And so another week fly’s by and it’s time to catch up on all things AI again. This week, we are going to tackle the thorny subject of Ethics in AI. It’s an important subject and one that deserves discussion. As well as covering some of the most interesting news items we’ll also be looking at a device that was the forerunner to all of the music streaming services that we take for granted today. I’ve been asked by a number of subscribers to give examples not just of prompts, but also of the interaction with AI. I have included an example of how I use ChatGPT to research and give me pointers for writing the Ethics post this week.

News

Payment in the palm of your hand: Amazon this week have launched their Amazon One service which literally uses the palm of your hand to make payments, enter venues, verify your age etc. Nothing else required, just your hand! Check it out here

OpenAI planning to put ChatGPT at the heart of education: the creator of ChatGPT has engaged with the education sector to get teachers comfortable with using the chat bot in the classroom. Even although this technology is relatively new, this move is long overdue. Read more here

UK Government looking to address concerns at AI Safety Summit: The UK is looking to establish itself as a global leader in AI. Held at Bletchley Park in November, the summit seeks to engage leaders from around the word to address both concerns and risks of AI as well as explore the myriad opportunities the technology presents. Find out more here

AI can help you save money: Not only can AI help you with almost any task you can think of with a computer, it can also help you save money by analysing your spending habits and automating away the worst of them. Hmm, not sure about that, read more here

Just One Thing: Ethics in the Age of AI

As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms our world, we face profound ethical questions about how to develop and deploy these powerful technologies responsibly. From warfare to healthcare, surveillance to inequality, AI raises urgent issues demanding thoughtful solutions. Here we will explore a number critical topics at the intersection of ethics and AI.

AI in Warfare and Surveillance

Autonomous weapons utilising AI to independently select and engage targets pose a grave ethical dilemma. Removing human judgement from lethal force decisions is morally hazardous. Preventative safeguards and clarity on responsibility and accountability will be essential to ensure ethical warfare, if there is such a thing, as militaries advance such capabilities. For sure, there is an AI arms race surging at the moment that will hinder regulation and many ethical considerations.

Similarly, mass surveillance powered by AI like facial recognition technology also threatens civil liberties. China's social credit system leveraging real-time tracking of citizens foreshadows potential abuses. Privacy rights must be staunchly protected as AI expands governments' surveillance powers. Oversight and transparency are crucial, to protect the worse excesses of the nanny state.

AI, Employment and Inequality

AI is set to displace human jobs on a substantial scale, disproportionately impacting lower income roles, though by no means not exclusively. While boosting economic growth overall, those gains may concentrate in the hands of a wealthy tech elite. Societies must implement policies to assist displaced workers, provide educational opportunities, and ensure the benefits of AI are shared equitably. If inequality is left unaddressed, we risk extremely destabilising social unrest.

Healthcare and Privacy

AI diagnosis tools like deep learning image analysis promise immense healthcare advances. But fully autonomous AI acting without human oversight raises concerns in sensitive life-and-death decisions. Patients also expect their sensitive medical data to remain private, yet AI systems ingest vast amounts of it. Healthcare providers must establish ethical governance so AI improves care while respecting patient rights.

Rights and Treatment of AI

As AI grows more sophisticated, philosophical debates intensify around whether sufficiently advanced systems could attain consciousness deserving ethical treatment. Would intelligent robots merit rights? Given the extraordinary pace of advancement, this seems to be within reach at some point this decade. Defining moral boundaries for how we create and use conscious AI poses complex challenges.

Bias and Discrimination

Left unchecked, biases encoded in AI algorithms can lead to harmful discrimination, such as in criminal risk assessment tools disadvantaging minorities. Prioritising diversity and inclusion throughout the AI development process is imperative to mitigate prejudice. Regular audits, transparency and accountability will help address unfair biases before they proliferate through AI systems.

Global Cooperation 

Competing national interests impede international consensus on AI ethics standards. But universal guidelines are indispensable to steer development responsibly across borders. Nations must rise above rivalries to cooperate on shared values-based frameworks, much as with human rights declarations. Progressive coalitions of technologists, ethicists and civil society groups can advance this agenda.

Regulatory Challenges

Legislation struggles to keep pace with AI's breakneck evolution. More agile governance combining ethical codes, expert advisory boards, and user rights protections will be key. Public-private partnerships drawing on insights across sectors can foster responsible innovation within sensible constraints. Getting regulation right is crucial to charting an ethical course.

In summary, realising AI's promise requires elevating ethics to match technological capabilities. With collective wisdom, moral courage and multilateral collaboration, we can maximise its benefits while minimising harms. Our shared humanity demands nothing less.

Remember When:

As a forerunner to a world of streaming music that you can take anywhere, the cassette recorder was an amazing piece of technology.

