A Farewell to Google
A pioneer in artificial intelligence known as the “Godfather of AI” has left his position at Google to talk more candidly about the possible risks of the AI technology. According to reports, Dr Geoffry Hinton spent more than ten years working on machine learning algorithms at Google before leaving, and he owes the nickname to a lifetime of research in neural networks. In an interview with the NYT, the interviewer implied that Hinton left Google to criticize the company with more liberty. However, at the same time, he declared that he resigned because he wanted to comment on the dangers of AI’s imminent dominance and its risks.
Dangers of the AI Technology
Hinton’s first concern about AI technology regards the flood of false information in texts, pictures, videos and other media. The amount of fabricated information is so much that it is hard to distinguish genuine and authentic information from false data. Hinton also worries about AI’s threat to the job security of thousands of employees. AI is rapidly analyzing vast amounts of data, enabling it to come up with innovative solutions that can make redundant all or a major part of the workforce. The third risk of AI technology is its unexpected behavior thanks to its access to unlimited data, which can lead to the weaponization of the technology.
Examples of AI-initiated Disinformation
Recent cases of media outlets that fell for releasing false information, as well as one German publication using AI to construct an interview, suggest that AI technologies are already genereting disinformation. In another event on May 1, Binance asserted that it was the target of a smear campaign started by ChatGPT. The exchange presented evidence of the chatbot’s assertion that its CEO, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao belonged to a Chinese Communist Party youth group. The bot included links to a Forbes article and Zhao’s LinkedIn page, which it claimed to have obtained the information from. However, neither the article nor Zhao’s LinkedIn profile appears to exist.
In another case, the Daily Mail published a report about a purported Canadian actor named “Saint Von Colucci”, who allegedly passed away following plastic surgery to make him resemble a South Korean pop star. Daily Mail removed the post shortly. The information was found in a press release on the actor’s passing that was issued by a person or organization posing as a public relations agency, and that contained what seemed to be AI-generated images.
Measures against AI Threats
Regulators, policymakers, and leaders in the tech sector have all expressed worry in recent months about the advancement of AI. More than 2,600 industry CEOs and researchers made a call for a temporary pause in AI development in March, citing “profound risks to society and humanity.” Also, 12 EU legislators signed a similar petition in April, and a recent EU draft rule divides AI products into danger categories. Additionally, the UK is providing $125 million to help a task force for the creation of “safe AI.”
Read more topical news here.
