Understanding PittGPT

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Overview

Introduction to PittGPT

Welcome to PittGPT, your versatile AI assistant designed to enhance productivity and creativity. PittGPT harnesses the power of advanced generative AI, offering a range of capabilities to support various tasks. Whether you're faculty, a member of staff, or a researcher, PittGPT can help you streamline your work and bring your ideas to life.

What is GPT?

GPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer, a type of AI model that can understand and generate human-like text. It's trained on a vast amount of data, enabling it to assist with tasks like writing, data analysis, and more. With PittGPT, you have a powerful partner at your fingertips!

Getting Started with Prompt Writing

Prompt writing is how you communicate with PittGPT. Here is a knowledge base article to help you write an effective prompt if you need help.

Core Capabilities of PittGPT

Writing Assistance: PittGPT can generate text, assist with editing, and help you continue your thoughts, making it an invaluable tool for writing essays, reports, or creative content.
Data Analysis: With the ability to perform complex data analysis, PittGPT can handle large data sets, run statistical models, and create visual representations, helping you make sense of your data and draw meaningful insights.
Image Creation: Transform your words into visuals with PittGPT's image creation feature. Describe a scene or concept, and watch it come to life as a detailed image, perfect for presentations, educational materials, or storytelling.
Web Browsing and Data Extraction: PittGPT can browse the web to gather information, extract relevant data, and provide you with up-to-date facts and figures, making research a breeze.
Enhanced Privacy: Rest assured that your data remains private and secure. PittGPT operates within a closed system network, ensuring that no user data is used for retraining or shared externally.

Discovering PittGPT's Potential

PittGPT is more than just a tool; it's your AI-powered partner, ready to assist you in achieving your goals with efficiency and creativity. Explore the possibilities and discover how PittGPT can transform the way you work and learn.

Responsible Use

While PittGPT is a powerful tool, it's important to use it responsibly and ethically. Always verify information generated by the AI, especially for academic or professional work, as AI can sometimes produce inaccurate or outdated content. Remember that AI-generated content should supplement, not replace, your own critical thinking and expertise. For academic work, follow Pitts’ guidelines on AI usage and ensure proper attribution when using AI assistance. Additionally, be mindful of potential biases in AI outputs and cross-reference important information with authoritative sources.

Please note: There is a limit to fifty (50) messages per day.

Access

PittGPT is only available to Pitt faculty and staff. Students should use Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat or Google Gemini Chat.
If there is a special situation where access is being requested, please submit a help ticket.

Log in

Open your favorite web browser (e.g., Firefox, Chrome, Safari) and visit the PittGPT web site.
You may be required to complete the login process with multi-factor authentication through Pitt Passport.
Select PittGPT (powered by CAI) on the PittGPT Apps screen to access the main platform. You can also select My Settings to customize your account settings immediately.

Details

Navigating Chat

Section Topics:

1. Navigation Bar

2. Chat History Panel▼

Context menu

3. Templates Grid

4. Chat Input Box▼

Chat Bubbles

Navigation Bar

The Navigation Bar includes the following items:

Chat: Return to the main dashboard.
Data Collections: Access and manage your data collections, including creating new collections and organizing existing ones.
Templates: Templates are predefined structures or formats that help you create consistent outputs or prompts. Create custom templates here.
App Settings: Customize your PittGPT settings, including user preferences and app-specific configurations.
Profile: View and edit your profile information.

Chat History Panel

The Chat History Panel includes the following items:

Start New Chat: Use the Start New Chat button to start a new chat.
Search Functionality: Use the search bar at the top of the panel to quickly find specific conversations or topics.
Review Past Conversations: Scroll through your previous chats to find information or continue a discussion.

Context Menu (More Options)

The Context (or More Options) Menu includes the following items:

More Options: Use the More Options button at the bottom right of your chat to organize your chat.
Pin Chat: Use the Pin Chat button to pin the chat to the top of your chat history.
Rename Chat: Use the Rename Chat button to rename your chat.
Share Chat: Use the Share Chat button to share your chat.
Delete Chat: Use the Delete Chat button to delete a chat.

