Maximizing the Benefits of AI-Powered Assistant ChatGPT for PIOs

ChatGPT and AI continue evolving and developing, providing PIOs with many opportunities. However, it's understandable that some people are skeptical and resist using AI to support them in their work.

I've had the opportunity to use ChatGPT extensively over the past twelve months, and I'm making a point of testing it with every possible use case that a PIO could have. It's possibly one of the most rapidly developing technologies I've ever seen in my career and far outstrips the growth of social media in public communication.

As a result, I've developed a broad knowledge of how it can support communicators but also question certain aspects such as accuracy, data integrity, and misinformation. 

ChatGPT is an AI-powered assistant that can help you communicate more effectively with your audience. It can help you generate content quickly, respond to real-time inquiries, and provide personalized responses to your audience. Additionally, it can help you save time and resources by automating certain tasks, such as scheduling social media posts and sending out newsletters.

I've compared ChatGPT, Bard (from Google), Grammarly, and other AI tools to see how they fare, but when it comes to ChatGPT, there are a multitude of tasks that I call 'busy work' that it is so incredibly helpful with. These include:

• Writing and producing content

• Responding to crises

• Community engagement

• Communication strategies

• Managing media inquiries

• Creating press releases

• Drafting scripts for video

• Creating a social media schedule and posts

However, as with anything new and shiny that has gone largely untested in the public realm, there are pros and cons. 

Pros:

Efficiency: Handling repetitive tasks, allowing focus on complex issues.

Accuracy and Consistency: Reducing human error.

Scalability: Managing large-scale communication with ease.

Cons:

Lack of Human Touch: AI may miss the nuances of empathetic communication.

Dependence on Data Quality: Effectiveness is tied to the data's quality.

Potential for Misinformation: Risk of spreading misinformation if not monitored.

One of the biggest concerns is around people not crediting their work with the use of AI tools. The challenge around this is that PIOs could lose out on training if they are simply told to use ChatGPT to do it. There is nothing that can replace the real-life experience of dealing with a crisis, community engagement, or emergency situation, and it needs to be clear from the outset that an AI tool should not be used as a proxy PIO. 

However, there is a lot to be gained from getting a great understanding of how this can reduce stress and unnecessary workload. Considering how much the work of a PIO can take a toll on mental health, this can only be a good thing.

Did I use ChatGPT to write this blog post? I tried, but I didn't like how it sounded, and I actually enjoy writing, so I didn't need to. If you're not a natural writer, it can be great to shake out the cobwebs and help you tighten up your writing. Anything that gives people more confidence in what they do can only be a good thing.

I've created an online interactive training session on ChatGPT and AI. It's informative and engaging. We go through real-life scenarios to see ChatGPT's scope. We also look at the limitations and legal and ethical implications.

Join the next ChatGPT Learn Along