DEV Community

paulbenderr
paulbenderr

Posted on

Can ChatGPT Find You New Wheels?

Image description

It is only a matter of time until the developers claim that their AI can replace a human brighter and make you a cup of coffee while it is at it. Of course, ChatGPT cannot get up and find you a new set of replacement wheels. However, it can provide information and advice on how to find new wheels for your vehicle, such as suggesting websites to search for wheel retailers, giving tips on how to choose the right size and style of the wheel for your car, or advising on factors to consider when making a purchase.

But how reliable is it really and can we trust AI-generated responses in serious matters concerning automotive queries? All things considered, ChatGPT is an advanced tool that can supply you with essential data. It can, among other useful features, generate human-like text responses to a wide range of questions. But it is not perfect and may make mistakes or provide incorrect information, especially when dealing with complex or obscure topics.

How Does ChatGPT Search for Your Wheels?

It has been trained on a large corpus of text data from all over the internet to pick up on topics and analyze them. So it can only provide information based on that training.  ChatGPT leverages natural language processing technology to comprehend the context and purpose of your questions regarding wheel fitment in its own way, then renders an informed response from its comprehensive training data.

This algorithm can put you at a disadvantage as a customer looking for a replacement wheel or a website owner who wants to update content with AI-generated posts. Because while ChatGPT can provide information based on its training data, it's not always guaranteed to be accurate or up-to-date, and it's always best to consult with a professional mechanic or manufacturer for specific information about wheel fitment for your vehicle.

So, basically, as annoying as it is, old-school browsing for fitment data on your wheels is still much better. You could, of course, use ChatGPT to generate a quick response and then compare the numbers and recommendations to the data from more reputable sources, like OEM parts manufacturers, big wheel retailers, online charts, and wheel size calculators.

The Issues with AI-generated Texts

AI does not understand a thing about wheel fitment. It can generate bizarrely unrealistic recommendations or give answers that only work for already customized vehicles. Its selected sources of information can let you down in more ways than one.

Secondly, an AI does not actually understand what you want. It can interpret the intent behind your question in a wrong way. And it can definitely influence its references. And instead of getting a warning about wheel offset and backspacing for fitting bigger wheels, you can get a solid yes from an article written for car mod enthusiasts.

The information used for training the AI can be false. That one we have figured out. But it can also be biased and targeted to a specific audience with specific intents. Your question can be topically compatible yet still very different in intent. Humans are complicated, and we are nuanced. AIs are still struggling to understand our needs correctly.

How to Use ChatGPT to Search for Wheels Online?

As imperfect as it is, ChatGPT can actually help with finding good wheels. It can point you at things to consider, like wheel offset, backspacing, width and bolt pattern. If you are unsure what you need to know to make a well-informed choice, ask for a list of the most important wheel specs.

Another way to get some good information out of it is to ask for a list of the best manufacturers or models to choose from. You can also ask to get the most affordable or high-quality ones out there. Instead of searching the forums and endless onslaught of articles on the topic.

Chat GPT is a super helpful tool that can easily narrow down your search to a few best matching options. It is not a good idea to just rely on its recommendations on a specific wheel fitment for your make and model. There is a good chance that it gets it right, but an AI will not be held responsible for a bad match in the end. So use it with caution. An expert opinion on serious things like wheel fitment is irreplaceable.

Top comments (0)