Templates Grid

The Templates Grid on the main page provides users with a variety of pre-designed templates to help kickstart their interactions and streamline common tasks. This feature is especially useful for new users or those looking for a quick way to perform specific actions within the platform.

Chat Input Box

The Chat Input Box includes the following items:

Text Entry: Simply type your message as you would in any chat application.
Attaching Files: Click the "Include File" button to attach documents, images, or other files to your chat.
Modify Settings: Click the "Modify Settings " button to change the assistant settings, response settings, and give the model and assistant instructions to further enhance the capability of the chat.
Managing Data: Click the "Manage Data Sources" button to attach documents, insert web links, see full chat memory and add data collections.
Send Message: Click the "Send Message" button to send your message to PittGPT.

Chat Bubbles

Each chat bubble provides several options to enhance your interaction with PittGPT:

Edit: Click the pencil icon to edit your message and resend it.
Copy: Click the copy icon to copy the chat bubble to your clipboard for use elsewhere.
Regenerate: Click the refresh icon to generate a new response if the initial one was unsatisfactory.
Dislike: Click the thumbs-down icon if the response was not helpful. PittGPT will learn from this feedback.
Audit Trail: View the history of changes and edits made to the chat.

Adding Knowledge to PittGPT

The "Adding Knowledge to PittGPT" section guides users through the process of integrating various types of data into the Platform. This includes creating and managing data collections, uploading files, and adding text notes. By effectively adding and organizing knowledge within PittGPT, users can ensure that they have all the relevant information at their fingertips, enhancing their ability to perform tasks and make informed decisions.

Section Topics:

1. Data Collections▼

Create and Manage Collections

Add or Delete Sub-folders

Integrate Files and Web Pages

Create and Manage Text Notes

Tips for getting the most out of Data Collections

File Formats to Use

2. File Uploads

3. Chat Templates▼

Creating a New Template

Using Templates

Filtering Templates

Managing Templates

Data Collections

Data Collections in PittGPT allow users to gather and organize related files and websites in one place, making it easier to include them in chats and reference them as needed.

Create and Manage Collections

Create a collection

1. From the main page, navigate to the Data Collections section by clicking the Data Collections link in the navigation bar.

2. Click the "Create New Collection" button.

3. Enter a (1) name and (2) description for your collection, and click (3) "Create".

Managing Collections

Use the context menu (three dots) next to each collection to (1) rename, (2) share, or (3) delete the collection. Click the (4) start icon to pin it to the top of the My Collections list. Click the magnifying lens icon (5) to search the collection.

Add or Delete Sub-folders:

Add a Sub-folder

Within a collection, you can create sub-folders to further organize your data by topics or projects.

1. Click the "Add Sub-folder" button.

2. Type a (1) name for the sub-folder and click (2) "Create Folder".

3. Add files to the sub-folder by dragging and dropping files into the designated area or by clicking it and then using your file browser to first select it and then upload it by clicking the "Open" button.

Delete a Sub-Folder

Click the trash can icon next to a sub-folder to delete it.

Integrate Files and Web Pages:

Add Files

Add files to your data collection by dragging and dropping files into the designated area or by clicking it and then using your file browser. Supported file types include images, documents, PDFs, transcripts, caption files, and more.

Add Web Pages

Although web page integration is a future feature, you will soon be able to include URLs and web pages as references within your collections.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Data Collections

Data Collections are a powerful tool, but knowing which types of content work best with PittGPT can make a big difference. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to get the most out of this feature.

1. Opt for Text-Rich Documents

PittGPT is great at processing and understanding large amounts of text. Text-heavy documents, such as reports, articles, guides, and transcripts, are ideal for Data Collections. Upload these kinds of files when you want your assistant to extract insights, summarize content, or generate responses based on the text. PDFs, Word documents, and plain text files work particularly well.

