What ChatGPT Cannot Do
Understanding ChatGPT's limitations is just as important as knowing its strengths. This lesson will help you recognize when ChatGPT might not be the right tool, saving you frustration and potential mistakes.
The Core Limitations
1. No Access to Real-Time Information
The problem: ChatGPT (in its basic form) doesn't browse the internet. It only knows what it learned during training, which has a cutoff date.
This means it can't:
- Tell you today's weather
- Give you current stock prices
- Report recent news
- Check if a website is working
- Look up current business hours
What happens if you ask: ChatGPT might give you outdated information or admit it doesn't know. Sometimes it might provide information that was accurate at its training cutoff but is now wrong.
Workaround: Use ChatGPT Plus with the Browse feature, or verify current information through search engines.
ChatGPT will likely explain that it can't provide real-time prices.
2. Can Make Mistakes (Hallucinations)
The problem: ChatGPT can confidently state things that are completely wrong. AI researchers call these "hallucinations."
Common areas for mistakes:
- Specific statistics and numbers
- Historical dates and events
- Technical specifications
- Quotes from people
- Recent events
- Scientific details
Example of potential error: If you ask "What year did Company X go public?" ChatGPT might give you a year that sounds plausible but is incorrect.
How to handle this:
- Always verify important facts from authoritative sources
- Be especially careful with numbers, dates, and quotes
- Cross-check information you plan to use professionally
3. No Personal Memory Between Conversations
The problem: By default, ChatGPT doesn't remember previous conversations. Each new chat starts fresh.
This means:
- You need to re-explain context each time
- It won't remember your preferences
- Previous conversations don't influence new ones
- It doesn't know who you are
Workaround: Use Custom Instructions to save persistent context, or enable memory features if available.
4. Cannot Access External Systems
The problem: ChatGPT cannot:
- Access your files or documents
- Send emails on your behalf
- Book appointments
- Make purchases
- Control other software
- Access private databases
It's isolated - it can only work with what you type into the chat (unless you're using specific features like file upload).
5. Cannot Perform Actions in the Real World
The problem: ChatGPT can only provide text. It cannot:
- Make phone calls
- Submit forms
- Update your calendar
- Post to social media
- Actually complete tasks for you
It advises, you execute. ChatGPT can tell you how to do something, but you have to do it yourself.
6. Limited Mathematical Ability
The problem: ChatGPT can make arithmetic errors, especially with:
- Complex calculations
- Large numbers
- Multi-step math problems
- Precise financial calculations
Workaround: Use Code Interpreter (ChatGPT Plus) for calculations, or verify math with a calculator.
For important calculations, always verify the math yourself.
Situations Where ChatGPT Struggles
Medical, Legal, or Financial Advice
The problem: ChatGPT is not qualified to give professional advice.
Why it's risky:
- Information might be outdated
- It can't account for your specific situation
- Mistakes could have serious consequences
- It lacks professional judgment
What to do instead: Use ChatGPT to understand concepts or prepare questions, but always consult qualified professionals for important decisions.
Recent Events and News
The problem: ChatGPT's knowledge has a cutoff date.
It won't know about:
- News from the past few months
- Recent product releases
- Current political situations
- Latest research findings
Highly Specialized Technical Topics
The problem: ChatGPT's knowledge is broad but not always deep.
May struggle with:
- Very niche professional knowledge
- Cutting-edge research
- Obscure technical specifications
- Industry-specific regulations
Emotional Support and Mental Health
The problem: While ChatGPT can be conversational, it's not a therapist.
Limitations:
- Cannot provide professional mental health care
- May miss important cues
- Cannot replace human connection
- Not appropriate for crisis situations
If you're struggling, please reach out to mental health professionals or crisis hotlines.
Warning Signs That ChatGPT Might Be Wrong
Watch for these red flags:
- Very specific numbers - Precise statistics should be verified
- Confident tone about uncertain topics - ChatGPT can sound sure even when wrong
- Information about recent events - Likely outdated or fabricated
- Quotes from people - Often paraphrased or invented
- Obscure facts - Less common information is more error-prone
- When stakes are high - Medical, legal, financial decisions need expert verification
How to Work Around Limitations
For Current Information
I know you can't access real-time info, but can you help me understand what factors affect Bitcoin prices?
For Important Decisions
Help me prepare questions to ask my doctor about this medication.
What should I ask a lawyer about this contract?
For Verification
You mentioned X statistic. What source should I check to verify this is current?
For Complex Calculations
If using ChatGPT Plus:
Use Code Interpreter to calculate the compound interest on $10,000 at 5% APR over 10 years.
Exercise: Identify the Risk
For each scenario, think about whether ChatGPT is reliable:
- Writing a birthday poem - Low risk, good use case
- Getting current stock prices - High risk, can't do it
- Understanding what inflation means - Good use case
- Determining the exact dosage for medication - Do NOT use ChatGPT for this
- Brainstorming vacation ideas - Good use case
- Finding out who won last week's game - High risk, may be outdated
The Healthy Approach to ChatGPT
Think of ChatGPT like:
A very knowledgeable friend who:
- Usually has good information but sometimes gets things wrong
- Hasn't read the news today
- Can help you think through problems
- Should not be your only source for important decisions
- Is great for drafting but you should review their work
Not like:
- A doctor, lawyer, or financial advisor
- A search engine with live results
- An infallible oracle
- A replacement for human professionals
Key Takeaways
- ChatGPT cannot access real-time information (without Browse feature)
- It can confidently state incorrect information - always verify important facts
- It doesn't remember between conversations (by default)
- It cannot take actions in the real world
- For medical, legal, or financial decisions, consult professionals
- Watch for warning signs: specific numbers, recent events, confident claims
- Use ChatGPT as a helpful assistant, not an authoritative source
In our final module, we'll cover privacy and safety - essential knowledge for using ChatGPT responsibly.