What’s the future of AI? Five things we learned from OpenAI’s ABC interview
A recent interview with OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, and CTO Mira Murati, offered a fascinating glimpse behind the ChatGPT machine, internal discussions about the ethics of AI, and the likelihood of this emerging technology significantly changing every facet of our lives in the not-so-distant future.??
The OpenAI team views this time as a vital moment in the life of AI. They are acutely aware of its upsides and pitfalls and are keen to help people adapt to this technological transition. ABC pulled no punches with a stern line of questioning, pushing the AI pioneers to discuss the uncomfortable questions AI-optimists have been afraid to ask. So, what did we learn??
This remains OpenAI's most pressing worry. The tool has the potential to carry out scalable campaigns of misinformation, with totalitarian governments specifically named as a cause for concern. A clear comparison was made with the way social media influenced elections throughout the 2010s.??
2. ...but OpenAI is doing a lot to prevent this.?
Altman said the risk of malicious use was a key reason for releasing a limited version of ChatGPT. For example, an instruction to build a bomb for instance is not one that the model is allowed to comply with. He argues launching the technology now, in limited form, is a way to identify all the issues mass-use could bring. Altman also noted ChatGPT-4, the latest model as of March 2023, was 'finished' in August 2022, but the time between its completion and the launch has been spent with policy and safety teams, optimising the model to make it as safe as possible.?
3. AI Models will disrupt the job market - as well as the world of education.?
Many jobs are at risk from AI, but Altman was optimistic - stating that new jobs will arise from this change. Education too will benefit, in a similar way when calculators were introduced into the classroom. AI will "revolutionise" education and provide individualised learning -however, Altman noted that the education system will need to adapt.???
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4. Governments are catching up, and OpenAI is in constant communication with them.?
Altman claimed he is in constant communication with government institutions they are catching up with ChatGPT and AI generally, more and more. But new governmental departments and institutions will need to be developed to deal with AI applications?
5. ChatGPT is a language-model first not a ‘Google Killer’ or living ‘sentient’ entity?
ChatGPT and Google are not the same product, and while ChatGPT can act as a search engine, it’s an engine being raised to replicate the ability to reason, not to memorise. Altman also stressed that the public shouldn’t try to anthropomorphise ChatGPT. It's just a language model, and it's not a sentient entity that can 'do its own thing'.?
Key takeaways?
The interview allowed OpenAI to address some of the public’s concerns about AI. Though some might regard the line of questioning as overly pessimistic, it also highlighted necessary discussions on AI's impact across various sectors.??
Even in the short time since the interview was published, an array of developments across the industry have been announced. Italy's data protection authority has moved to block OpenAI's ChatGPT over GDPR concerns and Spain is considering doing the same, raising questions about the future of AI deployment in the EU. Meanwhile, Microsoft is exploring the potential of advertising within Bing Chat's AI-generated responses, further blurring the lines between content and promotion. At the same time, over 1,100 signatories, including Elon Musk, have called for a temporary halt in the development of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4, citing the technology needs more time so it can be regulated effectively.?Musk has also subsequently announced plans for his own AI chatbot, "TruthGPT". The industry is moving at a dizzying pace.
Watch the full interview to get to know the humans behind OpenAI better: OpenAI CEO, CTO on risks and how AI will reshape society - YouTube. As competitors arise and new AI models are developed we’ll be engaging with these questions more often, and inadvertently shaping the freedom and limitations AI systems have. If any, what are your concerns? How do you see AI developing???
? Abigail Villarroel , Associate Consultant, Fourtold
Passionate about helping organisations craft and communicate compelling stories that enable people to find meaning in their work, inspire action and create lasting impact.
1 年Very insightful. Thanks for sharing Abigail J. Villarroel
Helping organisations and their leaders to engage and communicate more effectively.
1 年Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this intriguing interview, Abigail J. Villarroel. "The industry is moving at a dizzying pace" as you say. Will regulators be able to keep up? Will national bans like we've seen introduced in Italy become more widespread? Will AI coming from certain countries be subject to restrictions? Interesting times ahead...