Hello! I know it's been quite a while since my last "Thoughts for Thursday" (I've been extra lazy lately), but I was able to generate a few thoughts I thought I might share with you today. As long as you think that's ok?
Thoughts for Thursday 04-06-2023 All Hail our Computer Overlords!
I had a conversation with a friend recently that turned out to be far more intense than I had originally expected.
I had made a passing comment about how amazing the ChatGPT AI Bot was that I had started playing around with and my friend was very angry and afraid that this technology even existed.
What is a ChatGPT AI Bot you ask? (That's a lot of letters all in a row that don't seem to make much sense.)
Simply, its a natural language processing tool that uses a super smart computer to have human-like conversations that can answer questions, compose emails and essays, and even produce software code.
That may still sound a bit complicated, but essentially, you go to a website and type in stuff and it quickly provides an intelligent comprehensive reponse, unlike how most people work when you ask them a question.
For example: I typed in "why are clouds white?", and it responded with a few paragraphs about sunlight and the atmosphere and how light scatters. Interesting and all, but not really something you couldn't do for years just using a standard Google search or by asking me, because obviously I know everything. But this can do so much more, it's actually terrifying.
When I entered, "write an essay on why clouds are white", it responded with a much more extensive article on the subject that could easily be turned in as homework to any 8th grade classroom.
Don't feel like spending a few hours doing research and writing your own paper for that boring environmental science class?
No problem, this will do it all for you in seconds.
And that's just the tip of the iceburg.
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance, it is increasingly being used to create art and written content. While some celebrate the possibilities that AI offers in these areas, others have expressed concerns about the implications of this technology. What are some of these concerns and what they might mean for the future of AI-generated art and text?
One of the main concerns with AI-generated art is that it could potentially replace human artists. If AI is able to create works of art that are indistinguishable from those created by humans, it could threaten the livelihoods of professional artists. However, it's important to note that AI-generated art is currently seen more as a tool for artists rather than a replacement for them. Many artists are already using AI to help them create new works or enhance existing ones, and there is still a lot of room for creativity and expression within the field.
Another concern is that AI-generated art and text could be used to spread misinformation or propaganda. For example, an AI-generated article could be used to spread false information about a political candidate or to influence public opinion on a controversial topic. This is particularly concerning in the age of social media, where information can spread rapidly and be difficult to track down or verify. It's important to remember that AI is only as unbiased as the data it's trained on, and there is always a risk of bias creeping into the output.
Additionally, there is a concern that AI-generated art and text could lack the emotional depth and nuance of human-created works. While AI can create art and text that is technically proficient, it may not be able to capture the same emotional resonance that a human artist or writer can. This could result in a lack of connection between the audience and the work and could limit the impact and effectiveness of AI-generated content.
Finally, there are concerns about the potential for AI-generated art and text to perpetuate harmful stereotypes and biases. If AI is trained on biased data, it could reproduce and amplify those biases in its output. For example, an AI-generated image of a person could be more likely to depict them in a stereotypical way based on their race or gender, even if that depiction is inaccurate or harmful.
Despite these concerns, AI-generated art and text are already being used in a variety of contexts, from marketing to entertainment to scientific research. As with any new technology, it's important to carefully consider the potential risks and benefits and to take steps to mitigate any negative consequences. By working together to address these concerns, we can help ensure that AI-generated art and text are used in a responsible and ethical manner that benefits society.
So, essentially, if people all work together and do the right thing we can make sure this new technology is used in responsible and safe ways.
I don't know about you, but that hasn't been my experience dealing with most people over the course of my life.
What's to keep someone from using this technology to do their work for them and instead, pass it off as their own? Would you even notice?
I mean, what if the 5 paragraphs in this article after the sentence "and that's just the tip of the iceburg" was all written by ChatGPT and not the incredibly intelligent and entertaining author you thought had created it?
Could you tell the difference?
"Sure, Uncle Steve- that was the only part of this Thoughts for Thursday that made any sense and wasn't contrived and boring."
Ok, that might be true, but is still hurtful.
Maybe next time I'll actually write the entire thing on my own, and then again, it is alot easier this way.
Until next time, Be Well and Stay Safe,
Uncle Steve