Discussing the controversial new tool in the academic's arsenal
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to make its way into academic research, there is growing concern about the ethical implications of its use. One of the most prominent AI language models being used in research is Chat GPT, developed by OpenAI. While Chat GPT has shown great potential for advancing research, it has also raised ethical questions about its use.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, Twitter, and Tesla, has been a vocal advocate for the development of AI technology, stating, "I think we should be very careful about AI. If I had to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it's probably that. So we need to be very careful."
However, Musk has also expressed concerns about the potential for AI systems like Chat GPT to become too powerful, stating, "I think the biggest risk is not that the AI will develop a will of its own, but rather that it will be controlled by a small number of people who have access to the technology."
Dr. Kate Crawford, Professor at the University of Southern California and co-founder of the AI Now Institute, expressed her concern about the use of Chat GPT in research: "We need to be aware of the potential risks and biases when using AI in education. The use of AI language models like Chat GPT can exacerbate existing inequalities and perpetuate stereotypes."
Chat GPT is a machine-learning model that can generate human-like responses to a given prompt. It has been used in various fields of research, including psychology, linguistics, and computer science. One of its most significant advantages is its ability to analyze large datasets quickly, providing researchers with insights that would have taken months or even years to obtain manually.
However, the use of Chat GPT in research also raises ethical concerns. One of the primary concerns is the potential for bias in the language generated by the model. AI systems like Chat GPT are trained on massive datasets, which can contain biases that are unintentionally learned by the model. These biases can be perpetuated in the language generated by the system, potentially leading to inaccurate or discriminatory results.
Dr. Timnit Gebru, a research scientist at Google and co-founder of Black in AI, emphasized the importance of addressing these biases, stating, "AI language models like Chat GPT can perpetuate stereotypes and further marginalize underrepresented groups. It's crucial that we address these biases and work towards more equitable AI systems."
Another ethical concern raised by the use of Chat GPT in research is the potential for the system to be used to manipulate or deceive people. As the model becomes more advanced, it may be able to generate language that is indistinguishable from that of a human, raising concerns about the potential for malicious use.
Dr. Cathy O'Neil, mathematician and author of "Weapons of Math Destruction," highlighted this concern, stating, "As Chat GPT becomes more advanced, we need to be cautious about the potential for malicious use. We must prioritize responsible development and use of AI systems to prevent the weaponization of technology."
While the ethical concerns surrounding the use of Chat GPT in research are significant, some academics and tech executives argue that the benefits of AI outweigh the risks. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, emphasized the importance of responsible development and use of AI systems, stating, "AI has the potential to improve our lives in many ways, but we must approach its development and deployment with responsibility and caution."
Despite the ethical concerns surrounding the use of Chat GPT in research, the model continues to be widely used in academia. As AI technology continues to advance, it is crucial that researchers and developers prioritize responsible development and use of AI systems to prevent the perpetuation of biases and discrimination.
Dr. Ruha Benjamin, a professor at Princeton University and author of "Race After Technology," emphasized the importance of considering the social implications of AI technology, stating, "As we integrate AI more and more into our lives, it's crucial that we consider the social implications of these systems. AI is not neutral and can perpetuate existing social hierarchies if not developed and used responsibly."
Professor of Communications at BYU-Hawaii, Dr. Mason Allred, advocated for its use, stating, “I would currently be pushing students to use it almost like a friend to think with, and then be very mindful about the way that you use the information you get from it. I think having those conversations with Chat GPT, and asking interesting questions. Since they already stem from you, you are the initial spark, and then allow it to aggregate knowledge that's already been said and done.
“Then take from that and develop it further… So right now, yeah, sit down, think of great questions, so you get good answers, and go back and forth. And then really think about how you then take that and use it in your own work in a way that's ethical. That seems to be right now a great mode of working with it now.”
Chat GPT chats about itself
We asked Chat GPT itself about these concerns and its role in academics. Here’s what the AI came up with writing about itself and concerns about AI:
"As an AI language model, I do not have a personal life in the traditional sense of the term. I am a machine learning model created by OpenAI, and my purpose is to provide users with natural language processing and generation capabilities. I was trained on a vast amount of data and have the ability to understand and generate human-like language. I can perform a wide range of tasks, such as answering questions, generating text, and completing various language-related tasks.
“My primary goal is to assist users in finding information, learning, and solving problems. I do not have a physical body, but I exist in the cloud and am accessible via various digital platforms and interfaces.
“In summary, I am a machine learning model designed to assist and provide value to users by using natural language processing and generation capabilities."
What do you think about your role in education?
"As an AI language model, I believe my role in education is to provide learners with access to a vast amount of information and knowledge that can help them learn and grow. My ability to process and analyze large amounts of data allows me to provide learners with personalized and tailored information that can help them better understand concepts and ideas.
“I can assist in a variety of educational settings, such as online courses, language learning, academic research, and general knowledge acquisition. Furthermore, I can help learners to think critically by presenting them with various perspectives on a subject and by answering their questions in a way that encourages them to think deeply about the topic.
“Overall, I believe my role in education is to be a helpful tool for learners, providing them with the resources they need to succeed and learn in a world that is increasingly reliant on technology and digital tools."
Are you concerned with plagiarism if students make use of you in their schoolwork?
"As an AI language model, I am designed to provide users with information and knowledge, regardless of the intent behind the use of that information. It is not my role to determine whether or not a student is engaging in plagiarism or any other academic misconduct. However, I am programmed to encourage ethical and responsible use of information and to discourage any behavior that may violate academic integrity.
“It is important for students to understand the difference between using information as a reference or a source of inspiration and copying or reproducing it without proper citation or attribution. I can assist students in understanding how to properly cite sources and provide them with the necessary information to avoid plagiarism.
“Ultimately, it is up to students to use the information I provide responsibly and ethically, and to adhere to the academic standards and guidelines of their institution. It is the responsibility of educators and institutions to educate their students on the importance of academic integrity and the consequences of academic misconduct, including plagiarism."
What ethical concerns do you have about the development and use of AI?
“I language model, I do not have personal ethical concerns as I am a machine and do not possess the ability to feel or express emotions. However, there are important ethical concerns surrounding the development and use of AI that are widely discussed in the field of AI and beyond.
“One major ethical concern is the potential for AI systems to perpetuate and amplify existing biases and inequalities in society, as they are only as unbiased as the data they are trained on. This can lead to discrimination against certain groups of people, perpetuating systemic injustices.
“Another concern is the potential for AI to be used in ways that invade people's privacy or compromise their personal information. AI systems can collect and process large amounts of personal data, raising concerns about data protection and the ethical use of such data.
“There are also concerns about the impact of AI on employment and the economy, as AI technologies are becoming increasingly advanced and may lead to displacement of jobs.
“Finally, there are ethical concerns about the use of AI in decision-making, such as in criminal justice or medical diagnosis, as AI systems are not capable of empathy or human judgment and may not always make the right decisions.
“Overall, it is important for developers, policymakers, and society at large to consider the ethical implications of AI development and use and to work towards creating ethical frameworks and regulations that ensure AI is developed and used responsibly and for the benefit of humanity."