

  • Share to Facebook
  • Share to Twitter
  • Share to Linkedin

5 ChatGPT prompts to smash through limits (overcome limiting beliefs)

We tell ourselves lies and we believe them. We fool ourselves into thinking things aren’t possible, we’re no good, and we have limits. We compare ourselves to others, don’t improve our weaknesses and turn a blind eye to obvious opportunities. Fear of failure, fear of success and imposter syndrome keep us playing small, subconsciously ignoring the intel that would lead to growth.

Be honest with yourself for a short, sharp dose of reality from which you can improve. Open up ChatGPT and use it as your AI life coach. Copy, paste and edit the square brackets for each prompt, then paste in to ChatGPT. Keep the same chat window open so the context carries through.

Stop hiding from your truth: ChatGPT prompts for complete honesty about limits

Decipher your doodles.

Take a fresh piece of paper and make some notes. Without thinking, start a sentence with “What I know for sure is…” and doodle away until the page is full. Write down everything that comes into your head about yourself, your environment, your business and the state of the world. Empty your head of its trains of thought and get them out there on page. Next, take a photo of your notes and upload it to ChatGPT. For this prompt you will need ChatGPT Plus.

“I’m uploading an image of some writing I did based on the starter, “What I know for sure is…” Your task is to decipher these doodles into a written document, then make an analysis on the words. Summarize me as a professional based on my doodles. Identify any limiting beliefs my words hint at, pull out any areas of concern, and suggest ways I may be holding myself back. Make 3 suggestions for areas to dig into further, to uncover truths and smash through limits I have subconsciously created.”

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, read between the lines.

When’s the last time you asked for feedback? Identify something you did recently and open a new email to a colleague or client. Ask them to give their opinion on how you did and what you could do better. Say you’re looking to grow and develop. When you have their response, paste it into ChatGPT with the following prompt:

“This is some feedback I received from [describe the person and their relationship to you] about [describe the task you completed]. Analyze this feedback to find places I can improve. Read between the lines of what they are saying to suggest areas of improvement for me, as well as 3 follow up questions for them. My goal is to reveal their true opinions so I can level up. [Paste the feedback]”

Analyze your expression

Micro expressions are facial expressions that occur within a fraction of a second. This involuntary emotional leakage exposes a person's true emotions. ChatGPT 4o can analyze images and videos for emotion. Head into your camera roll and find your last selfie, then upload it to ChatGPT, to have it read beyond the surface level smile and the sunny exterior. Find out what your facial expression is hiding from you. Repeat with a few selfies for a range of responses.

“Analyze this image and provide an assessment of this person based on their facial expression, body language or anything else about their face and disposition from this picture. Make an assessment of their happiness, health and emotional wellbeing. Describe the feelings they are displaying or hiding.”

Correct your course

Smashing through limits doesn’t always require wholesale changes. You might be one or two edits away from a completely different life. Being honest with yourself about what to do is the first step, then it’s about putting edits in place in a sustainable way. Use ChatGPT to find the changes you need to make, and then get your plan of action.

“I need to be honest with myself. Your task is to ask me this question, 7 times: “Being completely honest with yourself, what do you need to change?” I will respond each time. After my seventh response, suggest a plan, to cover the next 30 days, where I make small edits each day based on my answers. The goal is to find a sustainable cadence of improving.”

Get perspective

People overthink. Entrepreneurs especially can obsess over detail, talk themselves out of the right decision and overestimate other people, causing undue worry. For maximum chance of smashing through your ceilings, get some perspective on where you are right now. Your competitors are probably watching you just as much as you’re watching them, your clients need you more than you think, and you’re closer to achieving your goals than you give yourself credit for. Use this prompt to keep that in mind.

“Your task is to help me get perspective, so I can stop overthinking and move past unhelpful habits of fear and worry. Ask me questions, one at a time, about where I’m overthinking. When I respond, guide me in a short, sharp, no-nonsense way to zoom out and get some perspective, including one compelling reason why my fears are nonsensical. After doing this for each scenario one at a time, move to the next.”

Uncover your truth with ChatGPT: prompts for awareness and self-development

You are the easiest person to fool. Make sure it doesn’t happen with these 5 prompts for ChatGPT. Decipher your doodles to reveal hidden gems, and read between the lines of feedback for ultimate growth potential. Analyze your expression in a recent picture then correct your course with sustainable optimisations. Finally, get perspective on your overthinking to be honest with yourself about what really matters. Make ChatGPT your trusted hype person, to smash through the limits that aren’t really there.

Jodie Cook

  • Editorial Standards
  • Reprints & Permissions

Join The Conversation

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. 

Forbes Community Guidelines

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's  Terms of Service.   We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

  • False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information
  • Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind
  • Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author
  • Content that otherwise violates our site's  terms.

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

  • Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
  • Racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory comments
  • Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk
  • Actions that otherwise violate our site's  terms.

So, how can you be a power user?

  • Stay on topic and share your insights
  • Feel free to be clear and thoughtful to get your point across
  • ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ to show your point of view.
  • Protect your community.
  • Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's  Terms of Service.

10 Best AI Chatbots in 2024 (ChatGPT & Top Competitors)

best chatgpt essays

Pricing: $20 per month Standout Features: AI Art Generation, Personality Avatars, Voice Command Input

Jasper Chat Logo

  • Jasper Chat

Pricing: $49 per month Standout Features: Live Web Access, Prebuilt Prompts, Long-form Content Creation

Chatsonic Logo

Pricing: $13 per month Standout Features: Multiple Chat Service Integration, Customer Support System, Display Product Cards

Artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbots are revolutionizing how we get work done. You’ve likely heard about ChatGPT, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Millions of people leverage various AI chat tools in their businesses and personal lives. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best AI chatbots and what they can do to enhance individual and business productivity.

