I once had a friend whose office door bore a curious sign: “Any question answered in 2 minutes.” It seemed ambitious, if not outright impossible, at first glance. He was a smart guy but that wasn’t his trick. He solved these problems by getting his questioner to repeatedly refine their question. This process let him answer the question in 2 minutes. Once the question was crystallized, the answer frequently became self-evident or trivial.
I’ve realized that my relationship with ChatGPT very much resembles my friend and the sign on his door. It’s all about precisely defining, and continually refining, my question. It reminds me of the ‘5 Whys’ technique, a method originally developed by Sakichi Toyoda in the Japanese manufacturing sector and later popularized globally by Toyota. It’s a strategy that has since found a prominent place in the toolkit of management consultants across the U.S.
The ‘5 Whys’ a simple yet profound technique: ask ‘Why’ five times in response to a problem. Each ‘Why’ peels back a layer, delving deeper into the heart of the matter. Take a seemingly straightforward question – start dissecting it with ‘Why’ after ‘Why’, and soon, you unearth the complexities and subtleties hidden beneath its surface. This method transforms the way I approach ChatGPT. It’s not just about asking questions; it’s about systematically unraveling them. With each successive ‘Why’, it’s as if I’m loosening a knot in a tightly wound string, each unraveling leading to a clearer, more focused inquiry. This is more than just getting to the bottom of a question; it’s an excavation of understanding, layer by layer.
The importance of asking the right question has been recognized throughout history. Claude Levi-Strauss, a distinguished anthropologist, noted, “The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers, he’s one who asks the right questions.” This perspective is not limited to the realm of science. Egyptian Nobel laureate for literature Naguib Mahfouz observed, “You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.” Yet, even though we know how important they are, questions don’t get the credit they deserve. As TED founder Richard Saul Wurman said, “In school, we’re rewarded for having the answer, not for asking a good question.”
Asking the Right Question
We often criticize people and tools when we don’t get the right answer. Many times, we get the wrong answer because we’re not asking the right question. I have a friend who works as a compliance officer at a large bank. Initially, she asked ChatGPT the following question.
Friend: What are the risks of Bitcoin?
ChatGPT:
- Market Volatility: Extreme price fluctuations can lead to significant financial losses for investors.
- Regulatory Uncertainty: Governments worldwide are still determining how to regulate cryptocurrencies, creating legal and tax complexities.
- Security Risks: Susceptibility to hacking and theft, with no federal insurance protection like traditional banks.
- Anonymity Concerns: The potential for Bitcoin transactions to be used for illegal activities due to their anonymous nature.
- Environmental Impact: The energy-intensive mining process required for Bitcoin contributes to significant environmental concerns.
She was underwhelmed by the response. “See, she told me. This thing just gives generic information. I can’t use this.” But then we changed the question a bit. So we refined the question.
Friend: I am a compliance professional, focused on government compliance at a large bank. Can you tell me some of the risks of bitcoin that are relevant to large banks and government regulations and compliance? Tell me what I should know about the risks of bitcoin that can help me with my job.
ChatGPT:
- Regulatory Compliance Risk: The lack of a clear regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin poses challenges in ensuring compliance with existing financial laws and regulations.
- Money Laundering Concerns: Due to the semi-anonymous nature of Bitcoin transactions, there’s a heightened risk of its use in money laundering activities, requiring stringent monitoring to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.
- Cybersecurity Threats: The digital nature of Bitcoin makes it susceptible to cyber attacks, such as hacking and phishing, potentially compromising customer data and financial assets.
- Volatility and Liquidity Risk: The high volatility of Bitcoin can impact the stability and liquidity of financial assets, posing a challenge in maintaining stable investment portfolios and adhering to risk management protocols.
- Reputational Risk: Involvement with Bitcoin, given its association with speculative investments and potential illicit activities, could pose reputational risks for the bank, necessitating careful consideration of public and regulatory perceptions.
Now that’s useful for her job!
ChatGPT as a Thought Partner
One of the most enlightening aspects of using ChatGPT is its role as a thought partner. It’s not just about getting answers; it’s about understanding the questions I’m asking. When I ask ChatGPT a question, the response can make me rethink what I’m asking. It’s like having a conversation with someone who gently nudges me to consider different angles or deeper implications of your question. So instead if just getting an answer I get more and more questions, eventually getting somewhere far more interesting than the original question I asked.
One interesting experience with ChatGPT is that it doesn’t just ask as a knowledge amplifier but also as a faithful disciple, responding precisely to my requests, even if they lead to unintended destinations. This dynamic has been a revelation, especially when my questions, perhaps not fully formed or based on unchecked assumptions, are taken to their logical conclusion, forcing me to regroup and try again. It’s an active, participatory process, transforming each session into a learning opportunity that sharpens my questioning skills.
Reflecting on my experiences with ChatGPT, I’m reminded of my friend’s unique approach to problem-solving, which emphasized the importance of precisely defining questions. ChatGPT, like a faithful disciple, often takes my initial inquiries to unexpected destinations, often making me rethink the direction I set it in. This back and forth has become more than just a quest for answers; it’s an intellectual journey, teaching me the subtle art of inquiry and the value of rethinking and rephrasing questions. It underscores an age-old wisdom: the quality of answers is deeply intertwined with how we ask our questions, turning each session into a learning opportunity that sharpens my understanding and approach to problem-solving.
This took me 70 minutes to write. The main part was probably 10 minutes to put together but then I had some fun editing. Generating the header image took another 10-15 minutes.
You must be logged in to post a comment.