I wrote and I suppose forgot to publish the following exactly two years ago. It's not bad, I should have published it. It's funny how I'm still thinking about similar things in a similar way honestly.

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I’ve been thinking about this article since OpenAI’s chatgpt thing became a social phenomenon. On the one hand, it’s very cool, so I wanted to study it and do an explainer so I know how it works and can talk about it in an informed way. But on the other hand, when almost anyone talks about it, I roll my eyes. This article is about the eye rolling, if you just want to learn the basics behind ChatGPT or AI, read the explainer elsewhere.

The reason I roll my eyes is that no one seems to want to talk about the maths behind it, the limitations, the social issues, or what it could mean from a philosophical perspective. Not really. Sure this exists online and I can read people’s thoughts in articles like this one, but the vast majority of people instead want to ask it where to go on holiday, or what they should have for dinner, or to create a workout plan for them. They want to interface with the idea of AI because it’s topical and fun, but they don’t want to take it seriously.

Asking what’s for dinner or where to go on holiday are fine uses of course, I can see how it’s all just good fun, and I’m aware this is going to make me sound like a grumpy grumpus, but that feels so benign, and if that’s as far as your interest goes, it’s quite naive. The use of AI in wider society has a lot of, potentially very serious implications. And I’m not talking about the sci-fi implications of terminators or HAL 9000, I mean real social issues.

Quick disclaimer: AI brings a lot of benefits and its progress is inevitable. I just want to raise awareness and encourage more conversation about the disadvantages too.

AI issues and conversation starters

I researched each of these issues as much as I felt I needed to in order to properly argue the point and linked my sources at the end of each part in case you’re interested in going deeper in any of them.

Losing jobs to AI

This is the one most people are aware of or are already affected by. As AI becomes more advanced and reliable it is used in more machines and to automate more processes. Inevitably certain jobs and functions will become redundant because a machine can do them at least as well, more cost effectively, and more efficiently. This has already resulted in less demand for human labor and will only continue. But it has also lifted people up and provided more opportunity and support to do more, or make more, more efficiently.

The two sides of the argument here are:

1. Panic, this is bad, what can we do about it? We should put safe guards and legislation in place to protect the workers, jobs, and skills. We should enforce regulations on the development and implementation of AI so that we don’t ‘automate people out of their livelihoods’.
2. Look to the past and then look for opportunity. You can draw a lot of parallels between the development and worries surrounding AI and the industrial revolution. How when machines started taking over industry and automating people out of jobs but ultimately it is generally agreed that it created more jobs and opportunities.

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it - George Sabtayana

Bias and Discrimination

Fundamentally AI, and by extension ChatGPT is only as good as the data it is trained on.

If the data used to train the algorithm is biased, then the algorithm will also exhibit that bias. This can lead to discrimination in areas such as employment, credit, and criminal justice, where AI is used to make important decisions.

1. Lack of Empathy: AI is a machine and does not possess the ability to understand human emotions, empathy, or empathy. This can lead to poor decision making in situations where a human touch is required, such as healthcare or customer service.
2. Security Risks: AI systems are vulnerable to hacking and cyber attacks, which can result in serious consequences, such as the theft of sensitive information or the manipulation of systems. In addition, AI systems can be used to carry out malicious activities, such as cybercrime or propaganda.
3. Cost: The development and deployment of AI systems can be extremely expensive, which can limit their use to only large corporations and governments. This can lead to an unequal distribution of the benefits of AI and further widen the gap between the rich and the poor.
4. Dependence on Technology: As society becomes more reliant on AI, we may become dependent on technology to the point where we are unable to function without it. This could lead to a loss of critical thinking skills and decision-making abilities, making us increasingly reliant on technology to solve problems.

In conclusion, AI has brought about numerous benefits to society, but it is not without its own set of disadvantages. It is essential that we approach the development and deployment of AI with caution and carefully consider the potential consequences. Only by doing so can we ensure that AI is used in a responsible and ethical manner, and that its benefits are shared equally among all members of society.

what are some things ai could never replace?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come a long way in recent years, and it is capable of performing many tasks that were once considered impossible. However, there are still some things that AI will likely never be able to replace. Here are a few examples:

1. Human Emotions: AI may be able to mimic human emotions, but it does not have the ability to truly understand or feel emotions in the same way that humans do. This means that AI will never be able to replace the emotional intelligence and empathy that are unique to human beings.
2. Creativity: While AI algorithms can be trained to generate art and music, they lack the imagination and creativity that are unique to human artists. Human artists have the ability to create new and unique works of art that are inspired by their own experiences and emotions, and this is something that AI will likely never be able to replace.
3. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: AI algorithms are great at processing large amounts of data and finding patterns, but they lack the ability to think critically and solve problems in the same way that humans do. This means that AI will never be able to replace the human ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to complex problems.
4. Human Relationships: AI algorithms are great at communicating with humans, but they lack the ability to form real human relationships. This means that AI will never be able to replace the human connection and emotional support that we get from our relationships with friends, family, and loved ones.
5. Ethical and Moral Judgment: AI algorithms can be programmed to make ethical and moral decisions, but they lack the ability to truly understand the complexities of human ethics and morality. This means that AI will never be able to replace the human ability to make ethical and moral judgments based on our own experiences and beliefs.

In conclusion, while AI is capable of performing many tasks that were once considered impossible, there are still some things that AI will likely never be able to replace. These things include human emotions, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving, human relationships, and ethical and moral judgment. These are all things that are unique to human beings and are what make us truly special

What role does ai play in art

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been playing an increasingly significant role in the field of art. While AI has not yet replaced human artists, it has provided artists with new tools and avenues for creative expression. Here are some ways AI is being used in the field of art:

1. Generative Art: AI algorithms can be trained to create unique and original works of art, known as generative art. Artists can input parameters such as color, texture, and form, and AI algorithms can generate unique images based on those inputs. This has opened up new avenues for artistic expression and creativity.
2. Digital Art: AI algorithms can be used to manipulate and transform digital images and videos. This has led to the creation of new forms of digital art, such as AI-generated animations and visual effects.
3. Music Composition: AI algorithms can also be used to compose music, either by generating entirely new compositions or by assisting human composers. AI-generated music can be created in a variety of styles, including classical, jazz, and electronic music.
4. Art Restoration: AI algorithms can be used to restore damaged works of art, such as old paintings or photographs. By using machine learning algorithms, AI can help to fill in missing parts of an image and restore it to its original state.
5. Art Analysis: AI algorithms can also be used to analyze and understand works of art. For example, AI can be used to identify patterns and themes in paintings, or to determine the cultural and historical context of a work of art.

In conclusion, AI is playing an increasingly important role in the field of art. While it has not yet replaced human artists, it has provided artists with new tools and avenues for creative expression. AI is helping to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of art and is leading to new forms of creative expression that were previously impossible

The good thing is OpenAI, the company that is now I would say, the market leader in AI technology seems to be very tuned in and aware of these issues. With ChatGPT came a risk assessment and forcasting of potential misuse

https://openai.com/blog/forecasting-misuse/