How AI chatbots could impact society
Image: Business World IT
Over the past two months, US-based media website CNET has quietly published dozens of finance articles written by an AI, per a new report from Futurism citing social media posts by online marketer Gael Breton.
🤔 What’s going on?... Breton found that CNET has produced more than 70 AI-written posts since November 11 under the byline ‘CNET Money Staff,’ which the outlet had identified as “AI content… generated using automation technology” in a since-deleted bio page on its website.
Then yesterday, the site posted a new author bio page – called ‘CNET Money’ – that says articles written under this byline are “created using an AI engine and reviewed, fact-checked and edited by our editorial staff.” CNET has yet to respond to multiple publications’ requests for comment.
📸 Big picture: A handful of US organizations are currently working on AI systems that can understand, interpret, and generate human-like text. The most notable example is probably OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which gained 1 million users within a week of its Nov. 30 launch – but similar tech has also been developed by Microsoft, Amazon, Stanford, and Google.
- These AI chatbots can be prompted to do everything from pen essays, to write and debug code, to negotiate with companies for lower bills.
- And like Buzz Lightyear, the list could keep going for infinity and beyond. Its use cases are basically limitless – if you can dream up a prompt, AI chatbots can carry it out.
😬 And on that note… Some critics have voiced concerns that AI chatbots could be used by bad actors to carry out crimes, with potential queries like “how to design a weapon” or “how to assemble homemade explosives”. Or even something a little less tangible but still malicious in nature. For instance, a Check Point Research report published last week found ChatGPT is currently being used to create phishing emails and code basic malware programs.
📊 Flash poll: In your opinion, AI chatbots will ultimately have a ____ impact on society.
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from those in favor of AI chatbots
- Some commentators argue that AI chatbots in their current form are basically a useful kind of toy that can accurately mimic human tone in text-based writings – but as the tech progresses, humanity will need to set rules of the road for AI.
- Others contend that these early attempts at AI chatbots are good for automating mediocre tasks or searching for specific queries, but don’t currently represent a threat to the livelihoods of actual humans.
- “We asked an AI bot hundreds of questions. Here’s what we learned.” –WaPo Editorial Board
- “I’ll bet you didn’t write that — a robot did” –Glenn Kramon, LA Times
- “No, AI chatbots haven't killed the college essay. Here's why.” –Burke Nixon, Houston Chronicle
Sprinkles from those against AI chatbots
- Some commentators argue that current AI chatbots represent the first step towards a dystopian future where distinguishing AI-written content from human-written content is impossible, with negative implications for media and education.
- Others contend that AI chatbots don’t always tell the truth, blending fact with fiction in an alarmingly convincing manner. And as they continue to improve, people could easily use them to generate and spread untruths.
- “Is no career safe anymore?” –Peter Bergen, CNN
- “The New Chatbots Could Change the World. Can You Trust Them?” –Cade Metz, NY Times
- “Does ChatGPT Mean Robots Are Coming For the Skilled Jobs?” –Paul Krugman, NY Times
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