2. Leverage Structured Data

If you’re working with structured data, such as spreadsheets or tables, PittGPT can effectively interpret and analyze rows of data, providing summaries or performing calculations based on that structure. Just be mindful that while the model can understand patterns in structured data, it won’t replace a dedicated analytics tool for complex calculations or data transformations.

3. Include Clear, Purposeful Notes

Use Data Collections’ text note feature to capture quick summaries or highlight key points. Short, focused notes help guide the model in understanding the context of your files and can serve as anchors for the broader documents. For instance, adding a note explaining the contents of a report or providing key takeaways can significantly improve PittGPT’s accuracy in generating relevant responses.

4. Avoid Audio/Video Files Without Transcripts

PittGPT is not inherently equipped to process audio or video files. However, if you include transcripts or captions alongside these media files, the model can analyze the content effectively. Use transcripts when possible, as they allow PittGPT to generate summaries, key takeaways, or even provide answers to questions based on spoken content.

File Formats to Use
Recommended Formats	Formats to Avoid
Plain Text (.txt) PDFs (.pdf) Word Documents (.docx) Spreadsheets (.csv, .xlsx) Markdown (.md) JSON and XML (.json, .xml)	Audio/Video Files (.mp3, .wav, .mp4, .mov) Encrypted or Proprietary Formats (.zip, .exe, .psd, .indd) Complex Design Files (.ai, .fig)

Create and Manage Text Notes:

Create a Note

Within a data collection, you can add text notes to provide context or additional information.

1. Begin by selecting the (1) Text Notes, then click the (2) "Add Text Note" button.

2. Enter a (1) Note Title as well the (2) Note Content and click (3) "Create".

Manage a Text Note

Text notes can be edited or deleted using the (1) pencil or (2) trash can icon next to each note.

File Uploads

File Uploads allow users to incorporate various types of documents and media into their chats and data collections. This feature enhances the richness of interactions by enabling the use of external files, which PittGPT can integrate and reference within conversations.

Upload Files for Use in Chats and Data Collections:

Uploading Files

1. To upload a file, click the "Include File" button within a chat.

2. Drag and drop your file into the designated area of the chat or data collection or use the file browser to select it. Close out of the pop-up window after the file has been uploaded.

Manage Uploaded Files

Deleting Files

1. If a file is no longer needed, click the "Manage Data Sources" button in the chat window to delete/remove it from the chat.

2. Click the "Remove" button.

If deleting from a data collection, click the trash can icon.

Chat Templates

Chat Templates are pre-designed structures that help users perform specific tasks more efficiently. These templates streamline workflows by providing a starting point for generating descriptions, summarizing documents, performing reviews, explaining concepts, debugging code, and more. Users can create, customize, and filter templates to suit their needs, enhancing their productivity and ensuring consistency in outputs.

Creating a New Template

Accessing the Template Creation Form

1. From the main page, navigate to the "Templates" section.

2. Click the "Create New Template" button to open the template creation form.

Filling out the Form

The template creation form includes several fields and options within three different tabs; Template Basics, Included Data, and Shortcuts.

Template Basics

Title: Enter a title for the template to describe its purpose.
Description: Provide an optional description from the assistant to guide the user when they start the chat using this template.
Initial Assistant Message: Provide an optional message from the assistant to guide the user when they start the chat using this template.
Prompt: Provide the input or instruction given to PittGPT to generate a response essentially what guiding the AI in understanding what kind of information or answer is being sought. Add placeholders to your prompt that users can fill in. Use [brackets] for short text responses, [[double brackets]] for longer responses, and {curly brackets} for drop-down options. To set a default option in a drop-down in a default option, add an asterisk: {Option 1*, Option 2}.
Allow Users to Attach Files: Enable this option if you want users to attach files to the prompt.
Tags: Assign tags to a template to help group it with similar templates on users' new chat screen.
Custom Instructions: Provide custom instructions that the assistant should use when responding to the user's initial message.
LLM Model: Select the LLM Model.