  • 1 What to Consider When Choosing an AI Chatbot
  • 2.1 1. ChatGPT
  • 2.2 2. Jasper Chat
  • 2.3 3. Chatsonic
  • 2.4 4. Gemini
  • 2.5 5. Chat by Copy.ai
  • 2.6 6. Claude
  • 2.7 7. Perplexity AI
  • 2.8 8. Microsoft Copilot
  • 2.9 9. You.com
  • 2.10 10. Character AI
  • 3.1 Feature Comparison of the Best Chatbots
  • 3.2 Price Comparison of AI Chatbots
  • 4 What is the Best AI Chatbot?
  • 5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What to Consider When Choosing an AI Chatbot

You may have heard about how AI is disrupting industries. This is partially due to the advancements of AI chatbots that make artificial intelligence so easy for the common person to use. Here are some things to consider when looking into an AI platform for productivity:

  • Does It Meet Your Specific Needs? –  The AI chatbot industry has created a lot of similar products. You’ll likely see all-purpose chatbots and task-specific ones. Choose one based on your most common needs. All-purpose chatbots can usually write code, read various file types, create images, and connect to the internet. Niche chatbots can do many of these things but usually focus on one specific type of task (such as writing or replacing traditional search engines).
  • Is It Easy For You To Use? – There are a lot of options to choose from, and many have the same features as the others. This is because they use the same base technologies and AI models for conversational AI and generative AI. Your choice will usually come down to what feels easiest to use for you.
  • Does It Fit Your Budget? – As far as online software is concerned, AI is expensive technology.  You should expect to pay $20 per month for premium AI chatbots. There are some cheaper options, but they usually come with usage limits or less advanced AI models. So, take a close look at the pricing plans to make sure you know exactly what you are getting.
  • Explore Free Options –  Thankfully, plenty of free AI chatbots are still out there. The most popular ones to try would be ChatGPT , Chatsonic , and Gemini . This will introduce you to this new world while you figure out how to best use them for your work and hobbies.

The Best AI Chatbots

The following AI chatbots have been carefully selected based on various factors, including ease of use, features, functionality, pros and cons, and customer reviews. These chatbots will share many of the same capabilities as ChatGPT, but they each have their own areas of expertise.

The Best AI Chatbots Listed In Order

  • Chat by Copy.ai
  • Perplexity AI
  • Microsoft Copilot
  • Character AI

🥇 The Original AI Chatbot

ChatGPT - Login Landing Page - March 2024

ChatGPT is a household name, and it’s only been public for a short time. OpenAI created this multi-model chatbot to understand and generate images, code, files, and text through a back-and-forth conversation style. The longer you work with it, the more you realize you can do with it.

ChatGPT Screenshot - UI Chatbot Landingpage - March 2024

ChatGPT has a free version you can use when creating an account. The free version gives users access to GPT 3.5 Turbo, a fast AI language model perfect for conversations about any industry, topic, or interest.

ChatGPT Code Output Example

ChatGPT Plus offers a slew of additional features—chief among these are its advanced AI models GPT 4 and Dalle 3. GPT 4 is the successor of GPT 3.5, which is even more proficient in writing code and understanding what you are trying to accomplish through conversations. It’s even passed some pretty amazing benchmarks, like the Bar Exam . See some other things we’ve put ChatGPT to the test with .

What We Like About ChatGPT

  • GPT Sets the Standard: State-of-the-art AI models are used as foundation models across the entire AI industry.
  • Extremely Versatile: Use simple conversational prompts or more detailed instructions to generate solutions for just about anything you need, no matter how simple or complex.
  • Custom Instructions to Guide Chats: Instruct how to use it on all your chats. It provides useful information about industries, specialties, tone of voice, and more for chat conversations.
  • Enhanced Context & Memory Retention: It remembers details from your conversation to give better responses as the chat continues. New Memory features can save details about you for use across chat sessions.
  • Mastery in Code Interpretation: Deeply trained on code bases of sorts of programming languages, ChatGPT can analyze data and write code with high accuracy.
  • Personalized GPTs for Tailored Solutions: Craft separate customized chatbots (GPTs) based on a seed prompt and connect them with external services through webhook and API. These GPTs are sharable in the GPT store so users can build and sell helpful solutions.
  • Expandable Functionality with Plugins: Developers make plugins for ChatGPT to link with outside services for added functionality. Great for connecting a software company up to ChatGPT for richer results. Bing Search and Code Interpreter were plugins now rolled into GPT 4.

What Could Be Improved

  • ChatGPT Plus Restrictions: Paying members have a usage restriction of 40 chat messages every 3 hours (only ~13 chats every hour using GPT 4). It can fall back to GPT 3.5 but would have to start a separate chat session and deal with an inferior language model.

ChatGPT is the largest AI service out there. That means it has plenty to offer but a big target on its back. If you want to see why people switch away from it, reference our ChatGPT alternatives guide , which shares more.

🥇 Why We Picked It

ChatGPT is the gold standard for working with AI. The free version should be for anyone who is starting and is interested in the AI industry and what the technology can do. Many people use it as their primary AI tool, and it’s tough to replace. Many other AI chatbots are built on the technologies that OpenAI has developed, which means they’re often behind the curve with new features and innovation.

Who is ChatGPT Best For?

