What can you learn from feeding an entire book on Python programming into ChatGPT-4 and asking it to provide a technical review? What are the potential pitfalls of using an LLM as a learning tool? This week on the show, author Al Sweigart talks about his recent experiments using ChatGPT and Python.

Al wanted to test how well an LLM could understand the computer science concepts covered in his recent book, The Recursive Book of Recursion. We talk about the positive and negative results of this technical review. We consider if this would be a valuable tool for technical review of your projects.

Al shares his thoughts on using ChatGPT as a learning tool and its potential pitfalls. We also cover the current strengths of this type of tool for Python developers.

Course Spotlight: Python Basics Exercises: Conditional Logic and Control Flow

In this Python Basics Exercises course, you’ll review how to use conditional logic to write programs that perform different actions based on different conditions. Paired with functions and loops, conditional logic allows you to write complex programs that can handle many different situations.

Topics:

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:01:51 – Reasons for experimenting
00:04:24 – Using ChatGPT to review his recursion book
00:10:45 – Why do this review?
00:11:34 – The trouble of confabulation
00:18:45 – Meaning of artificial intelligence over time
00:28:21 – Video Course Spotlight
00:29:54 – Detailed prompts and asking for specifics
00:36:44 – Potential pitfalls for learning
00:49:48 – Checking for flaws in generated code
00:54:58 – How can it be useful?
01:01:33 – Touching briefly on ethics
01:02:35 – What are you excited about in the world of Python?
01:05:21 – What do you want to learn next?
01:07:36 – Python Programming Exercises, Gently Explained
01:09:20 – How can people follow your work online?
01:09:49 – Thanks and goodbye

Show Links:

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Python Basics: Strings and String Methods
Python Basics Exercises: Conditional Logic and Control Flow
Python Basics: Conditional Logic and Control Flow

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Considering ChatGPT's Technical Review of a Programming Book