Your manager asks if you can add an AI assistant to the support page” You’ve heard of GPT-4, but you’re not sure what it actually does well or where to start. This post explains what GPT-4 is, what businesses use it for, and how you can send it your first request.

What is GPT-4?

GPT-4 (Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4) is a large language model from OpenAI. A large language model is a program trained on huge amounts of text so it can read a prompt and write a reply that sounds natural.

OpenAI released GPT-4 in March 2023 as the follow-up to GPT-3 and GPT-3.5. OpenAI stayed tight-lipped about the details, like model size and training data, but GPT-4 was clearly more capable than GPT-3 at reasoning, following instructions and handling longer prompts. OpenAI has shipped newer models since then, so if you’re starting a new project today, check which model fits your budget and needs.

What GPT-4 can do

GPT-4 is good at generating text with more depth and nuance than older models. In practice, that means it can:

• Write drafts of emails, product descriptions and marketing copy
• Answer customer questions in a friendly, human tone
• Summarize long documents or support tickets
• Explain and write code
• Understand images as well as text, in versions that support image input

The range of uses is wide. If a task involves reading or writing language, GPT-4 can usually help with it.

If you want to see how it compares with other language models, I covered the basics in the difference between NLP and BERT.

How GPT-4 helps businesses connect with customers

GPT-4 helps businesses connect with customers by producing high-quality, engaging content and faster, more personal replies. Done well, that builds trust and brand loyalty, and it can boost sales.

Two uses stand out:

• Chatbots and customer service: GPT-4 can draft automated replies that feel less robotic than old scripted bots.
• Marketing campaigns: GPT-4 can create persuasive copy, test different versions of an ad, and adapt the message for different audiences.

One honest caveat: GPT-4 can sound confident and still be wrong. I’d suggest keeping a human in the loop for anything a customer sees, at least at first.

Send your first GPT-4 request

To try GPT-4 from your terminal, set your API key and call the Chat Completions endpoint:

export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-api-key"

curl https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $OPENAI_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "model": "gpt-4",
    "messages": [
      {"role": "user", "content": "Write a friendly reply to a customer asking about a late order."}
    ]
  }'

You should get back a JSON response. The reply text is under choices[0].message.content. If you get an error about the model, check which models your account has access to and swap in that name.

Want to go further? I walked through a full build in my GPT-4 chatbot project with a vector database. And if you’re curious how far AI coding help can go, see how I built a retro game with AI.

Where GPT-4 fits for you

If you’re a business owner, GPT-4 is a practical way to engage customers in a more meaningful way without hiring a big content team. If you’re a developer, it’s a solid building block for your next AI-powered app. Start small: one chatbot, one workflow, then grow from there.

Hope this saves you some time. 🙂

Frequently asked questions

Is GPT-4 free to use?

Using GPT-4 through the OpenAI API is a paid service billed by usage. Pricing changes over time, so check OpenAI’s pricing page before you plan a budget.

What is the difference between GPT-4 and GPT-3?

GPT-4 is the newer model and is better at following instructions, reasoning through problems and handling longer prompts. Some versions of GPT-4 can also read images, which GPT-3 could not.

Can GPT-4 replace my customer support team?

GPT-4 can handle common questions and draft replies quickly, but it can make mistakes that sound confident. Most teams use it to support human agents rather than replace them.

Do I need to know machine learning to use GPT-4?

No. You can use GPT-4 through a simple API call or a chat interface without training any model yourself. Basic programming skills are enough to build a first prototype.