ChatGPT should be the first thing anyone tries to see what AI can do. It’s great for writers, coders, planners, and analysts. Plenty of specialized AI tools exist, but ChatGPT is the base. If you’ve never used AI, sign up for a free account.

Community Reviews and Ratings

Most users are amazed at what ChatGPT can do for them. Some get frustrated because they expect it to be a magic bullet. Overall, it’s a tool that delivers.

G2 Logo

ChatGPT is free to use with ChatGPT Plus, which costs $20 per month .

Try ChatGPT

2. Jasper Chat

🥈 best ai chatbot for businesses.

Jasper AI - Homepage - January 2024

Jasper is dialed and trained for marketing and SEO writing tasks, which is perfect for website copy and blog posts. That’s what makes the entire platform unique. We all know that ChatGPT can sound somewhat robotic when using it for writing assignments. Jasper and Jasper Chat solved that issue long ago with its platform for generating text meant to be shared with customers and website visitors.

Jasper Chat with Citations and Referenced Sources

What We Like About Jasper AI

  • Multi-Language Support : Take your marketing campaigns to more languages—an excellent tool for multilingual and international teams (30+ languages supported).
  • Send Chat Replies to a Document : Business writing belongs in documents (whether a Google Doc or inside the WordPress editor), so when Jasper Chat gives a helpful reply, you can send it to Jasper’s long-form editor to become a fuller piece of content.
  • Trained on Marketing Content : Jasper utilizes internally fine-tuned LLMs explicitly designed for marketing content (while incorporating other advanced LLMs from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic).
  • Generates On-Brand Content using Brand Memories : Jasper has a brand memories library where you can store essential details about your business and products so that Jasper correctly states what you do instead of generating general content.
  • Image Generation : In a Jasper Chat conversation, users can ask it to create images for them.
  • Character Limits : Jasper Chat inputs can only be 4,000 characters long. Using long and complex prompts can use up this limit quickly.
  • More Pricing Options : Adding a lower-priced premium or a limited free plan could help accommodate smaller businesses and users who can’t afford the current price tag.

🥈 Why We Picked It

Jasper AI deserves a high place on this list because of its innovative approach to AI-driven content creation for professionals. It has best-in-class AI tools that are useful for entire teams. Jasper has also stayed on pace with new feature development to be one of the best conversational chat solutions. We’ve written a detailed Jasper Review article for those looking into the platform, not just its chatbot.

Who is Jasper AI Best For?

Jasper AI is a boon for content creators looking for a smart, efficient way to produce SEO-optimized content. It’s perfect for marketers, bloggers, and businesses seeking to increase their digital presence. Jasper is exceptionally suited for marketing teams that create high amounts of output. Jasper Chat is only one of several pieces of the Jasper ecosystem worth using.

The community has long enjoyed using Jasper AI. It scores high marks for its innovative features and efficiency. Reviewers frequently mention its user-friendly interface and high-quality content output.

There are no free plans. Paid plans start at $49 per month .

Get Jasper Chat

3. Chatsonic

🥉 top chatbot for independent marketers.

Chatsonic - Landing Page - January 2024

Writesonic is a leading AI-powered platform. Chatsonic is the sister product that lets users chat with its AI instead of only using it for writing. The whole platform has gotten a lot of attention because it has a huge user base and is backed by Y Combinator. Like Jasper, the entire platform is worth using, and its chatbot solution is undoubtedly worth a try.

Writesonic Library of Use Cases

Chatsonic may as well be one of the better ChatGPT alternatives . It utilizes GPT-4 as its foundation but incorporates additional proprietary technology to enhance the capabilities of users accustomed to ChatGPT. Writesonic’s free plan includes 10,000 monthly words and access to nearly all of Writesonic’s features (including Chatsonic).

What We Like About Chatsonic

  • Real-Time Access to the Internet : Turn internet access on or off for the chat to incorporate real-time data from Google Searches.
  • Tone and Personality Settings : Adjust the personality by selecting different tones and styles from a simple drop-down menu.
  • Voice Interaction : Use voice commands with any mic’d device for a hands-free interactive experience during conversations.
  • Custom Training Data : Upload personalized training data (memories) to Chatsonic to generate more high-quality content tailored to your needs.
  • Create Images with AI : Use Chatsonic’s AI image generator to make visuals in the chat interface.
  • Share Conversation URLs : Share chats with friends and colleagues using a web link.
  • Reads and Understand Files : Include web URLs, images, and files in your chat queries for analysis and receive responses based on them.

See our full reviews for Writesonic , Photosonic , and Chatsonic .

  • Cluttered UI : The interface is busy—especially the sidebar—which can be too much visual distraction for users and make writing less efficient.
  • Confusing Credit System: The method they use for credits (Premium and Supreme credits) is not as simple as we anticipated. Each use of 100 Superior words is equivalent to 300 Premium words.

🥉 Why We Picked It

Chatsonic has long been a customer favorite and has innovated at every step. It has all the basic features you’d expect from a competitive chatbot while also going about writing use cases in a helpful way. What we think Chatsonic does well is offer free monthly credits that are usable with Chatsonic AND Writesonic. This gives free access to a great chatbot and one of the best AI writing tools . Paid plans only make this better.

Who Is Chatsonic Best For?

Chatsonic is great for those who want a ChatGPT replacement and AI writing tools. It includes an AI writer, AI photo generator, and chat interface that can all be customized. If you create professional content and want a top-notch AI chat experience, you will enjoy using Chatsonic + Writesonic.

People love Chatsonic because it’s easy to use and connects well with other Writesonic tools. Users say they can develop ideas quickly using Chatsonic and that it is a good investment.

