Check It Out: There’s no counterfeit for true value
By Joan Janzen
A five-year-old pointed at a picture in a book and said to the teacher, “Look at this! It’s a frickin’ elephant! It says so on the picture.” The caption under the photo of an elephant read African Elephant.
Like the pre-schooler, we all perceive things differently, and in November 2022, ‘the elephant in the room’ became visible as the Artificial Intelligence (AI) ChatGPT was unveiled. YouTuber Christa Swartz said within five days it had equalled the popularity of Facebook, which took five years to gain that level of popularity. And it’s already a $20 billion company! So what is it exactly?
While Google gives you numerous choices to seek an answer to your question, ChatGPT gives you a specific answer and interacts with you. It’s capable of writing essays, songs, scripts, movies, books and computer code within seconds. An article by Chloe Xiang reported ChatGPT is passing tests required for medical licenses and business degrees.
When Christa Swartz asked ChatGPT what are the worst-case scenarios when using it, it presented a list, the first of which was ‘job loss.’ This is already evident as Microsoft, one of the biggest investors in this technology, recently laid off 10,000 employees.
The next listed worst-case scenario given said if AI systems are trained on biased data, then the systems can amplify existing societal bias. This could lead to discrimination in many areas of hiring, criminal justice and lending.
Privacy and security were next on the list, as personal data could be hacked by bad actors. Autonomous weapons were on the list, which is AI controlled and can select and engage targets without human intervention.
Dependence was listed as a disadvantage, as humans lose their ability to make decisions and problem-solve on their own. And last of all, it listed unintended consequences, which cause unforeseeable negative impacts on society.
On social media, Bret Weinstein noted it’s going to become extremely difficult to discern who is actually knowledgeable. It will be equally difficult to discern who is claiming ChatGPT products as their own work.
ChatGPT has raised concerns from teachers and academics over its ability to cheat on essays and exams. The concerns are valid, as Chat GPT has now passed an MBA final exam, the United States Medical Licensing Exam, and components of the bar exam.
But do those who cheat win in the long run? Their lack of knowledge will eventually be revealed in the real working world. Bret also noted that skills performed in the real world, such as mechanics or electronics, are difficult to reproduce.
More importantly, face-to-face interaction, bravery and compassion can’t be reproduced. Those human traits were publicized by Fox News when a nun stopped a robbery at the mission where she worked. One morning she heard a noise outside, opened the door and discovered a thief running up a step ladder onto the roof. She threw the ladder down, and the thief jumped down and stood beside her. She pointed her finger at him and said, “This is God’s property; how dare you do this! Get out!”
The elderly nun, Sister Mary, said she wasn’t afraid because she knew it was something that had to be done. She lives in a dangerous neighbourhood because she wants to; it’s where she is able to show compassion and invite people in for a meal. It’s a place where people can feel loved.
Those in leadership know all too well how challenging face-to-face interactions and discussions can be. Perhaps that explains why Prime Minister Trudeau recently visited Saskatoon’s rare earth elements production plant but didn’t notify the Premier of Saskatchewan.
Now thirteen premiers are meeting with the Prime Minister on Feb. 7 to discuss health care. Brian Lilley from the Toronto Sun, in conversation with Stephen LeDrew, noted that for thirteen Premiers from different provinces, representing all parties, to have a unanimous viewpoint on health care and bail reform is quite something. Unity can’t be replicated by AI.
AI’s increasing ability can be perceived as a threat, but it also can be perceived as a wake-up call for individuals to live a more balanced life. This may mean engaging less in social media and more in real life, face-to-face compassion, love and bravery. AI cannot counterfeit or mimic the love, compassion, bravery, and unity lived out every day by people like you and me, and it can’t replicate real-life interaction. That’s where true value exists.