ChatGPT is a cutting-edge language model developed by OpenAI that has taken the world by storm since its launch. Trained on a massive corpus of text data, ChatGPT can generate human-like responses to a wide range of questions and prompts. It's hard to imagine, but just a few short years ago, this level of artificial intelligence (AI) technology was the stuff of science fiction. Yet today, it's a reality that is changing the way we interact with machines and each other. The development of ChatGPT represents a major milestone in the field of AI, pushing the boundaries of what was once thought possible. The world changed, and you didn't notice.

With its advanced natural language processing capabilities, ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionize the way CME professionals work and deliver education. From generating high-quality content to providing personalized learning experiences, the applications of ChatGPT are virtually limitless. Whether you're familiar with AI or not, the impact of ChatGPT is sure to be felt for years to come. In this article, we will take a closer look at five key ways ChatGPT can be used to enhance CME programs and improve outcomes for learners.

• Automated Content Generation: CME professionals can use ChatGPT to generate high-quality, relevant and engaging educational content in a fraction of the time it would take to write it manually. This can free up valuable time to focus on other important tasks.
• Virtual Assistance for Learners: ChatGPT can be integrated into a learning management system (LMS) to provide learners with instant support and answer their questions in real time. This can improve the learner experience and reduce the workload for CME professionals.
• Personalized Learning: ChatGPT can personalize learning experiences by providing learners with tailored recommendations and resources based on their individual needs and preferences, thus improving learner engagement and outcomes.
• Qualitative Data Analysis: ChatGPT can make sense of vast amounts of qualitative data received from interviews and open-ended evaluation questions. By using natural language processing (NLP) techniques, ChatGPT can analyze and categorize data, providing insights that can inform decision-making and program improvement.
• Chatbot Development: ChatGPT can develop sophisticated chatbots that can interact with learners and provide them with information and support. This can help CME professionals to reach a wider audience and provide learners with 24/7 access to educational resources.

Interacting with ChatGPT is easy and intuitive, as it uses natural language input to generate responses. To get the most out of ChatGPT, it's important to understand how to construct effective prompts. A well-crafted prompt should clearly state the task or question you want ChatGPT to address. For example, if you want ChatGPT to generate a summary of a research article, you might provide a prompt like: "Summarize the key findings of this research article in your own words." To refine or regenerate responses, you can provide additional information or clarification in your prompt. For example, if you want ChatGPT to provide a more detailed summary of the research article, you might say: "Provide a more detailed summary of the key findings of this research article." It's important to keep in mind that ChatGPT is an AI model, and its responses are generated based on the information it has been trained on. As a result, the quality of its responses will depend on the quality of the data it has been trained on, as well as the clarity of your prompts. With a little practice, you'll soon be able to use ChatGPT to generate high-quality responses to a wide range of questions and tasks.

While ChatGPT has many advantages for CME professionals, there are also potential downsides to consider. One of the main concerns is accuracy. As an AI model, ChatGPT's responses are generated based on the data it was trained on. While the model is sophisticated, it's not perfect. There is always a risk of errors or inaccuracies in its responses. Additionally, there may be concerns around the relevance and specificity of its responses, as it can be difficult for the model to understand the context of a particular question or prompt. It's important for CME professionals to carefully evaluate the quality and accuracy of the information generated by ChatGPT, and to use it in conjunction with other sources and strategies to ensure the best possible outcomes for learners. While ChatGPT has the potential to be a valuable tool for CME professionals, it's important to use it with caution and to be aware of its limitations.

It's clear that ChatGPT represents a major step forward for the field of artificial intelligence and has the potential to revolutionize the way CME professionals work and deliver education. As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more advanced and sophisticated applications of AI in the CME space. In the coming years, AI will likely play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of CME, providing new opportunities for innovation and growth.

CME providers who embrace this technology will be well positioned to stay ahead of the curve and continue to deliver high-quality education to learners. However, it's important to remember that AI is only one tool in the CME provider's toolkit, and it should be used in conjunction with other strategies and techniques to deliver the best possible outcomes for learners.

ChatGPT is a powerful and versatile tool that has the potential to revolutionize the way CME professionals work and deliver education. With its advanced natural language processing capabilities, it provides new opportunities for innovation and growth in the field of CME. Whether you're already familiar with AI or just getting started, it's an exciting time to be involved in the CME profession, and the future looks bright.

Now that you’ve read the article, it’s important to note that it and the title were generated by ChatGPT and had minor edits following review. Prompts were devised and used for the different sections, including:

1. Write a compelling opening paragraph to a newsletter article. The opening paragraph should introduce ChatGPT to a relatively new audience, briefly discussing its history, development and launch. It should end with: "The world changed, and you didn't notice." The paragraph should be 200 words or less.
    
2. What are five applications of ChatGPT for CME professionals? Write them as bullet points with a 75–100 word description for each one. One application should include using ChatGPT to make sense of vast amounts of qualitative data received from interviews and open-ended evaluation questions.
    
3. Write a relevant transition paragraph between the opening paragraph and the five application you just listed.
    
4. Provide a paragraph for the article that is about 100–200 words long describing how to interact with ChatGPT, including constructing effective prompts and how to refine and regenerate responses.
    
5. Write the closing paragraphs of this article, including anything else CME providers should know, forward looking statements on artificial intelligence evolution and how it may apply to the CME profession, and a positive statement to close.
    
6. Write a paragraph to analyze the potential downsides to using ChatGPT by a CME professional. Assess accuracy, relevance and specificity.
    
7. What would be a compelling and sort of funny title for this article?

Want to dive even deeper into how AI is changing the CME game? Check out "How ChatGPT is disrupting CPD" for an exclusive webinar exploring the innovative applications of ChatGPT in CME/CPD.

Andrew Crim, M.Ed., CHCP, FACEhp, is the director of education and professional development for the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG). He has more than 27 years’ experience in adult learning and instructional design of continuing education for health professionals, especially for physicians, nurses and pharmacists. He has developed and overseen thousands of continuing education activities for healthcare professionals in North Texas, throughout the state and around the country. His efforts and interests are focused on using education as a catalyst for clinical improvement and increased safety in healthcare.

Andy serves on the board of directors of the Alliance for Education in the Health Professions and serves on the accreditation subcommittee of the Texas Medical Association. He has received two gubernatorial appointments and continues to serve on the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities.

Mr. Crim is a Fellow of the Alliance for Education in the Health Professions, and his work has been recognized through numerous professional awards, including the ACEHP’s Felch Award for Outstanding Research in CE and the Award for Innovation in the CPD Enterprise. He was also co-author of a peer-reviewed manuscript based on his research.