TECH4GOOD
Frenzied conversations on AI does not seem to die down. The past week alone, I have been involved in four events, all focused on AI related topics. Topics range from the potential benefits of AI, the risks that are beginning to bubble up, the ethical and responsible use of it and regulations. All of these are primarily driven by the sudden popularity of large language models like chatGPT which really started it all. Millions of people have tried using it and are amazed with its capabilities while at the same time, beginning to have fears about the perceived dangers of AI and the possibility that, in the not-so-distant future, it will rule the world and may even cause the end of humanity as we know it today.
I personally believe that artificial intelligence is going to have a profound impact on the future of humanity, whether we like it or not. We need to have a decent understanding of how the algorithms, the fundamental component of AI systems, work so we can appreciate how these systems will either help or cause problems.
Generative AI, in particular, is a rapidly developing field with the potential to revolutionize not just the way work will be done but practically everything that we do. It is, therefore, important to continue talking about it for us to better harness its potential to improve society, identify and address potential risks, understand its limits, and increase awareness about the technology.
These technologies have the potential to benefit society in many ways, such as by creating new jobs, improving healthcare, increasing productivity, improving education, and making our lives more convenient. Continuously talking about the potential benefits can help ensure that they are used for good.
As generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) like chatGPT become more powerful, it is very important to be aware of the potential risks, such as weaponizing them, using them to generate spam or other forms of unwanted content, and the creation of deepfakes to spread misinformation, damage reputations, or even commit fraud. By talking about these risks, we can develop strategies to mitigate them.
While LLMs are exponentially improving, they still have limitations. They may generate inaccurate or misleading information, misunderstand context and exhibit biases. I remember a case where an event organizer used chatGPT to generate a profile for one of their speakers. The LLM came out with one that it made up by itself which was totally wrong, even saying that the guy did his PhD in Oxford University. By continuing the conversation, we can better understand these limitations and work on mitigating them.
By this time, large language models have gathered significant attention from most of us. But we need to raise the awareness some more to demystify the technology and counter the doomsayers. It is through dialogues that we are able to understand the technology better, its capabilities, and its potential impact to society. This will result to more informed discussions that will help foster a better appreciation of AI’s potential benefits and challenges.
To help achieve these goals, the Analytics and AI Association of the Philippines (AAP) in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology is organizing the first National Analytics and AI Summit on June 21 – 23, 2023 at the Novotel Hotel in Quezon City. The summit will feature prominent personalities and experts in the field of analytics and AI and will highlight discussions on the pending legislative initiatives designed to regulate AI, the potential of analytics and AI to improve public services, their impact to society, developing the Philippines to becoming the global hub for AI innovations, preparing our workforce to become AI ready, the use of AI in education, use cases, and ethical considerations in the use and development of AI. For those interested to join, you may visit the FB page of the Analytics and AI Association of the Philippines or register at http://bit.ly/2023AAIPHSummit.
Both generative AI and LLMs are complex fields that requires the expertise of many people from different areas of studies. By talking about them, we can help to foster collaboration between researchers, developers, and policymakers. This collaboration is essential to ensure that these AI tools will be developed and used responsibly. It is important to weigh the potential risks and benefits of AI. And through these conversations, we can collectively shape the future development and use of AI and its derivatives in a responsible and beneficial way. ([email protected])
(The author is the lead convenor of the Alliance for Technology Innovators for the Nation (ATIN), vice president of the Analytics Association of the Philippines, and vice president, UP System Information Technology Foundation.)