New ASU ChatGPT Course Provides Students With Competitive Edge
Arizona State University is offering its students a new course designed to provide them with the skills required to effectively prompt the artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT. Basic Prompt Engineering with ChatGPT: An Introduction course is available to students of any major and is not limited to engineering students, despite the name.
The new course is the first of its kind at ASU and has been developed using ChatGPT and will be taught using ChatGPT. The aim of the course is to show how to use the technology efficiently by crafting requests to design prompts that return the most useful responses possible, according to Andrew Maynard, a professor at the School for the Future of Innovation in Society.
The course is offered through ASU Online and as an iCourse, during Session B, which starts on June 29th.
The demand for prompt engineering skills is growing, translating to lucrative salaries of up to six-figure sums, according to Fortune magazine. Companies are increasingly looking for employees proficient in using AI-powered technology such as ChatGPT.
Prompt Engineering and ChatGPT
The company OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, and since then, the technology has taken the world by storm, considered as an essential tool in many professions. As a result, there has been a growth in interest in prompt engineering, with nearly 30 times more searches for “prompt engineering” in the U.S. between November 2022 and March 2023 than prior to that time, according to Google Trends.
ChatGPT and the underlying technology of large language models are set to change jobs that involve writing, analysis or processing information. This new technology will transform the ways we work and the particular type of work we do. As a result, employees are expected to be proficient in using AI-powered technology, which in turn explains why employees with prompt engineering skills are in demand across various professions such as law, research, coding, engineering, marketing, product development, administration, amongst others.
Course Description
The Basic Prompt Engineering with ChatGPT: An Introduction course provides a basic, hands-on training experience. It is just one credit but provides students with resume-building skills in the field of prompt engineering. The course uniquely uses ChatGPT as a learning environment, where students learn the techniques of prompt engineering as they practice these techniques.
The course also touches on the broader social implications of AI-based technologies such as ChatGPT, and students learn within the context of the technology's development and use. It is suitable for all students across all majors. The key skills required for prompt engineering are not traditional engineering skills and can be learned by anyone who knows how to speak and write fluently.
The Value of this Course
Graduates who have demonstrable proficiency in using ChatGPT have an increasing advantage when applying for jobs, according to Andrew Maynard, who created the course. “Other institutions will be offering courses that develop these skills, and we have a responsibility to ensure our students remain competitive.”
The new course will provide graduates with an edge in the competitive job market, making them better prepared to work with ChatGPT and other AI-based technologies.