Offers a free plan with monthly credits. Paid plans start at only $13 per month .

Get Chatsonic

Best ChatGPT Competitor Chatbot

Google's Gemini - Homepage - March 2024

Gemini is Google’s advanced conversational chatbot with multi-model support via Google AI. Gemini is the new name for “Google Bard.” It shares many similarities with ChatGPT and might be one of the most direct competitors, so that’s worth considering. Gemini responds with code, images, and text based on your conversation.

Trustworthy Citations

What we love most about Gemini is its ability to cite its work. It seems more advanced than Microsoft Bing’s citation capabilities and is far better than what ChatGPT can do. It also offers practical tools to combat hallucinations and false facts. The “ Double-Check Response ” button will scan any output and compare its response to Google search results. It then highlights its text in Green or Red. Green means that it found similar content published on the web, and Red means that statements differ from published content (or that it could not find a match either way). It’s not a foolproof method for fact verification, but it works particularly well for crowdsourcing information.

Gemini's Double Check with Google Search Feature

Gemini’s user interface is straightforward to navigate. It offers quick actions to modify responses (shorten, sound more professional, etc.). The dark mode can be easily turned on, giving it a great appearance. The Gemini update is much faster and provides more complex and reasoned responses. Are you interested in Gemini? Check out our detailed guide on using Bard (now Gemini) to learn more about it.

What We Like About Gemini

  • Integrates with Google : Gemini seamlessly connects with various Google services (Google Search, Flights, Maps, YouTube, Workspace, etc.) for better task help.
  • Advanced Code Writing : It produces highly optimized code across various programming languages.
  • AI Image Generation : You can upload images in chat and ask Gemini to make new photos. It uses the advanced Imagen 2 model to generate images.
  • Generates Multiple Drafts : Shows different versions of responses called “ Drafts .” Compare each draft to see how they differ from each other and choose the best one.
  • Voice Interaction & Audio Playback : Use it with voice commands and play responses aloud.
  • Quick Actions: Quick ways to make explanations shorter, longer, simpler, casual, or professional.
  • Effortless Fact-Checking: Utilize the “ Double-Check ” button on Google Search to fact-check each response with Google.
  • Conversation Organization : You can’t currently organize old chats inside folders or tags, making it hard to manage past conversations. ChaGPT and other tools face this issue, too.
  • No Chatbot Customization: Currently, Gemini lacks functionalities similar to ChatGPT’s “ Custom GPTs, ” which allow for customization of various interactions with it.

Who is Gemini Best For?

Gemini is excellent for those who already use a lot of Google products day to day. Google products work together, so you can use data from one another to be more productive during conversations. It has a compelling free version of the Gemini model capable of plenty. Its paid version features Gemini Advanced, which gives access to Google’s best AI models that directly compete with GPT-4.

Gemini saves time by answering questions and double-checking its facts. Many people have noted that it’s just as capable as ChatGPT Plus. It’s different and powerful enough that many people prefer it.

It is free to use for everyone with a Google Account. Gemini Plus is included in the $20 per month Google One plan.

5. Chat by Copy.ai

Best ai chatbot for sales teams.

Copy.ai - Homepage - March 2024

What We Like About Copy.ai

  • Access to Web Data: Enable web access for real-time communication and retrieval of live data.
  • Build & Store Prompts: Save time and achieve consistent outcomes for routine queries with saved prompts.
  • Chat to Docs: Go from a chat conversation to a long-form editor to create content with your AI assistant.
  • Unlimited Infobase Items: Unlike other tools that limit the amount of memories you can add for the AI to remember, Copy.ai allows for unlimited personalization through data.
  • Customer Support: Many people have said that support was hard to reach when they needed it most.

Who is Copy.ai Best For?

Chat by Copy.ai is perfect for businesses looking for an assistant-type chatbot for internal productivity. It is built for sales and marketing professionals but can do much more. Since it can access live data on the web, it can be used to personalize marketing materials and sales outreach. It also has a growing automation and workflow platform that makes creating new marketing and sales collateral easier when needed.

There are lots of mixed reviews. Copy.ai has undergone an identity shift, making its product more compelling beyond simple AI-generated writing. It’s a go-to tool for salespeople and marketers.

Copy.ai has a free plan with paid plans starting at $49 per month .

Get Chat by Copy.ai

Best AI Chatbot for Long Documents

Claude - Homepage - March 4th 2024

Claude is a noteworthy chatbot to reference because of its unique characteristics. It offers many of the same features but has chosen to specialize in a few areas where they fall short. It has a big context window for past messages in the conversation and uploaded documents. If you have concerns about OpenAI’s dominance, Claude is worth exploring.

Context Window

Claude 3 is amazing at analyzing lots of text. It can read web pages and different file types. It helps summarize content and find specific information better than other tools like ChatGPT because it can remember more.

Claude Chat Interface Screenshot with Code Highlighting

Claude has a simple text interface that makes talking to it feel natural. You can ask questions or give instructions, like chatting with someone. It works well with apps like Slack, so you can get help while you work. Introduced in Claude 3 (premium) is also multi-model capabilities. Claude 3 Sonnet is able to recognize aspects of images so it can talk to you about them (as well as create images like GPT-4).

Claude 3 Multi-Model AI for Images, code, and text

What We Like About Claude

  • Text Processing Volume : Easily manages 75,000 words, allowing users to do more with the data they use with Claude.
  • Supports File Uploads : Can read and use information found in uploaded files.
  • Fast Performance : Faster and more reliable than Claude 2 and Chat GPT 3.5 Turbo.
  • Advanced Math/Coding/Logic Skills: It can assist with technical questions and write code better than many other AI chatbots.
  • Beautifully Displays Code: Code is neatly shown, with essential parts highlighted in a different color for easy understanding when referring to them.
  • Limited Availability : Currently only available to Beta users in select countries.

