The AI Revolution and Ethics
How AI came to be how it was, and the ethical questions with it.
The world and history of AI is actually quite a fascinating thing. Even though in 2021 it started to heat up with ChatGPT bringing others in…it’s history is actually decades old. Also fascinating that there are applications that can be used with AI. However, there’s a long history, and also there’s some ethics and concerns over its use. Regardless on your position of AI, do keep an open mind and read on. Also do come to your own thoughts about AI.
The History of AI (Abridged).
Machine Learning has been around for a long time. In fact in 1950, Alan Turing (considered the father of machine learning and the internet) had published something quite intreging. He published Computer Machinery and Intellegence in 1950. The proposal was simple that machines, could do tasks as well as humans. This was a hypothesis that gave rise to the Turing Test this is considered one of the first uses of Machine Learning in history. (Note that I’m using the term Machine Learning for one special reason. Also will discuss the Turing test later on).
In 1952, Samuel Arthur wrote a simple program to play checkers. However he was a year later, as in the UK this wsa done first on the Ferranti Mark 1 Machine with Christopher Strachey running the first checkers game. Also in the same year Dietrich Prinz wrote a chess prgram using machine learning.
However, the term Artifical Intellegence was officilly coined by John McCarthy (1927-2011). In 1955. This name would stick. A year later however, the Dartmouth Confronence. The purpose for this conference was to actaually come up with new and exciting ideas for the technology. Little did they know back then waas how things would develop.
The Turing Test.
Alan Turing had decided he was going to first expeirment in 1950 his supposition in Computer Machinery and Intellegenec. He needed a way actualy test it. Therefore he had three parts for it. The machine itself, the human, the machine, and a second human called the interogator. All three would be in seprated rooms if possible. Also if it wasn’t possible all three were in their own terminals. The interogator’s job was simple. They had to tell if the machine could do this the same…or bluntly if to determine which was the machine and which was human.
However there were three critisims. First, it was called out for being anthropomorphic. That is, the critisims are that Turing ascribed human values and objectives to the machine, thus making it human like. Secondly, it was flat out said that it was of little value. Finally, and the most damning was that the machine could have been preprogrammed with the instructions in the first place. That is, the claim was it was rigged so that the machine can follow the instructions withot doing much of anything.
AI Applications in the 1980s to today.
After the Winter of AI of 1974 when founding dried up…there was a a rebirth of the science. However commerical applications became much more viable. The most obvious example are video games, particuarly one or two player games where the enemies must be given instructions on how to act. Also, A company in 1984 called Digital Equipment Corporation used AI to configure their AI systems. However by 1986, they saved about $40 million a year. In the 1990s, it was a huge year for AI. For example IBM introduced Big Blue. This machine was challenged to a chess match against Kasparov. However the machine won. Also in 2000, MIT made a AI called Kismet. This was made to not only socalize and be social…but also to mimick human emotions. Also around this time, with the groundwork of the Natural Learning Project (NLP) that could take in more simple data, and analyze medium data sets. Though the tech as accellerated through to other industries, leading to OpanAI and ChatGPT.
The Misuse of AI
The misuse of AI however, is why the technology isn’t exactly enamoring to most people. One of the biggest problems with AI is deepfakes. These are videos/pictures that are made to be so lifelike that it can be hard to determine if it’s real. Usually these deepfakes are used to defame, inflaime, and otherwise extort the target. Even platforms like YouTube has decided that all programming using AI must be labeled as so.
Also there’s the issue of copyright infringement. AI must have data to train on. This is hard required. However, the information and data can be used from copyright sources. As such it’s a problem. While public domain is useful, not all of the information taken is freely availble, or freely given. In addition the creative community really are hard against AI. It’s to the point where digital artists have taken steps to “poison” their works against AI.
Another problem of misuse is straight out plagarism. Plagarism is a very serious academic fraud that has serious consequences. Remember, sometimes the AI can spit out a copyright work…and this can be tempting to do a copy/paste job instead of doing it the right way the first time. Students and professionals alike who fell into this trap usually got into some serious hot water.
Also AI can make up events/cases that has never happened. In fact this has happened in 2023, where a New York federal Judge sanction attorneys for using ChatGPT to write their briefs. In fact the AI came up with a case that didn’t even exist. In fact the Judge did saction the attorneys and they would have been a lot better off if they came clean about using ChatGPT.
The Ethics of AI and Machine Learning
There’s some legal and ethical uses for AI and Machine learning. For exmample, as mentioned it’s used in video games for enemies to do certain actins, and at which times, and when. Also it’s a learning tool for people to make simple games with AI for example The Checkers/chess games of the 50s, or even soliaire. Also film and photo colorization. Also even just experimenting with AI can help aid with voice and creativity. That is, it would be akin to using a refernce.
However one of the ethical dilemmas that are is the use of AI for jobs. AI replacing jobs is beyond tricky since they still would require human intervention. Also not all jobs can, or should, be done with AI. For example, in the creative fields, artists and musicians have a hard line. Also SAG-AFTRA, and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) Went on strike for a majority of 2023 with AI being one of the major sticking points. As part of the agreements the restriction of AI is enforced. Also actors and creatives now have contracts where AI can’t be used, or is heavily restricted. This also included likeness, and voice.
Could AI be an educational tool. Yes, it’s still in the field of computer science, and it’s actually quite complex. Even with base computer sciences knowledge…it can be an interesting field of study. However, students should not rely on AI for research. They still must learn the art of hard-copy research including using books and encylopedias, and the Reader’s Guide.
AI also has been floated around in the field of journalism. However, it’s well understood that the press should never use AI to write or edit their stories. The prupose of news reporting isto go out into the fields, and to ask the basic six questions. Also the viewers and readers will find out and will turn away. There has been some foolery with this in the press, and the backlassh was just as you’d expect. It was quite severe.
Finally, should there be NSFW AI and machine learning? It depends. The mainstream AI models like ChatGPT will not allow it. In fact it’s a safety mechinism they put in place to prevent CSA media from being produced so easily. However this prohibition does put the damper on somebody wanting to quickly get information on sexual health, or general anatomy questions.
The history, use, and ethics of AI can be debated. However, AI has been with us since the 1950s. It is true that it can be abused and misused. However in the right hands, and with some ethics…AI and machine learning can make things easier.