With a little help from AI

WIAS Magazine - Spring edition 2023
Word from the board

In recent months our workload has been ramping up significantly and as the deadline approached for us to publish our latest edition, we found ourselves still without a word from the board piece. In a rush we decided to get a little help from the latest artificial intelligence technology: OpenAI’s ChatGPT. We asked it to write a lifestyle article piece for an animal science magazine about the advantages and disadvantages of using ChatGPT in animal science research, and we were rather impressed by the answer we got: 

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The field of animal science has been revolutionized by the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools. One such tool that has gained popularity in recent years is ChatGPT. As an AI language model, ChatGPT can analyse vast amounts of data and provide insights into animal behaviour and physiology. However, there are both advantages and disadvantages to using ChatGPT in animal science research.

One major advantage of using ChatGPT in animal science research is its ability to quickly and accurately process large datasets. This is particularly useful in fields such as genomics, where vast amounts of genetic data must be analyzed to understand the mechanisms underlying animal traits and behaviours. ChatGPT's ability to analyze this data in real-time can save researchers a significant amount of time and effort, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their research.
However, one disadvantage of using ChatGPT is that it may not always be able to account for the nuances of animal behaviour and physiology. This is particularly true for species with complex or poorly understood behaviours, such as non-human primates or marine mammals. In these cases, it may be necessary to supplement ChatGPT's analyses with other types of data, such as video recordings or physiological measurements.
Overall, while ChatGPT has the potential to be a valuable tool in animal science research, it is important for researchers to approach its use with caution and to be aware of its limitations. By combining the insights provided by ChatGPT with other types of data and expertise, researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of animal behaviour and physiology, leading to new discoveries and breakthroughs in the field of animal science.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT

So there you go, a surprisingly unbiased response to our request. Not really sure why AI and ML was abbreviated but then were never used again? We guess that is why even ChatGPT seems to agree that animal scientists are still crucial to “account for the nuances of animal behaviour and physiology” – thanks OpenAI! Nevertheless, this little piece will do for our Spring 2023 edition word from the board. Please enjoy the rest of our articles written by your very own colleagues and friends!