Who Is Claude Best For?

Claude is a versatile tool for developers, writers, students, and researchers, assisting with various tasks. It helps understand long articles, answer questions, solve problems, write, and do basic math. Its wide context window and user-friendly interface make it useful for simplifying data analysis and creating content.

People like it because Claude sounds more natural than ChatGPT. They also appreciate its larger context window to understand the entire conversation at hand better.

Claude is free to use with a $20 per month Pro Plan, which increases limits and provides early access to new features.

7. Perplexity AI

Best ai chatbot for research briefs.

Perplexity AI - Homepage - February 2024

Perplexity AI is a search-focused chatbot that uses AI to find and summarize information. To use it, just give it a question or search term. It will find answers, cite its sources, and show follow-up queries. It’s similar to receiving a concise update or summary of news or research related to your specified topic.

Information Simplified

Perplexity is all about finding information quickly. It uses chat and other features to help users find exciting things. Its “ Discover ” tab enables you to find trending topics (what it calls “ threads “) that other users have upvoted. Towards the end of its responses, it also displays associated suggestions that will lead you on a chosen path of further exploration.

Perplexity Chat UI Interface Search Result Screenshot

What We Like About Perplexity AI

  • Mobile App : The Perplexity AI chatbot has a mobile app for users to use on the go.
  • Easy Searching : Perplexity AI’s chatbot helps users find specific information by understanding the context of their questions.
  • Discover Information : The Discover Feed lists topics for users to explore. It includes statistics like views, shares, and likes to show how popular and relevant the information is. The discovery tab features sharable threads.
  • Search Modes: Pick from different modes like Internet, Academic, YouTube, etc., to find info that interests you. This makes it easy to get the information you want from sources you like.
  • Coding with Online Sources: Perplexity can code with its LLMs, but what sets it apart is its online research feature. It can search Stack Exchange and GitHub for user solutions and customize them for your needs.

What Could Be Better

  • Limited Uses: Perplexity is made for search and doesn’t have conversations like ChatGPT (except on paid plans).

Who Is Perplexity AI Best For?

When we tried Perplexity, it felt like receiving a concise topic summary. This made the information seem more reliable and important. If your work involves research, you might find Perplexity worth trying out.

If you are interested, read our review article about Perplexity AI .

Perplexity is popular among information and research enthusiasts. Unlike other AI chatbots, it focuses on presenting information rather than just giving answers. Users enjoy using it and find it the top tool for searching the web.

“g2” Logo

Perplexity AI has a free search plan. It also offers a Pro subscription starting at $20 per month .

8. Microsoft Copilot

Best ai chatbot for windows.

Microsoft Copilot - Homepage - March 2024

Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant infused with live web search results from Bing Search. Copilot represents the leading brand of Microsoft’s AI products, but you have probably heard of Bing AI (or Bing Chat), which uses the same base technologies. Copilot extends to multiple surfaces and is usable on its own landing page, in Bing search results, and increasingly in other Microsoft products and operating systems. Bing is an exciting chatbot because of its close ties with ChatGPT.

Bing Chat is Powerful If a Little Cluttered

Microsoft was one of the first companies to provide a dedicated chat experience (well before Google’s Gemini and Search Generative Experiment). Copilt works best with the Microsoft Edge browser or Windows operating system. It uses OpenAI technologies combined with proprietary systems to retrieve live data from the web.

Copilot Chat Interface with Cited Sources and Hyperlinks

For those interested in this unique service, we have a complete guide on how to use Miscrosfot’s Copilot chatbot .

What We Like About Copilot

  • Sources : Copilot gives sources with footnotes and hyperlinks for credibility and easy reference.
  • Personalization : Gives personalized recommendations using user data to improve response accuracy.
  • Voice Commands : Helps with voice commands for more accessible user interactions and accessibility.
  • Conversation Styles : Users can choose different conversation styles, like creative, balanced, or precise, to match their preferences.
  • Integrations : Connects with Kayak, Instacart, and Klarna to improve data and add more features.
  • Fast Follow-up: It gives follow-up questions to click on for more specific details or tangents, making it easy to dive deeper.
  • Feature Overlap Across Products : Many Microsoft products have similar features, like Bing Search, Bing AI, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Windows 11 Copilot. This can make it confusing to understand Microsoft’s AI features. Buying Copilot Pro can help, as it gives you more access to all these features (except GitHub Copilot).

Who is Bing AI Best For?

If you are a Microsoft Edge user seeking more comprehensive search results, opting for Bing AI or Microsoft Copilot as your search engine would be advantageous. Particularly, individuals who prefer and solely rely on Bing Search (as opposed to Google) will find these enhancements to the Bing experience highly valuable.

Microsoft Copilot AI users love it for searching the web. It cites its sources, is very fast, and is reasonably reliable (as far as AI goes).

Free to use with a connected Microsoft account or $20 per month for CoPilot Pro .

Best AI Chatbot to Replace Google

You.com - Homepage - March 2023

You.com is an AI chatbot and search assistant that helps you find information using natural language. It provides results in a conversational format and offers a user-friendly choice. You.com prioritizes user privacy when handling search data. You.com can be used on a web browser, browser extension, or mobile app. It connects to various websites and services to gather data for the AI to use in its responses. This allows users to customize their experience by connecting to sources they are interested in. Pro users on You.com can switch between different AI models for even more control.