Before Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, and streaming services delivered music anywhere instantly, we had the humble cassette tape. In the 1970s and 80s, the cassette tape revolutionised music listening, allowing us to curate personalised playlists and take our music on the go for the first time ever.

There was a Sunday afternoon ritual that my sister and I did for years. The Top 40 hit parade would come on the radio and we’d hook up the cassette recorder and try to get our timing right to get maximum song and no DJ. Hardly ever worked to be fair, but the idea of being able to make a tape and then listen to it again on the car journey home from our Gran’s was amazing at the time.

Those tapes gave us a sense of ownership over the music for the first time. And we could listen whenever and wherever we wanted. Cassettes and portable cassette players liberated our musical enjoyment from the living room stereo.

This freedom was revolutionary in the 70s and 80s. While vinyl allowed album listening at home, tapes let us unchain music from the turntable and speakers. And compared to the radio, we could skip songs and listen to what we wanted.

Cassette technology democratised and personalised the listening experience. Although far from perfect with their tape jams, background hiss, and low audio quality, cassettes heralded a turning point - music began to become truly portable.

Today, our digital streaming apps offer the ultimate musical freedom. We enjoy endless music, expertly curated by algorithms to our taste, available instantly on demand. But we owe some gratitude to those analogue cassettes and slightly later, the brick-sized Walkmans. They represent an important milestone on the journey to today's miraculous music portability.

So next time you pick up your phone and summon a favourite song, spare a thought for the humble cassette tape and its role in pioneering music anywhere, anytime. Those homemade mixtapes paved the way for the effortless playlists we enjoy today.

Practical Prompts

Right, as promised, here is a transcription of a conversation I had with ChatGPT to research the above post on Ethics. On the back of this I had a structure and was able to write the post. It saved me hours of manual research. I hope you enjoy it! Sorry if it’s a bit long…

Me: I want you to act as an expert researcher. I am going to be researching for an article entitled "Ethics in the Age of AI". Can you give me a list of 10 questions or topics that I should be thinking about to construct this article. Please feel free to be as controversial as you like. I will then come back to you further when you have given me your initial thoughts

ChatGPT: Certainly, here's a list of 10 questions and topics that could serve as the backbone for your article on "Ethics in the Age of AI":

Questions and Topics:

1. AI and Bias: How is human bias perpetuated in AI systems, and what ethical implications does this have for societal decision-making?

2. Data Privacy and Surveillance: To what extent should AI technologies be allowed to collect, store, and analyze personal data? How do we balance utility against individual privacy rights?

3. AI and Warfare: The rise of autonomous weaponry: What are the ethical considerations when AI is empowered to make life-and-death decisions on the battlefield?

4. Economic Inequality: Does the increasing automation of jobs through AI exacerbate social and economic inequality, and if so, how should this be ethically addressed?

5. Algorithmic Transparency and Accountability: How much should we know about how an AI algorithm reaches its conclusions, especially in high-stakes scenarios like criminal justice or healthcare?

6. AI and Medical Ethics: From diagnosis to treatment, AI is becoming a key player in healthcare. How do we ensure equal access and unbiased algorithms in medical applications?

7. Ethical Treatment of AI: At what point, if any, do we need to consider the ethical treatment of AI entities, particularly as they become more advanced and potentially sentient?

8. AI in Democracy: How is AI shaping and potentially undermining democratic processes, including the spreading of disinformation or manipulation of electoral systems?

9. Ethical Considerations in AI Development: What responsibilities do researchers, scientists, and companies have in developing ethical AI? Are current ethical guidelines and standards sufficient?

10. Global Ethical Standards: Given AI's global reach, how can we develop a unified set of ethical standards that account for cultural, social, and political differences?

Each topic can be a deep dive in itself, and you could consider taking a controversial standpoint to stir the pot and get people really thinking about these ethical challenges.

Me: Thanks for that and I understand that each on its own could be worthy of a deep dive. There are three that warrant a better understanding on my part. Firstly, AI in warfare. Given that we are in an AI arms race at the moment, how likely is it that this plays out like the early stages of the nuclear arms race do you think? Second, Ethical treatment of AI. I hadn't thought about that at all. Can you flesh out what that might look like both in terms of the path to sentience and also what ethical treatment would look like. Lastly, Global Ethical Standards. I can't see how this comes into force without force as a backstop. What are you thinking here?

ChatGPT:

A. The AI arms race and the nuclear arms race share similarities, but also fundamental differences.

Similarities:

1. Escalation: Both involve an accelerating pace of development, with countries striving to outdo each other.

2. Global Stakes: Both have the potential to impact global security significantly.

3. Ethical Quandaries: Both bring a host of ethical and moral issues into focus.

Differences:

1. Barriers to Entry: Developing nuclear weapons involves a significant resource commitment and specialized knowledge, but the barrier to entry for AI development is much lower, potentially leading to wider participation.

