ChatGPT and Generative AI Technology: A Mixed Bag of Concerns and New Opportunities

ChatGPT has garnered unprecedented popularity since its release in November 2022. This artificial intelligence (AI) large language model (LLM) is designed to generate human-like text based on patterns found in massive amounts of data scraped from the internet. ChatGPT is significantly different from previous versions of GPT by its quality of output, capability to interact and hold human-like conversations, enormous speed, and ability to have its output refined by users or experts. New iterations of ChatGPT as well as open source and alternative LLMs, and ChatGPT plugins extend the current capabilities of ChatGPT and offer unlimited opportunities to change how we do things. Despite its newfound popularity and capabilities, ChatGPT is fraught with concerns such as cheating, misinformation, bias, abuse and misuse, and privacy and safety. On the other hand, the integration of ChatGPT in the classroom prompts us to envision better ways of providing instruction and assessment of writing skills. ChatGPT also provides unparalleled approaches for personalized learning. As educators, we must consider and deal with the serious concerns of using ChatGPT but simultaneously explore how this AI technology can enhance and extend current methods of instruction. In this paper, authors explain what ChatGPT is and how it works, and future iterations of ChatGPT. They also present concerns and opportunities, and educational implications of using ChatGPT in the classroom.