Chat-GPT : a clever search engine or a creative design assistant for students and industry?

Maclachlan, Ross and Adams, Richard and Lauro, Veeti and Murray, Michael and Magueijo, Vitor and Flockhart, Gordon and Hasty, William (2024) Chat-GPT : a clever search engine or a creative design assistant for students and industry? In: 26th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, 2024-09-05 - 2024-09-06, Aston University. (In Press)

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Abstract

The intelligent design assistant has been an enduring interest for design research and industry. ChatGPT is an AI chatbot released in 2022 providing text-based responses to user queries, generating content, able to converse and improve; this different to finding static content like a search engine. ChatGPT has created a landmark surge in popular interest in Generative Artificial Intelligence, and given its nonprescriptive nature, it is timely to take a snapshot of its use in industry and design education. This paper presents survey results from industry and from undergraduate product design students. 61-65% of both groups utilise ChatGPT for project work, sometimes daily, but most commonly a weekly basis, indicating growing utility in industry and education. Tasks most commonly begin with ChatGPT and refined by users. Industry respondents commonly check human work too. The most common application was research, with free text responses highlighting idea generation, and coding as more creative endeavors. Industry commonly use it for refinement of written communication, while students employ it for CV and letter drafting, even potentially design folio content (less likely). Higher numbers of respondents agree that ChatGPT could enhance work scope, quality, and creativity, with potential need for training in industry and in embedding in university education. Daily or weekly use of ChatGPT for research tasks reminiscent of what one respondent termed a "clever search engine," yet new applications are emerging. Universities have the opportunity to prepare graduates for evolving industry practices, and indeed to influence those practices.

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