4. The Included Data tab includes settings for additional files and add-ons to your template.

Data Collections: Choose which data collections the assistant should reference when responding to the user's first message.
Included Files: Attach any additional files you want the assistant to reference.

Shortcuts

Create custom shortcuts to streamline your interactions by predefining prompts.

1. Begin by clicking the "Add Shortcut" button.

2. Fill in the appropriate fields and save.

Name: Give your prompt a meaningful name - something that eludes to its use.
Prompt: Instructions for PittGPT.
Save: Click "Save" after you have defined your Shortcut with a Name and a Prompt.

Use a custom shortcut in chat

1. Click the (1) name of your Shortcut. In this example, the Shortcut is named "Switch the output".

2. The (1) Prompt is inserted into the chat and a response (2) is given by the assistant.

Preview

Use the preview to see how a user would experience a new chat using this template

Saving the Template

4. After filling out the form, click the "Save" button to create the template. The new template will be available in the Templates Grid on the main Chat screen as well as in My Templates in the Templates tab.

Using Templates

Accessing the Templates Grid

Navigate to the main page by clicking Chat in the navigation bar. The Templates Grid displays various pre-designed templates organized into categories such as All Chat Templates, Favorites, and Content Summarization.

Selecting a Template

Browse through the categories or use the search bar to find a specific template. Click on a template to select it. This action will bring up the template’s interface, pre-filled with prompts or fields relevant to the task.

Applying Templates

Fill in the required information (1, 2, 3) in the template, upload any files (4) if needed, and execute it by clicking the (5) "Send Message" button. PittGPT will use the provided data to generate responses, summaries, or other outputs as defined by the template.

Filtering Templates

Using Categories

The Templates Grid is organized into various categories to help users quickly find the template that best suits their needs. Categories include All Chat Templates, Favorites, and Content Summarization. Click the the desired category to filter by that category.

Search Functionality

At the top of the Templates Grid, there is a search bar that allows users to quickly find specific templates by typing in keywords related to their task. This feature enhances usability by reducing the time spent browsing through templates.

Managing Templates

Managing Favorites

To mark a template as a favorite, click the star icon associated with it. Favorited templates will be easily accessible in a designated section of the grid.

Managing Templates

Use the context menu (three dots) next to each template to rename, share, or delete the template.

Effective Collaboration

Section Topics:

1. Benefits of Effective Collaboration

2. Sharing Chats▼

Sharing Chats with Team Members

Set Permissions for Shared Chats

3. Sharing Data Collections▼

Share Collections with Team Members

Set Permissions for Shared Collections

Effective Collaboration in PittGPT allows users to work seamlessly with team members by sharing chats and data collections. This feature facilitates real-time collaboration, enabling users to set permissions, manage participants, and maintain organized shared workspaces. By leveraging these collaboration tools, teams can enhance their productivity and ensure consistent communication and data management.

Benefits of Effective Collaboration

Enhanced Team Productivity: Sharing chats and data collections ensures that all team members have access to the necessary information and can contribute effectively, leading to improved productivity.
Consistent Communication: By managing permissions and participants, teams can maintain consistent communication and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Organized Workspaces: Shared collections and chats help in keeping workspaces organized, with all relevant data and conversations accessible in one place.
Flexible Permissions: The ability to set and adjust permissions allows for flexible collaboration, ensuring that the right level of access is granted to each team member based on their role.

Sharing Chats

Share Chats with Team Members

Users can share individual chats with team members to facilitate collaboration.

1. To share a chat, click the context menu (three dots) next to the chat.

2. Select "Share Chat" from the More Options menu.

3. Enter the first or last name (or Pitt email address) of the the team member with whom you wish to share the chat in the "Add another person" text box. This is a search field. Select the name from the results that appear.

Set Permissions for Shared Chats

Permissions for shared chats can be set to either "Contribute" or "View Only". "Contribute" allows team members to participate actively in the chat, while "View Only" restricts them to viewing the chat without making changes.

