For anyone using ChatGPT — here's what you need to know about different versions, their limitations,
and how to get the most reliable answers.
Key Takeaway
ChatGPT-3.5 is trained only on data before January 2022 and will "guess" about current
events.
For up-to-date information, you need a paid OpenAI account to access GPT-4 with web browsing
capabilities.
🧠 What "Trained on Data" Actually Means
Understanding how Large Language Models (LLMs) work helps you use them more effectively:
- Pattern recognition, not knowledge
(The AI learns patterns from text but doesn't truly "know" facts like humans do.)
- Statistical predictions
(It predicts what words should come next based on patterns it has seen before.)
- No real-time updates
(Once trained, the model is "frozen" and cannot learn new information.)
- Quality depends on training data
(The accuracy and usefulness depend on the quality and recency of the data it was trained on.)
Important: Think of it like having read millions of books up to a certain date,
then never being able to read anything new.
📅 ChatGPT-3.5 Training Cutoff: Before January 2022
Critical Limitation: ChatGPT-3.5 (the free version) was trained on data only before
January 2022. This means:
- No knowledge of events after early 2022
(It doesn't know about recent news, current events, or developments since early 2022.)
- Outdated information on many topics
(Technology, politics, science, and other rapidly changing fields may have outdated
information.)
- Will "guess" about current topics
(When asked about recent events, it may provide plausible-sounding but incorrect information.)
- Limited awareness of new products/services
(It won't know about new software, apps, or services released after early 2022.)
Important: Always verify information about current events, recent developments, or
anything that might have changed since early 2022.
Microsoft Documentation and ChatGPT-3.5: Critical Limitations
Important Fact: ChatGPT-3.5 has NO access to official Microsoft Azure
documentation.
This is not a gap in knowledge - it's a complete absence of authoritative Microsoft documentation.
Why This Matters: Many users assume ChatGPT knows everything about Microsoft
products, but ChatGPT-3.5 has zero knowledge of official Microsoft documentation due to licensing
and
partnership timing.
Think of it like asking someone who's never read the official instruction manual for a complex
machine - they might have heard about it from others, but they don't have the authoritative
information.
What ChatGPT-3.5 Was Trained On
- Public websites (Wikipedia, StackOverflow, Reddit)
- Publicly accessible programming documentation
- Open-source documentation (not behind logins)
- General discussions about technology
- No proprietary or subscription-only content
What ChatGPT-3.5 Was NOT Trained On
- Official Microsoft Azure documentation (learn.microsoft.com)
- Microsoft Purview official guides
- Any Microsoft documentation due to licensing restrictions
- Gated or subscription-only content
- Current Microsoft service updates
- Proprietary Microsoft resources
What This Means for Microsoft Technologies
No Official Knowledge: ChatGPT-3.5 has zero access to official Microsoft
documentation.
Any knowledge comes from public discussions, not authoritative Microsoft sources.
Key Point: ChatGPT-3.5 will provide plausible-sounding but incorrect information
about Microsoft services because it has no access to official documentation.
Risks When Using ChatGPT-3.5 for Microsoft Questions
Note: These limitations apply specifically to ChatGPT-3.5. ChatGPT-4 with
web
browsing can access current Microsoft documentation.
1. No Official Documentation Access
ChatGPT-3.5 has never seen official Microsoft documentation due to licensing restrictions
🚫 Complete absence
2. Hallucinated Information
Will make up plausible-sounding but incorrect Azure commands, features, and procedures
❌ Fabricated details
3. Public Discussion Knowledge Only
Any knowledge comes from public forums, not authoritative Microsoft sources
💬 Unreliable sources
Bottom Line: Always verify Microsoft-specific answers against official
documentation at learn.microsoft.com, especially for Azure, Purview, or other Microsoft
services.
The Solution: Register for a Paid Account with Access to ChatGPT-4
For Access to Current Microsoft Information: The limitations above explain exactly
why
you need a registered OpenAI account to access current Microsoft documentation. However, having
access
doesn't automatically guarantee trustworthy responses - you still need to ask the right questions
and critically interpret the results.
Key Point: ChatGPT-4 with web browsing can access current Microsoft
documentation
live, while ChatGPT-3.5 (free version) cannot. But remember: access to current information is
just
the first step - you still need to know how to ask the right questions and interpret the
results.
