I use ChatGPT both for work and as general interest, and subscribe to version 4.
It is very good at technical documentation, eg comparing two documents and identifying the differences between them. Also, you know those long e-mail threads you sometimes get at work, cut and paste into ChatGPT and just ask it - what's going on here?, it will summarize it for you (and even prepare a response if you want it to). It sometimes gets things wrong, but if you spot a mistake and tell it - it will usually correct it and refine its answer.
Programming, it seems to be pretty good - if you need to write some code to do something it generally gets it right. I was interviewing a SW developer and needed some code with some intentional mistakes in, to test them out during the interview. It was able to give me the code, tell me what was wrong and how it should be put right. Saves hours.
Creative tasks, actually this is where I am really blown away. For example in one test (for fun) I fed it the lyrics to "Sultans of Swing" (one of my favourites) and asked it what the song meant - I then asked it to prepare a variant of the song, but based on the tune to "Major General" (from the Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan). This is what it came up with:
I am the very model of a Sultan of the Swing-a-lore,
From jazz-filled pubs in London town to every Dixie liquor store.
In rain or shine, with my guitar, I play the notes and chords that soar,
With melodies that captivate, they'll never say it's such a bore.
With young boys in their platform shoes, they come around and stand in awe,
Of rhythms deep and solos sweet, we play them without any flaw.
Though rock and roll's their usual jam, our jazzy tunes will drop their jaw,
For in the world of music, jazz’s a style without a single drawback.
I've studied ancient blues and riffs, from BB King to Muddy’s core,
I know the tales of legends old, of days when vinyl was the law.
Yet in this pub, we make our mark, each night a tale, an evermore,
I am the very essence of the Sultan of the Swing-a-lore!
With Harry on the Honky Tonk, and George who's strumming by my side,
Our daytime jobs just fade away, as music takes us on a ride.
So come on down, enjoy the sound, let's swing and sway in music's tide,
For we're the band, the Sultans grand, in jazz and blues, our hearts confide.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Version 5 can do, and for the upcoming launch of Microsoft Co-Pilot.
