Editing in the age of artificial intelligence

Today I spent some time acquainting myself with ChatGPT and its capabilities (because, you know, procrastination ...). I was most interested in some of the ethical considerations. Out of curiosity, I asked some basic questions – because I'm interested in how my gig as an editor could evolve.

The last part of the conversation is important, so I'll plonk it here:

In general, AI language models like ChatGPT are most effective when used as a tool to support and enhance human creativity and expertise, rather than replace it. A human editor can help to ensure that the information generated by the AI system is used in a responsible and ethical manner, and to maximize its value and impact.

Here is the full, unedited, 'chat' (so far). It's interesting to note that it took me longer to read the responses than ChatGPT took to generate them.

What are the ethical considerations for ChatGPT?

As an AI language model, ChatGPT doesn't have its own personal values or beliefs, but ethical considerations still play an important role in the development, training, and deployment of AI systems like me. Some of the ethical considerations related to AI language models like ChatGPT include:

Bias: AI language models are trained on large datasets of text, which may contain biases based on gender, race, and other demographic factors. This can result in the model generating biased responses that perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

Misinformation: AI language models are not capable of verifying the accuracy of the information they are trained on, which means that they may spread false information and contribute to the spread of misinformation.

Privacy: AI language models like ChatGPT process large amounts of personal data, which may include sensitive information such as medical records, financial information, and personal beliefs. It is important to ensure that this data is collected, stored, and processed in a way that respects individuals' privacy rights.

Responsibility: AI language models like ChatGPT can be used for a variety of purposes, including automated customer support, information retrieval, and content generation. In some cases, AI language models may be used to generate responses that can have a significant impact on individuals, organizations, or society as a whole. It is important to consider who is responsible for the decisions and actions taken by AI language models and how to hold them accountable.

OpenAI is committed to responsible AI development and is actively working to address these and other ethical considerations in the development and deployment of AI systems like ChatGPT.

What about copyright considerations?

Copyright considerations are an important aspect of ethical considerations related to AI language models like ChatGPT. Some of the copyright-related ethical considerations include:

Infringement: AI language models are trained on large amounts of text, which may include copyrighted material. This can result in the AI system generating responses that infringe on the rights of copyright owners.

Attribution: When AI language models generate new text, it is often unclear who should be credited for the content. This can raise questions about ownership and authorship, and can impact the ability of copyright owners to control and monetize their work.

Fair use: Fair use is a doctrine in copyright law that allows for limited use of copyrighted material without the need for permission from the copyright owner. However, the scope of what constitutes fair use can be difficult to determine, especially in the context of AI language models that generate large amounts of text.

Licensing: When using AI language models for commercial purposes, it is important to obtain the necessary licenses for any copyrighted material that is used as input or generated as output.

OpenAI is committed to respecting the rights of copyright owners and works to ensure that its AI systems do not infringe on their rights. This includes being transparent about the sources of training data and providing appropriate credit and attribution for the work of others. Additionally, OpenAI provides tools and guidance to help users comply with copyright laws and minimize the risk of infringement.

So, if I asked ChatGPT to explain gravity, the explanation would include sources or would I have to find them?

If you asked ChatGPT to explain gravity, the explanation generated would not include specific sources. However, the information included in the explanation would be based on widely accepted scientific principles and theories about gravity. If you would like to learn more about the sources of the information, you could use search engines or consult other reputable sources to learn more about the topic.

It's important to keep in mind that while AI language models like ChatGPT can provide information on a wide range of topics, they are not a substitute for human expertise or independent research. It's always a good idea to corroborate information obtained from AI systems with multiple sources and to consult experts in a field when seeking more in-depth information.

Fair enough. However, could the answer(s) then become a matter of plagiarism?

Yes, it's possible that the answers generated by an AI language model like ChatGPT could be considered plagiarism if they are used without proper attribution. Plagiarism is defined as the act of using someone else's work or ideas without giving them proper credit.

Even though AI language models like ChatGPT are trained on vast amounts of text, it's important to recognize that this text has been created by individuals and organizations, and it is their original work. When using information generated by an AI language model, it's important to give credit to the sources of the information, including the original authors and the AI system itself.

Additionally, it's important to consider the copyright status of the information generated by an AI language model. In some cases, the use of this information may be limited by copyright law, and it may be necessary to obtain permission from the copyright owner before using it.

In general, it's always a good idea to be transparent about the sources of information and to give proper credit to the creators of that information, whether it's generated by an AI system or not. This helps to ensure that intellectual property rights are respected and that the information is used in an ethical and responsible manner.

So, how would I go about finding the sources so I can obtain the necessary permissions?

Finding the sources of information used by an AI language model like ChatGPT can be challenging, as it is often based on a large and diverse set of texts. However, there are some steps you can take to help you identify the sources of the information:

Start with the AI system's training data: Many AI language models, including ChatGPT, are trained on a large corpus of text. You can start by identifying the sources of this training data, which may include books, articles, websites, and other texts.

Use search engines: Use search engines like Google or Bing to search for specific phrases or sentences from the information generated by the AI system. This can help you identify the original sources of the information and determine whether it is protected by copyright.

Check bibliographies and references: If the information generated by the AI system is based on a specific book, article, or research paper, you can try to locate the original source by checking bibliographies and references.

Consult experts: If you're having trouble finding the sources of the information, you can consult experts in the relevant field. They may be able to help you identify the original sources and provide guidance on how to obtain the necessary permissions.

It's important to note that finding the sources of information generated by an AI language model can be time-consuming and may not always result in a clear answer. However, making a good faith effort to identify the sources of the information and obtaining the necessary permissions can help ensure that you use the information in an ethical and responsible manner.

Hm, interesting. So a human editor is still a vital part of the puzzle.

Yes, a human editor can play an important role in ensuring the accuracy, relevance, and ethical use of information generated by an AI language model like ChatGPT. Although AI systems like ChatGPT have been trained on large amounts of text and can generate information on a wide range of topics, they are not perfect and can sometimes make mistakes or generate information that is not accurate or appropriate.

A human editor can help to review and validate the information generated by the AI system, correcting errors and ensuring that the information is accurate, relevant, and appropriate for its intended use. Additionally, a human editor can help to ensure that the information is properly attributed and that any necessary permissions have been obtained for its use.

In general, AI language models like ChatGPT are most effective when used as a tool to support and enhance human creativity and expertise, rather than replace it. A human editor can help to ensure that the information generated by the AI system is used in a responsible and ethical manner, and to maximize its value and impact.