Manage Shared Chat Participants

Once a chat is shared, you can manage the participants by adding or removing team members and adjusting their permissions as needed. Use the context menu to access participant management options.

Sharing Data Collections

Share Collections with Team Members

Data collections can also be shared with team members to provide access to organized sets of files and notes.

1. To share a collection, navigate to the Data Collections section, click the context menu next to the collection.

2. Select "Share Collection".

Set Permissions for Shared Collections

Permissions for shared collections can be set to "Manager", "Contribute", or "View Only". "Manager" allows full control over the collection, including editing and managing participants. "Contribute" permits adding and editing content within the collection, while "View Only" restricts access to viewing content without making changes.

Manage Shared Collection Participants

As with shared chats, you can manage the participants of shared collections by adding or removing team members and adjusting their permissions. Use the context menu to access participant management options.

Personalize Your Experience

Section Topics:

1. Benefits of Personalizing Your Experience

2. Customizing Chat Settings▼

Selecting a Persona or Writing Your Own Instructions

Setting Skills

Managing Data Sources

3. App Settings▼

User Personalization

Technical Personalization

Personalizing your experience in PittGPT allows you to tailor the platform to your specific preferences and needs. This includes customizing user settings, adjusting application configurations, setting assistant skills, and toggling various features. By personalizing PittGPT, you can enhance your efficiency and ensure that the platform aligns with your workflow and communication style.

Benefits of Personalizing Your Experience

Increased Efficiency: By tailoring the platform to your specific needs and preferences, you can work more efficiently and effectively.
Enhanced Usability: Customizing settings and features ensures that PittGPT operates in a way that aligns with your workflow, making it easier to use.
Improved Interaction: Setting assistant skills and preferences allows PittGPT to interact with you in a more meaningful and relevant way, improving the overall user experience.
Greater Flexibility: The ability to manage data sources and toggle features provides flexibility in how you use PittGPT, ensuring that it can adapt to a wide range of tasks and projects.

Customizing Chat Settings

Selecting a Persona or Writing your own Instructions

PittGPT allows you to choose from different personas for your assistant. Each persona can be tailored with specific instructions and skills to match your requirements.

1. To select and customize a persona, click the Modify Settings link below the input box.

2. Choose the desired persona.

3. You can also write your own Instructions and customize the AI persona to your liking. Simply modify the Instructions area with a description of whatever persona you would like to create.

Setting Skills

You can enable or disable various skills for your assistant, such as image creation, web browsing, visiting URLs, and data analysis. These skills enhance the functionality of your assistant and allow it to perform a wider range of tasks. Adjust these settings using the Modify Settings link.

Toggle Chat Features

Image Creation: Enable this feature to allow PittGPT to create unique images based on your prompts. This is useful for visualizing concepts, creating content for presentations, and more.
Web Browsing: Enable web browsing to allow PittGPT to gather information from the Internet, ensuring that you have access to the latest data and resources.
Visiting URLs: Enable this feature to allow PittGPT to extract content from specific web pages, streamlining your research process.
Data Analysis: Enable data analysis to have PittGPT perform complex data analysis tasks, including statistical models and visual representations of data.

Managing Data Sources

Add, Edit, and Remove Data Sources

PittGPT allows you to manage various data sources to ensure that the information pulled into your chats is relevant and accurate.

1. To manage data sources, click the Manage Data Sources link below the input box.

2. From here, you can add new data sources or remove sources that are no longer needed. Sources include data collections or file uploads.

User Personalization

App Settings

1. Navigate to the app settings page by clicking on your App Settings link at the top right corner of the screen.

2. Here, you can set your preferred name, pronouns, job title, communication preferences, and other settings. These preferences help PittGPT understand how to interact with you more effectively.

Technical Personalization

In the app settings panel, you can provide additional personalization information such as your preferred software, format sizes, and languages for data and code. This helps PittGPT tailor its responses to better fit your needs.

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