21923 - SCTE Broadband Aug2023 COMPLETE v1 (1)

21 Vol. 45 No. 3 - September 2023 Issue scte long read aware that this can do something that no other tools we ever built were. He added, “The hammers aren’t going to all start rising up on their own and going around hitting everyone. But this particular one could, and you wouldn’t even know that it was doing it on purpose. That’s not a near horizon worry, but some of the most respected experts in the field believe we need to act now to ensure that isn’t in our future.” Government intervention The EU is currently negotiating with members on the upcoming AI Act, which will be the first legislation of its kind if passed by the end of this year and aims to impose limits, codes of transparency, and even bans where the risk to humans is deemed too high. Those considered an ‘Unacceptable risk’ include: n Cognitive behavioural manipulation of people or specific vulnerable groups: for example voice-activated toys that encourage dangerous behaviour in children n Social scoring: classifying people based on behaviour, socio-economic status or personal characteristics n Real-time and remote biometric identification systems, such as facial recognition The UK, now outside the EU is also making proposals but by comparison they are vague, referring to ‘roadmaps’ and best practice over the next 12 months, rather than firm parameters, which will give Welsh cause for concern; this could well end up as toothless and ineffective as he feared. The worry is attracting investment and growth is being prioritised over safety: “Rather than targeting specific technologies, the policy paper focuses on the context in which AI is deployed. Initially, the government does not intend to introduce new legislation to avoid placing undue burdens on businesses.” What can we do about it? History has a tendency to be cyclical, and most generations think the end of the world may occur on their watch. The fable of the SodaStream teaches us that human behaviour is unpredictable, and that change isn’t always as welcome as innovators hope it will be. The Sinclair C5 didn’t take off either, remember. As exciting as the possibilities of AI are, however, all of the above paints a grim picture. What we can do is take responsibility for our own critical thinking; question what AI tells us. Read up on the subject and regularly. Be mindful of our own innate biases and be wary of them popping up in our own dealings with AI in all facets of life. We must learn to recognise that what ChatGPT throws up at you is based upon decades of inherent bias stored on the Internet; it is not ‘the truth’ any more than my opinion is against yours. Taking responsibility for ourselves, our own education is probably the only and the best way to co-exist with AI in 2023. After the image of Trump went viral, a bewildered Elliot Higgins said, “I had assumed that people would realise Donald Trump has two legs, not three, but that appears not to have stopped some people passing them off as genuine, which highlights that lack of critical thinking skills in our educational system.” Or, that we see what we want to see. Cognitive dissonance goes hand in hand with a lack of critical thinking. It seemed fitting to ask ChatGPT itself what to do about this, and the outcome was as positive as it was instructive. “It is paramount for humans to assume the responsibility of cultivating their critical thinking and education. While ChatGPT can provide information and insights, it is not a replacement for independent reasoning and learning. Individuals should approach interactions with ChatGPT as opportunities to enhance their understanding, challenge assumptions, and verify information through external sources. It is crucial to recognise that ChatGPT’s responses are generated based on existing data and patterns and may not always be accurate or unbiased. By actively engaging in thoughtful questioning, cross-referencing information, and continuously seeking diverse perspectives, individuals can harness the potential of AI like ChatGPT while upholding their own intellectual growth and discernment.” At face value that’s a good answer. Whether the governments we rely on will act fast enough and effectively enough to protect us remains to be seen.