Abstract

The convergence of large language model (LLM) technology and instructional laboratory has been vividly demonstrated through ChatGPT’s role as ‘agents-to-think-with’ in structuring new experiments with smartphone-based radiation measurement. Collaborating with instructors, ChatGPT can initiate creative ideas, facilitate laboratory design, and even draft comprehensive laboratory manuals encompassing theoretical backgrounds, experimental procedures, safety guidelines, and questions for students. Furthermore, engaging with ChatGPT prompts students to deeply grasp the applicability of radioactivity concepts across diverse scenarios, effectively fostering ideas for other laboratory setups or future research projects. Recognising both the advantageous applications and inherent risks of radioactivity, students are encouraged to comprehend safety protocols and ethical considerations, a knowledge crucially conveyed by ChatGPT to the broader public as well. By bridging the gap between scientific expertise and public comprehension, ChatGPT empowers individuals to engage with radioactivity in a responsible, informed, and socially conscious manner.