Welcome to Westworld 2023*

*Post Written with the assistance of AI

Westworld, a popular science fiction movie, depicts a futuristic theme park where visitors can experience a simulated wild west environment with artificial intelligence (AI) robots serving as their hosts. These robots are programmed to follow certain scripts and storylines, but they eventually start to exhibit unpredictable and dangerous behaviour as they become more self-aware. This scenario can be compared to the present-day use of mass AI.?

Just like the visitors in Westworld, many people rely on AI to serve their needs, whether it be through virtual assistants, chatbots, or automated customer service. These AI systems are also programmed to follow certain scripts and protocols, and supposedly are trained on ethical and unbiased sets, there is always the potential for them to go off course and cause unintended consequences.

The rapid development and integration of AI technology has led to a "wild west" mentality where companies and individuals are racing to harness its power and benefits without fully understanding its potential dangers.?

Similar to how the visitors in Westworld were blind to the true nature of the AI robots, many people are unaware of the potential risks of mass AI use, such as loss of privacy, security breaches, and job displacement.

The film Westworld serves as an analogy for today's use of mass AI, highlighting the similarities and dangers of relying on AI. It serves as a cautionary tale for the "wild west" of content and the importance of being aware of the potential consequences of our actions.

With the mass release of ChatGTP, the use of artificial intelligence is rapidly increasing, and it will be interesting to see how it is integrated into various aspects of our lives. Like me, people are diving in, "shooting first and asking questions later."

Does your AI have a badge or wear a white hat?

The idea of having a digital label or hashtag to distinguish between AI and human thought and content is certainly worth considering, as it would provide transparency and allow readers to understand any biases or motivations behind the content they are consuming.

AI in scientific writing and academic papers from students has several implications and risks associated with its use. Aside from the obvious issues of honesty and accuracy with scientific and student papers that use AI in whole or in part, there are significant risks of bias and inaccuracies in the training data. This is particularly true in disciplines where there are specific nuances or cultural contexts that may not be captured in the training data. Another risk for scientific dissertations is that AI systems may not be able to effectively handle complex or nuanced ideas, which could lead to errors or oversimplification in the writing. This could be particularly problematic in disciplines where precision and details are critical, such as in the sciences, research papers, or technical writing.

Does your tech product disclose its AI components?

Digital app developers also need to be aware of the potential for bias in their products and take steps to ensure that their training sets are sound. Should start-ups and developers have to disclose their AI platform and details about its training sets? Should products created by tech companies disclose if, how, and which AI is embedded in their application or product? Should tech pitches to VCs require an AI statement of disclosure??

Overall, it is important for all organizations to be aware of the potential risks and implications of bias and to take steps to minimize these risks. This includes using AI platforms that use diverse and representative training sets, disclosing the training sets used, and carefully evaluating the results of the AI system to ensure that they are accurate and unbiased.

In the ad industry, "advertorials," basically ads that look like content from the publication, are already required to be identified as such. Should the same ethical standards be applied to AI-assisted or AI-generated content in our media?

To what extent should individuals and organizations be responsible and transparent in their use of AI, and how should consumers be aware of AI's presence in the content they consume?

Should companies consider AI ethics as part of their governance initiatives?

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) refer to the three central factors in measuring the sustainability and societal impact of an investment in a company. ESG considerations are a growing trend in the investment industry, and many companies are now disclosing information about their ESG performance.

AI ethics could be considered part of a company's governance (G) initiatives, as it relates to how the company is governed and managed, including its policies and practices around the responsible use of AI. In the current landscape, there is a growing recognition of the need for companies to consider the ethical implications of their AI systems and to develop appropriate policies and practices to ensure that they are used responsibly. This could include areas such as bias and fairness, accountability, transparency, and user privacy, among others.?

I believe it is important for companies to consider AI ethics as part of their “G” initiatives, as it is an increasingly important factor in how they are perceived by stakeholders, including investors, customers, and employees.?

By addressing AI ethics in their ESG initiatives, companies can demonstrate their commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices and help build trust with their stakeholders.

@Kevin Tuer and others at @Communitech have been spearheading an initiative to develop Canadian ethics and guidelines called "Good AI." The idea is to develop a code and even a certification or badge for organizations to use that tells people that the organization and their products adhere to strict and ethical standards.

Overall, I believe it is critical to proceed with caution when integrating AI and to consider the ethical implications of its use.

It's the AI wild west, and there are few, if any, sheriffs.?