You.com Chat Interface for Fast Internet Search

YouChat gives sources for its answers, which is helpful for research and checking facts. It uses information from trusted sources and offers links to them when users ask questions. YouChat also provides short bits of information and important facts to answer user questions quickly. It is also very fast, which is impressive.

What We Like About You.com

  • App Integration : Connect with over 150 apps for direct integration with different tools.
  • Citations : Uses hyperlinked footnotes to cite sources in its responses.
  • Personalization : You can customize the AI by sharing information about yourself and your usual tasks, similar to Custom Instructions with ChatGPT.
  • Clean UI : It has a nice chat interface that is easy and enjoyable.
  • Image Generator : Makes AI images with Stable Diffusion XL.
  • Educational Discounts : Provides discounted rates for students and educators in academia.
  • Chrome Extension: Users can use You Chat on any page, similar to Edge’s Copilot, but as an extension for added functionality.
  • Privacy: You.com prioritizes user privacy and benefits from not being owned by a major tech company.
  • Price: You.com has turned into a solid product worth using. It has the same price as ChatGPT, but we’d like to see that lower for a competitor. It does offer lower annual rates and education discounts.

Who is You.com Best For?

You.com is great for people who want an easy and natural way to search the internet and find information. It’s an excellent tool for those who prefer a simple and intuitive way to explore the internet and find information. It benefits people who like information presented in a conversational format rather than traditional search result pages.

Not many people have reviewed You.com yet. Be one of the first to share your detailed thoughts.

Free for basic LLM and limited image generation. You Pro costs $20 per month for unlimited GPT-4 and Stable Diffusion XL access.

Try You Chat

10. Character AI

Best ai chatbot for character-based conversations.

Character AI - Homepage - January 2024

The chat interface is simple and makes it easy to talk to different characters. Character AI is unique because it lets you talk to characters made by other users, and you can make your own.

Character AI Chat Interface Screenshot

Read our detailed review on Character.ai for more information on this topic.

What We Like About Character AI

  • Engaging Characters: Chat with different characters for fun and surprising talks with surprising personalities.
  • Character Building: It is much like building a Custom GPT, which lets users make characters that fit their conversation goals.
  • Image Creation: Make pictures for chats, even with free accounts, and share them.
  • Voice Interaction: Talk to a character with a microphone for smoother chats, but it can’t talk back to you yet.
  • Crowded Character List: Character.ai offers a wide range of characters, including niche ones. You may need to create your own or explore numerous pre-existing options to find the perfect character.
  • Basic UI: The chat interface doesn’t look great and lacks extra features.
  • Spammy Chatbots: Users make chatbots, but there are lots of spammy ones to deal with.

Who Is Character AI Best For?

Character AI is great for fun chats and useful advice from virtual friends on topics like science, travel, health, and more. Customizable characters make it fun to socialize and learn from.

Character.ai doesn’t have many online reviews. Share your experience on a review site. Some people say there is a specific culture on the platform that might not appeal to everyone.

Sitejabber Logo

The free version of Character AI is enough to use it. Character AI+ can be purchased for $9.99 per month .

Comparing the Best AI Chatbots

You can find various kinds of AI chatbots suited for different tasks. Here are some brief looks at the chatbots we consider the best options.

Feature Comparison of the Best Chatbots

Features matter in the world of AI. Here’s a look at our top three picks and how they stack up.

🥇 ChatGPT🥈 Jasper Chat🥉 Chatsonic
Starting Price
Free Option✔️✔️
Internet Access✔️✔️✔️
Voice Interaction✔️✔️✔️
Voices and Memories✔️✔️✔️
Multi-Language Support✔️✔️✔️
Writes Code Well✔️
Image Generation✔️✔️✔️
Community RatingSee Reviews
See Reviews
See Reviews

Price Comparison of AI Chatbots

AI pricing is competitive but an important factor. Here’s a look at all our featured chatbots to see how they compare in pricing.

AI ChatbotStarting PriceFree PlanRatings
🥇 $20/mo✔️⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4.5/5
🥈 $49/mo⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5/5
🥉 $13/mo✔️⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5/5
$20/mo✔️⭐⭐⭐⭐
4/5
$49/mo✔️⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4.5/5
$20/mo✔️⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5/5
$20/mo✔️⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4.5/5
$20/mo✔️⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4.5/5
$20/mo✔️⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4.5/5
$9.99/mo✔️⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4.5/5

What is the Best AI Chatbot?

ChatGPT is among our favorites, but it is hardly the only option anymore.

Jasper is a very competitive platform. It works as a capable AI chatbot and as one of the best AI writers. It’s perfect for people creating content for the internet that needs to be optimized for SEO.

Writesonic arguably has the most comprehensive AI chatbot solution. In this powerful AI writer includes Chatsonic and Botsonic —two different types of AI chatbots. All of these are available in its free plan.

Looking for other tools to increase productivity and achieve better business results? Check out all our recommended tools for website owners . We’ve also compiled the best list of AI chatbots for having on your website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Before we wrap up, let’s answer some of your most common questions regarding AI chatbots. Did we miss one? Leave a question below, and we will respond!

What is the best AI chatbot?

What is the best free ai chatbot, which ai chatbot is right for you, what is an ai chatbot, what is the most advanced chatbot ai, how do chatbots work, can i create my own ai chatbot, what are the risks of using ai chatbots, what is the role of an ai chatbot, what should i look for when choosing the best ai chatbot, can chatbots work without ai, what is the effect of ai chatbots in engaging with customers, how does ai influence customer interaction, how can ai chatbots improve user experience, can ai chatbots work for websites that offer professional services.

