Share this article

What Is GPT-3 and Should We Be Terrified?

The internet is alive with demos of what the latest artificial intelligence language model can do. Should we be nervous?

Updated Sep 14, 2021, 9:33 a.m. Published Jul 20, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
(Franki Chamaki/Unsplash)
(Franki Chamaki/Unsplash)

The internet is alive with demos of GPT-3, the latest artificial intelligence tool to have you questioning the veracity of what you see online. Should we be nervous?

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters

For more episodes and free early access before our regular 3 p.m. Eastern time releases, subscribe with Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcasts, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher, RadioPublica, iHeartRadio or RSS.

This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com.

Today on the Brief:

  • Mastercard, Standard Chartered and PayPal all deepen their engagement with crypto
  • Japan inches closer to a central bank digital currency
  • The real estate “doom trade” opens up

Our main discussion: GPT-3

Generative pertained transformer-3 – or GPT-3 as it’s better known – absolutely took over the internet this weekend.

It’s a new AI language model that can do some truly incredible things, from writing poetry to composing business memos to generating functioning code from natural language descriptions.

In this episode of the Breakdown, NLW provides a 101-level overview of GPT-3, including:

  • What an AI language model is
  • Why AI for language is more difficult than image-based AI
  • The background of OpenAI, the Elon Musk-backed project behind GPT-3
  • Some examples of what GPT-3 can do
  • Why reasoning and narrative still elude the technology

See also: A Primer on the US and China’s 'New Cold War'

Reference posts:

GPT-3 Examples, a Twitter Thread

Jonathan Johnson on AI Language Models

Rob Teows: GPT-3 Is Amazing – And Overhyped

For more episodes and free early access before our regular 3 p.m. Eastern time releases, subscribe with Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcasts, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher, RadioPublica, iHeartRadio or RSS.

Note: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of CoinDesk, Inc. or its owners and affiliates.

More For You

Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

GP Basic Image

What to know:

  • As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
  • GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
  • Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.

More For You

Bitcoin Holds Near $92K as Selling Cools, but Demand Still Lags

Bitcoin Logo

ETF inflows have finally turned positive, but weak on-chain activity, defensive derivatives positioning, and negative spot CVD show a market stabilizing without the conviction needed for a sustained move higher.

What to know:

  • Bitcoin markets in Asia are stabilizing but remain structurally weak, with short-term holders dominating supply.
  • U.S. ETF flows have shown signs of stabilization, but on-chain activity remains near cycle lows, indicating weak capital inflows.
  • Bitcoin and Ether have seen price recoveries driven by spot demand and improved sentiment, while gold is supported by U.S. labor data and Fed rate cut expectations.