Yesterday, I wrote about an important AI-related skill knowledge workers like me will need to develop in the next few years.
Today, I’m writing not so much about a skill as a revelation.
A big news story about ChatGPT has been the reaction of Google, with CEO Sundar Pinchai declaring a “code red” in response to ChatGPT.
At first, this news confused me—what did an AI ChatGPT have to do with search?
Google’s concern, of course, is that chatbots like ChatGPT will effectively replace manual search tools like Google, providing a souped-up version of Siri in the coming years. (Which will erode the core of Google’s business—ad revenue associated with traditional search.)
In my job, I often come across unfamiliar client types or building types or even construction methodologies. And Google (or DuckDuckGo, which I tend to use, for privacy reasons) is only so helpful, pointing me at articles or blog posts that may rank high in SEO, but provide only limited context.
A recent example is “health conversion foundation.” I was pretty sure I knew what the term meant, but I figured that I would ask ChatGPT just to be sure.
Tell me what a health conversion foundation is.
A health conversion foundation is a type of nonprofit organization that is created when a hospital or other healthcare facility converts from a for-profit entity to a nonprofit entity.
The foundation is typically established to hold and manage the assets that were previously owned by the for-profit entity, with the goal of using those assets to support the ongoing healthcare mission of the newly formed nonprofit organization.
The foundation’s mission is to support the healthcare organization’s mission and ensure that the community’s healthcare needs are met. This can include providing funding for new facilities and equipment, supporting research and education, and offering charitable care and other services to underserved populations.
The foundation is governed by a board of directors and is typically independent from the healthcare organization, although the two organizations may work closely together. The foundation may also work with other community organizations to support the health and well-being of the community.
It’s important to note that the laws regarding health conversion foundation may vary depending on the state and country, and some may have different requirements or regulations.
This was the best answer I found. There was no sales-y “thought leadership” angle to the content, no external links directing me to specific examples or case studies…just plain information.
(And, based on subsequent searching and reading, a pretty darn accurate description as well.)
You can probably see how ChatGPT and other AI tools will revolutionize these types of searches that occur as part of a knowledge worker’s workflow.
Presently, there are concerns about accuracy when it comes to ChatGPT’s answers to questions like this. That’s a problem if you’re looking for really specific information—like, say, what the regulations for health conversion foundations are in a certain US state.
But if you’re looking for a general idea, then it’s clear that ChatGPT is already a capable assistant. Far better than you having to pick through poorly written blog content on dubious websites!
Taylor Coe 