Featured Image by Irina Strelnikova / shutterstock.com

Top Picks

Explore Our Top Picks

Here are our favorites! 👇

medal icon

By Christopher Morris

Christopher Morris writes about the intersection of Marketing and Websites. He loves to help people gain the confidence to move their passions online. He can be found strolling around LinkedIn as well as the Rocky Mountains in Colorado when he is recharging.

Explore Divi, The Most Popular WordPress Theme In The World And The Ultimate Page Builder

Premade Layouts

Check Out These Related Posts

Wix vs Divi AI: Which AI Website Builder to Choose in 2024?

Wix vs Divi AI: Which AI Website Builder to Choose in 2024?

Posted on June 5, 2024 in Business

Are you tired of AI website builders that don’t deliver? Are you looking for AI features that actually work? In this post, we will discuss two of the best and most popular AI site builders available: Wix (the AI website builder) and Divi (the AI-powered WordPress theme). Both can build...

How to Make a Small Business Website with WordPress in 2024

How to Make a Small Business Website with WordPress in 2024

Updated on June 4, 2024 in Business

Building a brand new website for your business is an excellent step to creating a digital footprint. Modern websites do more than show information—they capture people into your sales funnel, drive sales, and can be effective assets for ongoing marketing. Luckily, WordPress offers flexibility,...

Shopify vs Etsy: Which One’s Better for eCommerce? (2024)

Shopify vs Etsy: Which One’s Better for eCommerce? (2024)

Posted on May 28, 2024 in Business

Have you ever dreamed of selling your crafts online? Two popular platforms, Shopify and Etsy, have the potential to turn those dreams into reality. But which one is right for you? Buckle up because we’re diving into Shopify vs. Etsy to see which fits your unique business goals! Let’s...

best chatgpt essays

How to learn coding ,making AI , making apps.

best chatgpt essays

Any specific reasons why Bing Chat is not even mentioned anywhere? It’s quite powerful especially considering that it used GPT 4 instead of 3.5 (like ChatGPT Free). Or is it just one of those articles which are biased against Microsoft?

best chatgpt essays

because of bing is the same chat gpt…

Leave A Reply Cancel reply

  • Recent Posts
  • Get a Free Chinese Restaurant Layout Pack For Divi
  • How to Make a Church Website with WordPress (2024 Tutorial)
  • Do You Need a WordPress Page Builder in 2024?
  • Download a Free Spa Theme Builder Pack for Divi
  • WordPress Pricing: How Much Does WordPress Cost? (2024)
  • Divi Resources
  • Theme Releases
  • Tips & Tricks

974,872 Customers Are Already Building Amazing Websites With Divi. Join The Most Empowered WordPress Community On The Web

We offer a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, so joining is Risk-Free!

Divi Features

  • All Features Explore Divi
  • Divi Modules
  • Divi Layouts
  • No-Code Builder
  • Ecommerce Websites
  • Theme Builder
  • Marketing Platform
  • Speed & Performance
  • Premium Support
  • Divi Marketplace
  • Divi AI Brand New!
  • Divi Hosting
  • Extra Theme
  • Bloom Plugin
  • Monarch Plugin
  • Plans & Pricing Get Divi Today
  • Documentation
  • Help Articles & FAQ
  • 24/7 Support
  • Developer Docs
  • System Status
  • Product Updates
  • Best Plugins
  • Best Hosting
  • Divi Meetups
  • Divi Facebook Group
  • Divi Examples
  • Divi Integrations
  • Divi Reviews
  • Community Forum
  • Affiliate Program
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 Elegant Themes ®

IMAGES

  1. Writing an Essay with ChatGPT

    best chatgpt essays

  2. How To Use Chatgpt To Write An Essay?

    best chatgpt essays

  3. ChatGPT

    best chatgpt essays

  4. How to Use ChatGPT to Write Essays That Impress

    best chatgpt essays

  5. teaching writing with chatgpt

    best chatgpt essays

  6. How To Use Chat Gpt To Write An Essay With Ease

    best chatgpt essays

COMMENTS

  1. How to Write an Essay with ChatGPT

    ChatGPT can be used to write a thesis statement, develop an outline, find relevant sources, and provide feedback.

  2. 75+ Powerful ChatGPT Prompts for Academic Writing [UPDATED]

    Discover 75+ best ChatGPT prompts for academic writing. Elevate your research and writing with AI-powered insights today. Try them now!

  3. Should I Use ChatGPT to Write My Essays?

    Everything high school and college students need to know about using — and not using — ChatGPT for writing essays.

  4. How ChatGPT (and other AI chatbots) can help you write an essay

    ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that can help you write an essay by generating ideas, outlines, and feedback. Learn how to use it and other chatbots for your writing tasks.

  5. Using ChatGPT for Assignments

    Using ChatGPT for Assignments | Tips & Examples. Published on February 13, 2023 by Jack Caulfield and Tobias Solis. Revised on November 16, 2023. People are still figuring out the best use cases for ChatGPT, the popular chatbot based on a powerful AI language model.This article provides some ideas for how to use ChatGPT and other AI tools to assist with your academic writing.

  6. ChatGPT Prompts for Academic Writing

    This list of writing prompts covers a range of topics and tasks, including brainstorming research ideas, improving language and style, conducting literature reviews, and developing research plans. ...

  7. Using ChatGPT to Write a College Essay

    ChatGPT can be used to brainstorm college essay ideas, develop an outline, and generate feedback.

