Using AI to create a news quiz
by Kirk MacDonald, columnist
Note: To copy a tested prompt for a news media quiz created directly by a media website go the Media Prompt Library.
When I cleared a weeks-long waiting list for Chat GPT in February 2023 to become one of the early adopters last summer, I did not know how it would alter not only the way that I work.
Today, I talk with GPT-3.5, which I find faster and less expensive than GpT-4. – on average 60-80 times a month. That is at least 2 to 3 times daily. Although I have more fear than enthusiasm for new technology, I’m an AI convert.
Consider that with 60-to-80 sessions a month, I only spend a few minutes a day. The average elapsed time of 60 conversations is roughly 60 minutes. Personally, as an active learner, I summarise books and theories and identify similar authors. It would have taken me 470 minutes to acquire the same information from multiple traditional searches, reading, analyzing, and filing.
Before getting into how to create a news quiz using AI, here are a few things to know: A conversation with ChatGPT fundamentally differs from a Google search experience.
Each Google search request is an individual result, while ChatGPT conversation considers all of the replies and responses inside the conversation when delivering each new result. That is why the general feeling that AI understands us feels real.
It often takes multiple queries – i.e., a more extended conversation – to arrive at the desired outcome. Then, you can consolidate your prompts into one query, useable repeatedly without an extended ChatGPT discussion. There is a good reason why Prompt Engineering is now a job title that can command a six-figure salary.
Here is an actual example of “prompt engineering” from one of my early attempts:
KIRK: Quantify the most effective manner in which most of us learn
CHATGPT: The most effective learning often involves a combination of visual, auditory, and hands-on experiences, catering to diverse learning styles and preferences.
My prompt was too broad. So I’ll break down my question into two prompts:
Kirk: First, provide a list of the many ways any of us can acquire knowledge (learn)
Then, quantify the effectiveness of the top three ways to learn ex: I have read hands-on learning has a 95 percent success rate, whereas reading has a 5 percent rate.
The answer this time was exactly what I was looking for.
Creating a news quiz
A simple way for niche media to test some ChatGPT skills and create interactive content is to create a news quiz in seconds.
Here’s an example with multiple prompts in one query:
KIRK: Create a multiple-choice News Quiz with four questions and a choice of 4 answers. Highlight the correct answer. Target a millennial audience in Toronto, ON.
CHATGTP: Sure, here’s a multiple-choice news quiz tailored for a millennial audience in Toronto, ON:
- What major event took place in Toronto in 2019?
- a) Raptors winning NBA Championship
- b) Toronto Blue Jays winning World Series
- c) Toronto International Film Festival
- d) Toronto Raptors moving to a new city
Correct Answer: a) Raptors winning NBA Championship
- Which tech company announced plans to open a new office in Toronto?
- a) Apple
- b) Google
- c) Facebook
- d) Amazon
Correct Answer: c) Facebook
- In 2020, Toronto hosted a virtual version of which annual music festival?
- a) Coachella
- b) Osheaga
- c) Lollapalooza
- d) NXNE
Correct Answer: d) NXNE
- What environmental initiative was launched in Toronto to promote sustainability?
- a) Plastic-Free Toronto
- b) Green Energy Challenge
- c) Zero-Waste TO
- d) Clean Toronto Campaign
Correct Answer: c) Zero-Waste TO
It took ChatGPT about 20 seconds to deliver this quiz, ready to drop into an embeddable quiz-making tool like Survey Monkey or Typeform.
The possibilities are endless, and the productivity gained is astounding.
Now I should ask CHAT-3.5 to suggest what I should do with an extra 28 hours a month of free time.
Kirk MacDonald publishes a newsletter, The Morning Papers, a news analysis of the week’s media, tech, and entertainment stories, on Linked. You are invited to subscribe here.
To copy a tested prompt for a news media quiz from a media website go the Media Prompt Library.