1. Free ChatGPT-3.5
No access to current Microsoft docs, may provide outdated or incorrect information
❌ Not trustworthy
2. Paid ChatGPT-4
Can access current Microsoft documentation through web browsing
🌐 Access to current docs
3. Registered Account Required
You must be logged in with a paid account to access ChatGPT-4 and web browsing
💳 £20/month investment
Bottom Line: If you need access to current Microsoft documentation (like the
Purview example below),
you must use a registered account with ChatGPT-4 and web browsing enabled. The free ChatGPT-3.5
version
simply cannot access current Microsoft documentation. However, getting trustworthy answers still
requires
knowing how to ask the right questions and critically evaluating the responses.
Real Example: Why ChatGPT-3.5 Responses Can't Be Trusted
Problem: Here's an actual question asked to ChatGPT-3.5 (when logged out) and its
response, demonstrating why the results cannot be trusted.
Question Asked: "In a Microsoft Purview search, if it says a file was accessed, what
does that mean?"
ChatGPT-3.5's Response (Why It's Wrong)
Note: This response was generated by ChatGPT-3.5, which was trained before
January 2022. Microsoft Purview was still relatively new at that time.
❌ ChatGPT-3.5's Incorrect Response:
"In Microsoft Purview, if a file is shown as
'accessed' in an audit or content search, it typically means that someone interacted with
the file in a way that reads or opens it. Specifically, 'accessed' can refer to:
Common actions that count as 'access':
• Opening a file in SharePoint, OneDrive, or Teams (e.g., viewing a Word document or Excel
file).
• Previewing a file in the browser or within Microsoft 365.
• Downloading the file, which triggers a read action.
• Syncing a file via OneDrive (automatic or manual that reads file contents).
• Using the file in an app (e.g., embedded file in a Teams message that is viewed).
• Sharing a link and then someone using that link to view the file.
Actions that do not necessarily count as
"access":
• Merely seeing the file listed in a folder (no preview or open).
• Hovering over a link or file name.
• Being granted permissions (but not using them).
• Indexing by Microsoft search (sometimes excluded, but can be context-dependent).
Why This Response Cannot Be Trusted: ChatGPT-3.5 is providing information based
on its pre-2022 training, which doesn't reflect current understanding of Microsoft Purview. It's
essentially "guessing" about a topic it doesn't have current knowledge about.
1. Outdated Information
ChatGPT-3.5 was trained before Microsoft Purview was widely understood and documented
📅 Pre-2022 knowledge
2. Incorrect Assumptions
It assumes "accessed" in Purview reports means user interaction, when Purview often shows
"accessed" for system processes like indexing or scanning
❌ Wrong interpretation
3. Missing Context
Doesn't distinguish between user actions and automated system processes
⚠️ Incomplete picture
The Importance of Well-Structured Prompts
How to design better prompts and questions to get high-quality, trustworthy answers from ChatGPT.
💡 What is a "Prompt"?
A "prompt" is simply the question or instruction you give to ChatGPT. Think of it
like giving directions to a very knowledgeable but literal person who only knows what you tell them.
Good prompts are: Specific, detailed, and include context about what you're trying
to achieve.
Bad prompts are: Vague, too broad, or don't provide enough information for ChatGPT
to give you a useful answer.
Good Prompt Design
- Be specific and detailed – Include context, requirements, and constraints
- Ask for step-by-step explanations – Request structured responses with clear
sections
- Specify the format you want – Ask for lists, tables, code, or specific
structures
- Include examples – Show what kind of response you're looking for
- Ask for verification – Request sources or ask it to explain its reasoning
Avoiding Poor Prompts
- Vague questions – "Tell me about technology" is too broad
- Leading questions – Don't suggest the answer you want
- Complex multi-part questions – Break them down into smaller parts
- Assuming current knowledge – Remember the training cutoff
- Not specifying context – Provide relevant background information
Example: Good vs Poor Prompts
Poor: "How do I cook chicken?"
Better: "I'm a beginner cook with a gas stove and need to make dinner for 4 people.
What's the safest way to cook chicken breasts so they're not dry? I have basic kitchen equipment and
about 30 minutes. Please give me step-by-step instructions."
Poor: "What should I do about my car?"
Better: "My 2018 Honda Civic is making a rattling noise when I accelerate, and the
check engine light came on yesterday. I'm not very car-savvy and need to know if this is urgent or
if I can wait until next week to get it checked. What are the most likely causes and what should I
do first?"