“Innovate better together” is Selmers’ slogan for a reason. That also applies to how employees use technology. That’s why, on March 5, a Meemaken training session focused on ChatGPT was given. No dry theory, but a hands-on workshop where employees learned how to use ChatGPT to work faster, smarter, and more efficiently.

More Than Just Talk
For some, AI still sounds like a buzzword, but it’s no longer futuristic hype. More and more companies are embracing AI technology. In 2024, 22.7% of businesses actively use it. Selmers was an early adopter back in 2022.

Natascha Amesz, Editorial Manager at Selmers, kicked things off with a short introduction: What is ChatGPT? What can it do? And what should you watch out for? From free versus paid versions to smart ways to craft better prompts.

“Hey Google, turn on the lights!” – so 2024…
Natascha Amesz, Editorial Manager at Selmers, kicked off with a short demonstration of the voice mode with video (the latter being a new feature in the GPT Plus subscription). The AI assistant was able to recognize the setting of the session and personally greet participants.

The challenge to generate a perfectly full-to-the-brim wine glass using the built-in DALL·E led to some hilarious results. No matter how the prompt was phrased, the AI just couldn’t get it right. The glass stayed filled to a recognizable 2/3rds, or the wine ended up leaking through the glass instead of filling it. And the AI repeatedly going, “Aaaah, okay, now I see it!” [NOT….]

Then, it was time to get practical. Through hands-on exercises, participants explored how to use ChatGPT to improve texts, extract or gather information faster, and communicate more effectively. Not just for daily tasks, but also for larger strategic projects like market research and competitor analysis.

The Pitfalls of ChatGPT (and Other LLMs)
Of course, ChatGPT has its limits. One key topic in the training was the risk of hallucinations—‘it’ can sound very convincing… but often misses the mark, especially with poorly worded prompts. That’s why critical thinking and fact-checking were a big focus. ChatGPT is not a replacement for human expertise but a tool that needs to be used wisely. Privacy, copyright, and the ethical aspects of AI were also discussed. Because AI is a powerful tool, but it requires responsible use.

What’s Next?
The training gave plenty of food for thought. How can ChatGPT help save time? Which tasks are best suited for automation? And how do we ensure that we use ChatGPT in a way that truly adds value? There was a lot to take in, but everyone left with key takeaways, no matter their level of experience.