ChatGPT vs Grok Assistance with UniData

Folks-
I don't know how many have sought AI assistance with UniData but I'm finding Grok to be a game changer. ChatGPT's knowledge of UniData and UniBasic is rudimentary at best. Its ability to change behavior based on previous errors and corrections is frustratingly non-existent.

Not so with Grok. From UniData Administration to UniBasic, its base level knowledge is light-years ahead. It also has the ability to recall previous exchanges, learning as it goes. Finally, I've uploaded the key Guides and Manuals and it will actually spit out Guide and Page number in a response. I am absolutely blown away (and just a little frightened) at how fast this industry is moving.
Rich

AI is making great progress toward performing the tasks of junior developers. Senior developers should have no fear for their jobs.

However, senior programmers age out. Will AI grow into senior developer positions? AI will have replaced junior developers that would have grown into senior developers. 

Mark,

The latest phase of AI is no different from those we've seen in years past. If you recall the early days of Expert Systems, similar concerns were raised-if a system could replicate an expert's decisions, what role would remain for junior employees? And what happens if your expert leaves before the system is fully trained? Today's AI tools follow that same pattern: they're designed to assist developers, boost productivity, and shorten onboarding time for new team members.

I firmly believe that modernization is a balance of people, process, and technology. While AI may lighten the workload for programmers, it won't replace them. Instead, it will shift expectations, especially for those in senior roles, who may be called upon to guide, supervise, and/or collaborate with AI tools as part of their evolving responsibilities.

On a personal level, AI is incredibly helpful. It can streamline tasks, offer suggestions, and accelerate learning.  Yet, when it comes to building larger, more complex solutions, organizations must learn to leverage these tools strategically to enhance the overall developer experience. Rocket Software believes in modernization without disruption and understands how this philosophy extends into the developer experience, empowering teams while preserving the human elements that drive innovation.

Folks-
I don't know how many have sought AI assistance with UniData but I'm finding Grok to be a game changer. ChatGPT's knowledge of UniData and UniBasic is rudimentary at best. Its ability to change behavior based on previous errors and corrections is frustratingly non-existent.

Not so with Grok. From UniData Administration to UniBasic, its base level knowledge is light-years ahead. It also has the ability to recall previous exchanges, learning as it goes. Finally, I've uploaded the key Guides and Manuals and it will actually spit out Guide and Page number in a response. I am absolutely blown away (and just a little frightened) at how fast this industry is moving.
Rich

As a general caution, if you use an AI to generate code, documentation (or indeed anything else) there are many questions yet to be answered on who owns the I.P. and Copyright of this created work. The answers are not simple and they are also not the same in all legal frameworks. It is also true that the Terms and Conditions attached to use of different AI tools (both free and paid) are different. At least one AI for instance if used in "free" mode automatically assigns all I.P. and Copyright to the Creative Commons. 

This need not be a problem - but be aware, especially when it could be judged that there is insufficient human input and/or refining to allow a human claim in I.P. or Copyright (and keep tangible legal proof). Whatever the case, there is nothing it seems to stop an A.I. learning from what YOU do and YOU request and using that know-how to make a better thingamajig for the next person in the queue based upon both your questions, disclosures, and prior answers given. 

The future of AI and copyright is still being written. The next steps will likely be a mix of legal tweaks or even edicts in some jurisdictions, evolving legislation and, (hopefully) a better balance between technology and creativity.

Think - if you ask something of an A.I. - is either the question posed or the answer given still proprietary or a secret (commercial or otherwise) in any way? By even posing a question in a particular way you will already have made a disclosure of some sort. 

Food for thought

JJ

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John Jenkins
Thame, Oxfordshire
------------------------------

As a general caution, if you use an AI to generate code, documentation (or indeed anything else) there are many questions yet to be answered on who owns the I.P. and Copyright of this created work. The answers are not simple and they are also not the same in all legal frameworks. It is also true that the Terms and Conditions attached to use of different AI tools (both free and paid) are different. At least one AI for instance if used in "free" mode automatically assigns all I.P. and Copyright to the Creative Commons. 

This need not be a problem - but be aware, especially when it could be judged that there is insufficient human input and/or refining to allow a human claim in I.P. or Copyright (and keep tangible legal proof). Whatever the case, there is nothing it seems to stop an A.I. learning from what YOU do and YOU request and using that know-how to make a better thingamajig for the next person in the queue based upon both your questions, disclosures, and prior answers given. 

The future of AI and copyright is still being written. The next steps will likely be a mix of legal tweaks or even edicts in some jurisdictions, evolving legislation and, (hopefully) a better balance between technology and creativity.

Think - if you ask something of an A.I. - is either the question posed or the answer given still proprietary or a secret (commercial or otherwise) in any way? By even posing a question in a particular way you will already have made a disclosure of some sort. 

