I really love new technologies and enjoy using them in my life. AI will change our future - that's for sure. But how we can use this tool today, I will try to tell you from the reader's point of view.
ChatGPT uses information already available on the Internet to generate answers to questions. Sure, it sometimes gives weird answers, but given how new this technology is, we realize that the algorithm will only get better over time.
What is the advantage of ChatGPT over Google? It accumulates all the information and gives more specific answers, and you don't have to go to a lot of different sites looking for the right information. Besides, you can actually have a dialog with it and clarify some points.
Always take into account the fact that regardless of the level of accuracy that ChatGPT gives, it can never replace a review written by a human being and you should always doubt their answers (basically, this applies to any information😎).
So, what is the usefulness of ChatGPT for a book lover and how to use it wisely?
1. Get book recommendations based on personal preferences.
Sometimes it is very difficult to find a novel of your liking. While there are many options to get book recommendations , ChatGPT can be quite helpful. Just ask the bot to give some tips based on the book you liked.
Use prompts like:
If I liked reading <insert book title>, what other books would I like?
My favorite book is <insert book title>, what other similar books should I read?
2. Make an annotation of the book.
You can find out what the book is about before you buy it. And also use annotations in case you don't have time to read the whole book, for example, before a lecture, or just for interest.
It's important to remember that ChatGPT can probably give away some spoilers.
Write something like:
Please tell me what the book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is about without spoilers.
3. Find out specific information about books.
If you are looking for some specific details about a book, ChatGPT can help you a lot. In doing so, you can ask literally anything.
For example:
When was The Great Gatsby published? How many pages are in the book? How long would it take the average person to read this book? What genre does it belong to? Write the key points of the book.
4. Ask for an explanation of anything you don't understand.
Another great way to use ChatGPT to make it easier to read is to simply ask anything that is unclear.
For example:
What is transcendent experience?
Or if you don't quite understand the meaning of the novel, you can ask for clarification.
Can you explain to me the meaning of the plot of the book Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco?
5. Make personalized reading strategies.
ChatGPT can make recommendations for you to improve your reading habit. Email it what your current habits are and the specific goals you want to achieve, and it will collect the data and provide you with a personalized strategy. After the initial response, you can continue the "dialog" and ask clarifying questions.
For example:
I want to read more and diversify my book choices. At the moment I only read 1 hour every other day and I usually read science fiction. Make a personalized plan for me.
6. Create lists of books on specific topics.
What ChatGPT is really good at is creating lists in seconds. Whether you want to know which books by a particular author are the best, or books on a particular topic, ChatGPT will create them for you.
Let's say you're planning a trip to Italy and want to read atmospheric novels on the topic. Write:
What are the top 5 novels set in Italy?
Or perhaps you want to read science pop on the subject of the brain - so write that.
One thing to always keep in mind is that artificial intelligence is artificial. It can't replace human communication and it can't take into account your personal preferences and tastes the way a friend would. At least for now, every piece of information provided by ChatGPT should be treated with mistrust.