  8. 5 Ways ChatGPT Can Improve, Not Replace, Your Writing

    Review Your Work. With a bit of cutting and pasting, you can quickly get ChatGPT to review your writing as well: It'll attempt to tell you if there's anything that doesn't make sense, if your ...

  9. How to Use ChatGPT to Write Essays That Impress

    While you're talking to ChatGPT, did you know it can even help you write an essay? Learn how to draft the perfect essay with AI's help here!

  10. How to Use OpenAI to Write Essays: ChatGPT Tips for Students

    Because it's easy for teachers, hiring managers, and college admissions offices to spot AI-written essays, it's best to use your ChatGPT-written essay as a guide to write your own essay. Using the structure and ideas from ChatGPT, write an essay in the same format, but using your own words.

  11. How to use ChatGPT for writing

    And this is another aspect of writing that ChatGPT can aid with, if you know how to go about it. ... Check out our list of the best ChatGPT alternatives and see which one works best for you.

  12. Using ChatGPT for academic essays : r/ChatGPTPro

    Using ChatGPT for academic essays Showcase Hi there I have done another video on using chat for education. I show how you can plan, your essay, ask clarifying questions, rewrite parts of your work and mark your essay with feedback before submission video is 7 min long I tried to keep as focused as possible to not waste anyone time ...

  13. AI bot ChatGPT writes smart essays

    AI bot ChatGPT writes smart essays — should professors worry? The bot is free for now and can produce uncannily natural, well-referenced writing in response to homework questions. Educational ...

  14. Can You Use ChatGPT for Your College Essay?

    Can colleges detect ChatGPT? Can you use it for your application? We explain how submitting a ChatGPT college essay can hurt your chances.

  15. Should I Use ChatGPT for My Essays?

    Similar to the best essay writing apps, ChatGPT aids in developing entire paragraphs and sections, ensuring a seamless flow of ideas throughout the essay. Its contextual understanding can guide students in creating a well-organized narrative that strengthens the overall coherence and impact of their written work. ... ChatGPT for writing essays ...

  16. How to Get ChatGPT to Write Better Fiction

    Understand how ChatGPT uses fiction writing elements to generate text (plot, setting, etc.) Improve ChatGPT's content by giving it solid prompts to work off. Enhance ChatGPT's writing style by giving it specific feedback. Use machine learning techniques to help you get what you want out of the AI model.

  17. ChatGPT Wrote College Application Essays. Here's What Experts Thought

    College essays, sometimes known as personal statements, are an important part of the application process. I asked ChatGPT to write some for me.

  18. The best AI chatbots of 2024: ChatGPT, Copilot and worthy alternatives

    Want to try some of the best AI chatbots and writers in 2024? ZDNET reviews ChatGPT and other alternatives that can help you with various tasks.

  19. ChatGPT essays and more: How teachers and schools are ...

    ChatGPT, an AI tool that can write essays for students, sparks controversy and curiosity among teachers and schools. Find out how they are coping with this new technology.

  20. Can ChatGPT Write My College Essay?

    ChatGPT offers an easy way to generate college essays, prompting faculty to rethink traditional assignments and require students to reflect on personal experiences.

  21. What Is ChatGPT? Everything You Need to Know

    What is ChatGPT? ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot that uses natural language processing to create humanlike conversational dialogue.The language model can respond to questions and compose various written content, including articles, social media posts, essays, code and emails.

  22. How To Write ChatGPT Prompts: Your 2024 Guide

    Ask ChatGPT to generate prompts. While writing your own prompts from scratch is the best way to hone your skills, you might find it helpful to ask ChatGPT on occasion to generate prompts for you. In so doing, you can observe the tool in action and learn more about what makes a prompt effective and the kinds of outputs to expect. ...

  23. 20 Novel Ways To Improve Your ChatGPT Prompts (According To ...

    Follow these rules to write better prompts for ChatGPT and take your work to the next level. If you're using the tool, you might as well do it right.

  24. Applying to College? Here's How A.I. Tools Might Hurt, or Help

    During the podcast, two Yale admissions officers discussed how using tools like ChatGPT to write college essays was a form of plagiarism. An applicant who submitted a chatbot-generated essay, they ...

  25. How to Write a Paper with ChatGPT

    You can use ChatGPT to brainstorm research questions, develop a methodology, or create a research paper outline.

  26. What is ChatGPT & 10 Creative Ways To Use It in 2024

    As one of the best AI chatbots available, ChatGPT is a fantastic tool that can help you with nearly everything.

  27. Read ChatGPT's Take on Leopold Aschenbrenner's AI Essay

    Leopold Aschenbrenner, a fired OpenAI researcher, published a 165-page tract on the future of AI this week. Here's what ChatGPT had to say about it.

  28. What is ChatGPT, DALL-E, and generative AI?

    In this McKinsey Explainer, we define what is generative AI, look at gen AI such as ChatGPT and explore recent breakthroughs in the field.

  29. 5 ChatGPT Prompts To Smash Through Limits (Overcome Limiting ...

    Make ChatGPT your trusted hype person, to smash through the limits that aren't really there. These prompts will transform your trajectory so you're on track for success.

  30. 10 Best AI Chatbots in 2024 (ChatGPT & Top Competitors)

    Pricing. ChatGPT is free to use with ChatGPT Plus, which costs $20 per month.. Try ChatGPT. 2. Jasper Chat 🥈 Best AI Chatbot for Businesses. Jasper is another AI chatbot and writing platform, but this one is built for business professionals and writing teams. While there is much more to Jasper than its AI chatbot, it's a tool worth using.