Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few years, you have heard of AI. It’s on our phones, it’s a feature in Photoshop, it’s included in new vehicles, and soon it will be available on your fridge. That last one may be a stretch, but we have come a long way since Ask Jeeves. Now AI can give a detailed answer to a complex question. For example, as a creative block set in trying to write this post, I decided to ask Chat GPT for some help.
I asked the AI this: “Please write a 4 to 5-sentence block about ChatGPT and its effects on society.”
This is its response: “In the realm of AI-driven advancements, ChatGPT has emerged as a transformative force, reshaping the dynamics of human interaction and knowledge dissemination. Its ability to generate coherent and contextually relevant responses across a myriad of topics has not only revolutionized customer service and online assistance but has also democratized access to information. With its capacity to engage in meaningful dialogue, ChatGPT has become a ubiquitous presence in our daily lives, fostering connections, aiding in education, and even sparking creativity through collaborative writing ventures. However, alongside its marvels, questions regarding data privacy, misinformation, and the ethical implications of AI-driven communication persist, highlighting the imperative for responsible development and usage of such technologies in our ever-evolving society.”
This answer has some complex layers to it. The first section seems to be filled with a bit of self-promotion and the positive impacts of AI. Then it follows up with the recent privacy and ethical concerns that people have with the explosive proliferation of AI in our normal lives. This is quite the achievement for a piece of software to be able to discuss its own impact on society. Some people have trouble putting their impacts into a concise and clearly stated paragraph.
It is amazing what AI has done for us, and this is only the beginning. At least in the field of IT, we have seen AI call centers and chatbots take over the level-one support field. Who knows what will be next? With the ability to process information, it could be anything from shipping to graphic design. The future looks weird.