2. Regulation: Nuclear technology has frameworks like the Non-Proliferation Treaty; AI lacks any such global governance as of yet.

3. Visibility: A nuclear test is a public act and easily verified. AI capabilities may be developed in more secrecy.

Likelihood: While the dynamics may not play out exactly as the nuclear arms race did, there's a considerable risk of escalation and competitive development that could lead to ethical and safety overlooks.

B. Path to Sentience

1. Narrow AI: Currently, we are at a stage where AI serves very specific tasks and doesn't possess consciousness, emotions, or self-awareness.

2. General AI: Theoretical future AI that could perform any intellectual task that a human being can do, but still without consciousness.

3. Superintelligent AI: The point at which AI could surpass human intelligence in all aspects, including emotional intelligence and creativity.

Ethical Treatment

1. Rights: If AI reaches a point of sentience or self-awareness, what kinds of rights would it have?

2. Responsibility: Who would be responsible for the well-being of a sentient AI?

3. Exploitation: How do we prevent the exploitation of sentient AI in labor, research, etc.?

Speculation: It's still highly uncertain if or when AI could achieve sentience. Ethical treatment could involve a framework of rights and responsibilities much like those for animals or even humans, depending on the level of sentience.

C. Global Ethical Standards

1. Global Frameworks: Initiatives like the United Nations could serve as platforms for developing global standards for AI ethics.

2. National Legislation: Countries could enact laws that align with global standards.

3. Corporate Responsibility: Companies engaged in AI development could adopt global standards as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Force as a Backstop:

1. Economic Sanctions: Countries failing to adhere to global standards could face economic penalties.

2. Technology Sharing Restrictions: Access to shared AI advancements could be limited for non-compliant countries.

Challenges:

1. Political Will: Global cooperation requires strong political will from all involved nations.

2. Cultural Differences: Balancing universally acceptable ethical guidelines against varied cultural norms is difficult.

Me: Very interesting, thanks.

ChatGPT: You're welcome! If you have any more questions or need further clarification as you delve into your article, feel free to ask. Good luck with your research on "Ethics in the Age of AI." It's an important and timely topic that certainly merits deep exploration.

Me: In terms of structuring the article, I would like to keep it to around 750 words. Given your points, how would you suggest i structure the article section by section. To narrow it down further, I'd like to use all ten points you listed as they all have real merit. I asked for clarification on those areas where I had doubts or questions. Can you outline a form of structure please and if you think 750 words is not likely to be enough, please also let me know

ChatGPT: Given the complexity and significance of each of the 10 points you want to include, covering all of them in-depth within a 750-word limit will be quite challenging. The result could be a cursory treatment of each subject, which may not offer substantial insights to your readers. Therefore, I would recommend extending the word count if it's an option. However, if you are committed to the 750-word limit, then a more focused treatment of each topic will be necessary.

Article Structure:

Introduction (approx. 50-75 words)

• Brief hook and an outline of the article's aim to explore 10 critical questions or topics regarding AI ethics.

Main Body (approx. 625-675 words)

You can dedicate about 60-70 words to each of the 10 points. In each section:

• 1 sentence: Define or set up the topic.

• 2-3 sentences: Explain why this is an urgent/important ethical issue.

The 10 topics could be organized into overarching themes for better flow and reader comprehension. For example:

• AI in Warfare and Surveillance (approx. 120-140 words)

  • Topic 1: AI in Warfare

  • Topic 2: Mass Surveillance

• AI, Employment, and Economic Equality (approx. 120-140 words)

  • Topic 3: Job Loss Due to AI

  • Topic 4: Economic Inequality Exacerbated by AI

• Healthcare and Privacy (approx. 120-140 words)

  • Topic 5: AI in Healthcare Decision-making

  • Topic 6: Personal Data Privacy

• Ethics and Treatment (approx. 120-140 words)

  • Topic 7: Ethical Treatment of AI

  • Topic 8: Biases in AI

• Global Implications and Governance (approx. 120-140 words)

  • Topic 9: Global Ethical Standards

  • Topic 10: Regulatory Oversight

Conclusion (approx. 50 words)

• Summarize the overarching ethical challenges and implications. Possibly pose a final question to leave readers pondering.

Me: Thanks, I'll take it from here, you've been a great help in ordering my thoughts

ChatGPT: You're very welcome! I'm glad I could assist you. Good luck with your article on this important and nuanced topic. If you have any more questions or need further guidance in the future, feel free to reach out. Have a great writing journey!

And that’s a wrap! If you enjoyed this (or didn’t) please let me know either on Twitter/X or at [email protected] See you next week!