AI - The good will get gooderer ... and the bad will get baderer

This article was co-written with ChatGPT and the picture was co-created with Stable Diffusion … can you spot the colloquialisms, NT specific input into the article... and the simple hidden coded message??

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools have the potential to revolutionise many (shall we say all) industries;

* from healthcare to finance to transportation;

* from crowded cities to the remotest communities;

* from weed management in remote caring for country to content creation in all human endeavour.

However, as with any powerful technology, there is also the potential for AI to be used for malicious purposes. In this article, we will explore how AI tools can enable both the good and the bad, and what steps can be taken to mitigate the negative effects.

Interestingly, one of the key ways in which AI can enable the good to get gooderer is through the automation of repetitive and time-consuming tasks. For example, in healthcare, AI-powered diagnostic tools can quickly and accurately identify diseases, freeing up doctors and nurses to focus on more complex and nuanced cases. Similarly, in land management, AI-powered plant identification algorithms can analyse video streams in real time and tag or assist in immediately managing the issue.

Further ways in which AI can enable the good to get better is through the creation of new and innovative products and services. For example, AI-powered virtual assistants and chatbots can provide personalized and seamless customer service, while AI-powered robots can perform tasks that are too dangerous or difficult for humans. Additionally, AI-powered self-driving cars have the potential to reduce accidents and improve transportation efficiency.

Rolling on, as with any powerful technology, AI also has the potential to be used for malicious purposes. One of the most significant concerns is the use of AI for cyberattacks, such as creating and distributing malware, launching DDoS attacks, or even hacking into critical infrastructure. Additionally, AI-powered "deepfake" technology can be used to create realistic and convincing videos and images of people doing and saying things they never did, potentially causing serious damage to reputations and relationships – at a personal, national and global scale.

One concern is the use of AI for surveillance and censorship. AI-powered facial recognition technology, for example, can be used to track and monitor individuals without their knowledge or consent, and can also be used to suppress dissent and control speech. Furthermore, AI algorithms can be used to create "echo chambers" on social media, by curating and amplifying content that aligns with certain political or ideological viewpoints, while suppressing opposing viewpoints.

Mitigating the negative effects of AI, it is important to take a multi-faceted approach that includes both technical and non-technical solutions. On the technical side, this includes developing robust and secure AI systems that are resistant to hacking and misuse. Additionally, it is important to have transparency and explainability in AI systems, so that their decision-making processes can be understood and audited.

Non-technical mitigations include having strong and enforceable regulations in place that govern the use of AI. This includes laws that protect individuals' privacy and civil liberties, as well as regulations that hold companies and organizations accountable for the AI systems they develop and use. Additionally, it is important to have ongoing dialogue and collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to ensure that the benefits of AI are widely shared and the negative effects are minimised.

To conclude, AI tools have the potential to enable the good to get better, through the automation of tasks, the creation of new and innovative products and services. However, it also has the potential to enable the bad to get worse by being used for malicious purposes such as cyberattacks and surveillance and most insidiously – deep fakery.

This deep fakery can be both about the person being misrepresented and about the person misrepresenting the extent of the tools used, and use of other peoples' work to create what they claim is their own.

Mitigating the negative effects of AI requires a multi-faceted approach that includes both technical and non-technical solutions, such as robust AI systems, transparency and explainability, and strong regulations. It is important to ensure that the benefits of AI are widely shared and the negative effects are minimised through ongoing dialogue and collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.