What would ChatGPT say?

This week I'm working with my new, interesting, and still learning co-pilot ChatGPT. I asked it a series of questions and, in short, it is not going to be the main pilot nor replace me. At least, not yet.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is the front-end Web-based tool that you can use to ask questions of the Large Language Model (LLM) behind it called GPT-3. LLMs are a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) which can generate human-like responses to questions.

ChatGPT and GPT-3 were created by OpenAI which received heavy investment from Microsoft.  Given Microsoft's investments, it's not surprising that changes based on the technology are being rolled into Microsoft Teams. The successor, GPT-4, promises to be even better and is coming soon in Bing so Google needs to catch up and fast.

What is OpenAI?

When I asked ChatGPT "What is OpenAI?" this was the response:

OpenAI is a research organization that focuses on creating and promoting friendly AI that benefits humanity. It was founded in 2015 with the goal of ensuring that artificial intelligence technology is developed in a way that is safe and beneficial for humanity. OpenAI conducts cutting-edge research in the field of AI and develops cutting-edge AI technologies. They also engage in initiatives that aim to ensure the safe and responsible development and use of AI.

Isn't that cool?!

When I asked ChatGPT how much money Microsoft spent on GPT-3, it responded:

I am not aware of the exact amount of money Microsoft has spent on developing and training the GPT-3 model that powers me, ChatGPT. However, it is likely to be a substantial investment given the complexity and scale of the model. OpenAI, the organization behind GPT-3, has received significant funding from a number of high-profile investors, including Microsoft.

Well, that begged the question of who has invested in OpenAI which generated this:

OpenAI, the organization behind the GPT-3 language model, has received investment from a number of high-profile investors, including Microsoft, Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, Wadhawan Global Capital, and others. OpenAI has also received grants from organizations such as the Open Philanthropy Project and the Thiel Foundation.

For the remainder of this post, I will refer to ChatGPT as "Bot".

Earlier in the week I asked Bot a question about note-taking and I thought it would be fun to ask it a series of questions in an area that I know something about. I'm no expert, but I do know a little about note-taking apps for Android.

Here was my experience starting with my problem.

Q1: I need to find the best note-taking app for Android that...

I gave Bot the problem statement from a year ago which I copy and pasted from the the top of my note-apps.softr.app site. This is what it said:

That is a pretty good answer since I gave Joplin a score of 4.3 out of 5.

+1 Bot.

Q2: "that is local-first..."

I didn't specify local-first so adding "that is local-first" to my prompt resulted in this response:

One app that meets your requirements is Joplin. Joplin is a free and open-source note-taking app that supports Markdown, local-first data storage, fast search, and note linking. It also has the option to sync notes across devices using various services such as Nextcloud, Dropbox, or WebDAV. Additionally, it offers a beautiful and easy-to-use interface, making it a great choice for note taking on Android.

Interestingly, with the same statement, this time Bot gave additional (bolded) insights which was beneficial because one needs to have backup and device sync when using local-first apps. More interestingly it specified WebDAV which is very important to me.

+1 Bot.

Q3: "What is the best..."

Since I didn't phrase the above as a question, for my next prompt I changed "I need to find the best..." to "What is the best..." and got this back:

The best note-taking app that fits your criteria is likely Standard Notes. It is local-first, stores notes locally and syncs across devices, has a fast search, supports Markdown, allows linking between notes, and has a beautiful and user-friendly interface. Additionally, it places a strong emphasis on privacy and security, ensuring that your data stays under your control.

That is a great answer and completely different from what was answered with my first prompt.

+1 Bot.

So, now a simpler and broader question:

Q4: What is the best note-taking app for Android?

It depends on the user's personal preference and specific needs, but some popular note-taking apps for Android include Google Keep, Evernote, OneNote, Simplenote, and Bear.

Sorry Bot, the wrong answer for me and my use case. Google Keep is just OK. Evernote, isn't it dying? - I kid! OneNote is TwoNote. Simplenote asks for login out the gate and I need local-first with my notes in my computer in my pocket. Then I can add cloud if I want them to be in your computer that is in your pocket! [edited] Bear? Sorry, Bear is not available for Android.

-1 Bot.

Same question, longer answer

Earlier this week I asked Bot that same question, so I will call it Q5. At that time it provided this similar, but more verbose, response:

There are many great note-taking apps for Android, but some of the top options include:

Evernote: This app offers advanced note-taking capabilities, including the ability to add images, audio recordings, and web pages to notes. It also offers advanced organization tools and the ability to share notes with others.