Food for thought

JJ

------------------------------
John Jenkins
Thame, Oxfordshire
------------------------------

@Richard Lucibella and ALL,  every so often I tinker with various AI to write a simple PickBasic program and I just tried Groh AI per your recommendation.  I was blown away by the results that Groh AI (free version) provided, so far it is the most accurate syntax with logical comments to explain the syntax.  In order to receive the syntax you want, you need to ask the question in a way AI will understand. As the programmer you still need to add an * for comments and seperate the comments from the actual PickBasic statement. 

Below is my test

HERE IS MY AI PROMPT:

Can you write a pickbasic program to enter a demographics; firstname, lastname, address1, address2, city, state, zipcode?

HERE IS GROH AI RESPONSE:

Below is a PickBASIC program that allows a user to enter demographic information (firstname, lastname, address1, address2, city, state, zipcode) and store it in a MultiValue database file. The program includes basic input prompts, validation, and file operations typical of PickBASIC environments like UniVerse or UniData. It assumes a file named "DEMOGRAPHICS" exists in the database to store the records.

• PROGRAM: DEMOGRAPHICS.BP

• PURPOSE: Collect and store demographic information in a MultiValue database

• AUTHOR: Grok, created by xAI

• DATE: August 28, 2025

• Open the DEMOGRAPHICS file OPEN 'DEMOGRAPHICS' TO DEMO.FILE ELSE PRINT "ERROR: Cannot open DEMOGRAPHICS file." STOP END

• Initialize variables ID = "" RECORD = "" FIRSTNAME = "" LASTNAME = "" ADDRESS1 = "" ADDRESS2 = "" CITY = "" STATE = "" ZIPCODE = ""

• Main loop to collect input LOOP

  • Prompt for record ID (e.g., unique identifier for the record) PRINT "Enter Record ID (or 'EXIT' to quit): ": INPUT ID IF UPCASE(ID) = 'EXIT' THEN BREAK
  • Check if record ID already exists READ RECORD FROM DEMO.FILE, ID THEN PRINT "Record ID ":ID:" already exists. Please choose another." CONTINUE END
  • Collect demographic information PRINT "Enter First Name: ": INPUT FIRSTNAME IF FIRSTNAME = "" THEN PRINT "First Name cannot be empty." CONTINUE END

  PRINT "Enter Last Name: ": INPUT LASTNAME IF LASTNAME = "" THEN PRINT "Last Name cannot be empty." CONTINUE END

  PRINT "Enter Address Line 1: ": INPUT ADDRESS1 IF ADDRESS1 = "" THEN PRINT "Address Line 1 cannot be empty." CONTINUE END

  PRINT "Enter Address Line 2 (optional): ": INPUT ADDRESS2

  PRINT "Enter City: ": INPUT CITY IF CITY = "" THEN PRINT "City cannot be empty." CONTINUE END

  PRINT "Enter State (2-letter code, e.g., TX): ": INPUT STATE IF LEN(STATE) # 2 THEN PRINT "State must be a 2-letter code." CONTINUE END STATE = UPCASE(STATE)

  PRINT "Enter Zipcode (5 digits): ": INPUT ZIPCODE IF LEN(ZIPCODE) # 5 OR NOT(NUM(ZIPCODE)) THEN PRINT "Zipcode must be 5 digits." CONTINUE END

  • Build the record using dynamic array RECORD = "" RECORD<1> = FIRSTNAME RECORD<2> = LASTNAME RECORD<3> = ADDRESS1 RECORD<4> = ADDRESS2 RECORD<5> = CITY RECORD<6> = STATE RECORD<7> = ZIPCODE
  • Write the record to the file WRITE RECORD ON DEMO.FILE, ID PRINT "Record ":ID:" successfully saved."
  • Ask if user wants to enter another record PRINT "Do you want to enter another record? (Y/N): ": INPUT ANSWER IF UPCASE(ANSWER) # 'Y' THEN BREAK REPEAT

• Close the file and end the program CLOSE DEMO.FILE PRINT "Program ended." STOP

END

This program:

1. Opens a file called "DEMOGRAPHICS" (you'll need to ensure this file is created in your Pick database environment, e.g., using CREATE.FILE DEMOGRAPHICS in UniVerse/UniData).
2. Prompts the user for a unique record ID and demographic details.
3. Performs basic validation (e.g., non-empty fields, 2-letter state code, 5-digit zipcode).
4. Stores the data in a dynamic array with attributes (fields) for firstname, lastname, address1, address2, city, state, and zipcode.
5. Writes the record to the file and allows the user to add more records or exit.

To use this:

• Save the program in your Pick system (e.g., as DEMOGRAPHICS.BP).
• Compile it using BASIC and CATALOG commands (e.g., BASIC BP DEMOGRAPHICS.BP followed by CATALOG BP DEMOGRAPHICS).
• Run it with RUN BP DEMOGRAPHICS.

If you need help setting up the file, modifying the program (e.g., adding more validation or fields), or integrating it with a specific Pick system, let me know!