Don’t trust ChatGPT search, at least for now

Business Technology News: Don’t Trust ChatGPT Search

Here are five business technology news stories from this week and how they impact your business. Were you lonely?

1 – Business Tech News: Don’t trust ChatGPT Search, always check what you see there.

ZDNet’s Sabrina Ortiz reported concerns about the accuracy of ChatGPT searches. Citing a report from Columbia’s Digital Journalism Tow Center, it found that ChatGPT Search did not provide accurate data and that some results were “partially or completely inaccurate.” To test the search tool, we randomly selected articles and publishers. They found that the AI ​​sometimes misattributed quotes or cited the wrong source. The report also highlighted instances of “false trust,” or failure to indicate that ChatGPT failed to obtain accurate information. This article advises users to verify information from ChatGPT Search by checking the source itself. (Source: ZDNet)

Why this is important for your business:

I couldn’t agree more with Ortiz, but let’s not stop at ChatGPT. I’ve used Gemini, Copilot, Claude, and Perplexity and was similarly blown away by their search capabilities and the results they generated. I’ve been working on articles asking these chatbots for information and citing their references, but when I asked further questions, they all said they made mistakes or contained incorrect information. acknowledged. Of course, we all know that these generative AI tools are powerful, can help increase productivity, and will only get better over time. However, for now, proceed with caution.

2 – Business Tech News: TikTok says the ban will cost US small businesses and creators $1.3 billion in the first month.

If TikTok were to be potentially banned in the United States, American small businesses and creators could lose $1.3 billion in revenue and profits in the first month. TikTok claims the ban, which is scheduled to go into effect on January 19, 2025, will have a major impact on businesses that rely on the platform for marketing and sales. “If the shutdown lasts longer than a month, this number will increase even more,” said Blake Chandley, head of global solutions at TikTok. The company is seeking a temporary restraining order to postpone the ban while it appeals to the Supreme Court. (Source: CNBC)

Why this is important for your business:

I have mixed feelings about the impending ban on TikTok. Are the Chinese really influencing users? And should the government be the arbiter of this issue? For better or for worse, can’t we trust people to use technology as they see fit? Regardless of these opinions, the bottom line is that TikTok is one step closer to obsolescence, and if your business If you rely on this social platform to sell or create an audience, it means you need to have a backup plan.

3 – Business Tech News: Small businesses using generative AI report successful adoption and increased employee satisfaction.

Management platform Gusto reveals how small businesses are adopting generative AI in its 2024 State of Small Business study. Their findings include that 57% of small business owners are experimenting with AI. One in four people are incorporating GenAI into their operations. Of those using this technology, 45% report easier adoption. The most common tasks supported by AI are marketing and customer service using tools such as chatbots. Despite the benefits, 43% of small businesses have not considered using GenAI due to lack of awareness or resources. (Source: Gust)

Why this is important for your business:

Let’s break down the numbers here…Gust surveyed 1,300 people, but keep in mind that there are 33 million small business owners in this country. So I’m not really sure if this is a truly representative sample. Of the 1,300 people surveyed, one in four (325 people) said they were incorporating GenAI into their operations. And of those, 45% (146 people) said it helped them get hired. In other words, approximately 11% of the total sample said GenAI helped them with their recruitment. I’d like to hear more from the other 89%.

4 – Business Tech News: Amazon offers Intuit QuickBooks software to millions of third-party sellers.

Amazon and Intuit announced a multi-year strategic partnership to integrate QuickBooks into Amazon Seller Central. Scheduled to go live in mid-2025, the integration aims to provide third-party sellers with comprehensive financial management tools, including real-time insights into profitability, cash flow, inventory, and tax estimates. Sellers can also access personal loans directly from Amazon Seller Central through QuickBooks Capital. This partnership is designed to help sellers better manage their finances, streamline operations, and ultimately grow their business more efficiently. (Source: CNBC)

Why this is important for your business:

First, there is already third-party software that does this. Additionally, many e-commerce platforms such as Shopify and Magento are tightly integrated with QuickBooks and other tools. So this is not groundbreaking. But Amazon’s official partnership with QuickBooks maker Intuit could be a better option for many small sellers.

5 – Business Tech News: OpenAI launches Sora video generator for all users.

OpenAI has announced the launch of a new AI-powered video generator, “Sora.” Users can generate videos up to 20 seconds long at up to 1080p resolution. The tool supports various aspect ratios and allows users to incorporate their own photos and videos. A new interface makes it easier to create prompts and manage your video projects. Early reviews suggest that while Sora produces impressive results, it still has some limitations, such as unnatural physics and occasional inaccuracies. Sora is now available to ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Pro subscribers. (Source: Gizmodo)

Why this is important for your business:

This is important. There are other smaller, less reliable, and more questionable AI apps that claim to generate video from text, but Sora is more powerful and flexible. OpenAI took some time to release this to make sure it met some level of acceptance, and they achieved that. For creators, this is a game changer. For businesses, this is a great platform for creating marketing, training, and technical content.

Every Sunday, we’ll highlight five business technology news that will impact your company.