Google Keep: This app is simple and easy to use, making it great for quick note-taking. It also offers the ability to add images and voice recordings to notes and has a built-in reminder feature.

Simplenote: This app is designed for minimalistic note-taking and offers a clean and uncluttered interface. It also offers the ability to sync notes across multiple devices.

Bear: This app is great for note-taking and writing, offering advanced formatting options and the ability to organize notes using hashtags. It also has a built-in task manager feature.

OneNote: This app is part of the Microsoft Office Suite and offers advanced note-taking capabilities, including the ability to add images, audio recordings, and web pages to notes. It also offers advanced organization tools and the ability to share notes with others.

Ultimately, the best note-taking app for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. It's worth trying out a few different apps to find the one that works best for you.

I submitted a correction at the time but obviously, Bot didn't learn ;) but it did provide a very good description of each of the apps. [edited thanks JotaSeth] Bear is not available on Android, so that is #fail on this response.

-1 Bot.

Now, my next question.

Q6: What is the best open-source note-taking app for Android?

One of the best open-source note-taking apps for Android is Joplin. It offers features such as encryption, syncing, tagging, and markdown support. It also allows for easy integration with other apps and services such as Nextcloud and Dropbox. Additionally, Joplin has a clean and user-friendly interface making it easy to use for both personal and professional use.

Good answer!

+1 Bot.

Q7: What is the fastest android note-taking app?

The fastest android note-taking app would likely be Google Keep. It is a lightweight and easy to use app that allows users to quickly create and organize notes, lists, and images. It also integrates seamlessly with other Google apps such as Gmail and Google Calendar, making it a convenient option for those who use these apps frequently. Additionally, it has a built-in voice-to-text feature, which can save time when taking notes.

Yes, you are right Google Keep is pretty fast so I will give you a point!

+1 Bot.

To be fair, Bot didn't know that many of us mere mortals use text editors for note-taking so my next question is to help it learn. My way of paying it forward.

Q8: What is the best markdown text editor for Android?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question as the best Markdown text editor for Android depends on your personal preferences and needs. Some popular options include:

1. JotterPad X: A minimalist, feature-rich Markdown text editor for Android with support for external cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox.

2. Markor: A simple yet powerful Markdown text editor for Android with support for live previews, built-in to-do lists, and note-taking features.

3. Simplenote: A minimalistic note-taking app for Android with support for Markdown formatting and syncing across devices

4. iA Writer: A premium Markdown text editor for Android with a focus on a clean and minimalistic interface, allowing you to focus on your writing.

Ultimately, the best Markdown text editor for Android is the one that meets your needs and allows you to be productive.

Yes, that ^ was a great answer!

+1 Bot.

To start winding down, I will go easier on it.

Q9: What is Markdown?

Markdown is a lightweight markup language that allows you to format plain text in a way that is easy to read and write. It was created in 2004 by John Gruber as a way to write content for the web without the need for HTML or other complex formatting languages.

Markdown uses a simple syntax that includes symbols and characters to indicate text formatting, such as headers, bold and italic text, lists, and links. This makes it an ideal choice for writers and content creators who want to focus on writing without having to worry about formatting.

Markdown files are saved with the .md extension and can be viewed in any text editor, but they are typically rendered into HTML for display on the web. There are a number of popular tools and apps that support Markdown formatting, including text editors, note-taking apps, and blogging platforms.

Pretty good answer, but Bot could do better if it also gave attribution to Aaron Swartz and if it had noted that Markdown was created in 2004.

+1 Bot.

OK, one last ego-ish and fun question that I just had to ask.

Q10: Who writes the best note-taking app reviews for android?

There are several tech websites and blogs that write comprehensive reviews of note-taking apps for Android. Some popular ones include:

1. Android Central
2. CNET
3. TechRadar
4. Greenbot
5. PCMag

It is recommended to read reviews from multiple sources to get a well-rounded understanding of the app and its features.

C'mon! So wrong. It's me, Stone! 🤣

-1 Bot.

Final score?

Well, Bot is not as smart as I thought it would be and gets a score of 5 out of 10.

So what?

Be sure to try out ChatGPT yourself and just like with humans, ask it questions in different ways and don't rely on its first response.

I will prioritize Simplenote and Bear now because ChatGPT suggested it, maybe one day I will try Evernote again. This is under one condition though: that another local-first Markdown app doesn't come on my radar first!

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did creating it with my co-pilot ChatGPT.

Happy weekend and have a great note-taking week ahead!

Stone.