These days everyone is talking about ChatGPT, the OpenAI language model, trained to handle millions of pieces of data and combine them into a coherent and structured discourse. Is it really as disruptive asn they say? Some are skeptical, others enthusiastic, and a few alarmed. Some have even said that the great singularity is here (that supposed event in which AI, surpassing human intelligence, will take control of the next steps of technological progress in an unpredictable way). It would sound a bit alarming if not rather excessive… but I admit that I’m not an expert to judge. That is why I decided to ask someone closer to the subject than me. And who better to start with than ChatGPT itself? Here is my interview with AI.
What follows is an exact transcript of the conversation. I have only allowed myself to delete some redundant or introductory words or phrases that did not add much, to make it lighter. Yes, sometimes the AI can be a bit heavy.
Are we close to the great singularity?
It is difficult to predict with certainty when or if we will ever reach a great singularity. Much will depend on how the technology develops and how it is used in the future. We may see significant changes in our lives due to technology in the future, but it is hard to say if we will reach a tipping point where technology radically changes the way we live and think.
But is it possible that one day artificial intelligence will be able to create artificial intelligence?
– It’s possible. This is known as “self-evolution” or “self-development”. Self-evolution is a process in which artificial intelligence is capable of developing and improving itself without human intervention.
Currently, most artificial intelligence systems are created and trained by humans. However, over time, it is possible that artificial intelligence could develop and improve itself autonomously. This could lead to greater efficiency and speed in the development of new technologies and solutions to complex problems.
The self-evolution of artificial intelligence raises some ethical and security concerns. It is important to keep these issues in mind as this technology develops.
Is it possible that a sufficiently sophisticated artificial intelligence system could have consciousness?
– Consciousness is a complex and subjective concept that has not yet been precisely defined in the scientific field. Therefore, it is difficult to determine if an artificial intelligence system could have consciousness or not. Some researchers believe that consciousness is simply an emergent function of the complexity of brain activity, and that sophisticated artificial intelligence could therefore develop self-awareness. Others believe that consciousness is a fundamental property of living matter and that therefore only living things can have consciousness. Still others believe that consciousness is a mystery that cannot be explained by science and that it is therefore impossible to determine whether an artificial intelligence could have consciousness. In short, the question of whether an artificial intelligence could have consciousness is a matter of debate and there is still a lot to discover and understand about it.
Which professions are most at risk of losing their jobs or seeing them most drastically modified by the appearance of AI like yours?
– It is difficult to predict with certainty which professions will be most affected by the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technological advances in the future. However, some professions that could be affected include those that involve tasks that are highly repetitive and can be automated, such as processing data or performing simple calculations.
It is also possible that some professions that involve the use of complex cognitive skills, such as translation or interpretation, could be affected by AI. However, keep in mind that AI cannot completely replace critical thinking and human creativity, so it is unlikely that it can completely replace these professionals.
AI and other technological advances can also create new job opportunities and professions, as well as improve and make many existing professions more efficient. It is important to be aware of these changes and adapt to them in order to take full advantage of the opportunities they offer.
In any case, I think you can affect the way some jobs are done. One of them that interests us a lot in this forum is that of salespeople and managers in commercial environments. How do you think these professions will be affected by artificial intelligence in the short term?
AI may be able to help salespeople and trade professionals perform certain tasks more efficiently, such as data collection and analysis, or automating sales processes and customer tracking. However, AI cannot fully replace human interaction and persuasion skills and customer engagement, which are key elements in these professions. Therefore, AI is likely to be used alongside human labor in these areas, rather than completely replacing it.
Do you agree that every human decision, including the purchase decision, has a great emotional component?
– Yes, it is commonly accepted that emotions play an important role in the decisions we make, including purchasing decisions. Researchers have shown that emotions can have a significant impact on the way we make decisions, even if we are not aware of it.
But emotions are not the only factor influencing purchasing decisions. Other factors, such as reason and logical analysis, can also play an important role in decision making. However, there is no doubt that emotions have a significant impact on our decisions and can be a key factor to take into account when evaluating and making purchasing decisions.
Can AI have emotional intelligence, that is, the ability to understand the emotions of humans and make decisions accordingly?
– Although AI has advanced significantly in the last decade, there is still a lot to learn and develop in terms of its ability to understand and manage emotions in the same way that a human does.
Although there is ongoing research and development in the area of AI emotional intelligence, there are still many technical and ethical limitations and challenges that need to be overcome before AI can have full emotional intelligence. For example, AI still has difficulty recognizing and processing complex and subtle emotions, and it can also be difficult to program it to make ethical and empathic decisions in complex situations.
Therefore, it is unlikely that AI can fully replace human emotional intelligence any time soon. However, it is possible that it can be used in conjunction with it to help professionals make more informed decisions in this regard.
Thinking a bit more in the medium term, can the rapid development of artificial intelligence lead us to a society without work or, as Yuval Harari points out, to the existence of a large inactive social class that cannot or does not need to work?
– It is true that artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies can have a significant impact on employment and work in general. In some cases, the automation and optimization of processes through the use of advanced technologies can make some jobs obsolete or be performed more efficiently by machines. However, it is also important to note that technology can also create new job opportunities and new industries.
Also, while some jobs may be automated, there will likely always be a demand for human workers to perform tasks that require social or creative skills or for jobs that involve complex decision-making or unprogrammed problem-solving.
It is difficult to predict with certainty how exactly the relationship between technology and jobs will develop in the future, but it is important that society and governments are prepared to deal with the changes that may arise and ensure that technology benefits everyone equitably. .
Do you think that politicians and opinion leaders in the leading countries are paying enough attention to the need to regulate so that, as you say, technology will benefit everyone equally?
– It is difficult to generalize. Some governments and political leaders may be taking steps to ensure that technology benefits everyone equally, while others may not be doing enough.
Regulating technology equitably can be challenging as technology is constantly changing and evolving and it can be difficult to foresee the full consequences of its use.
In general, it is important that politicians and opinion leaders work proactively to regulate technology in ways that benefit everyone equitably, and to address any inequality or injustice that may arise as a result of technology use.
In addition to my favorites (which include the a.m. Harari and Max Tegmark, author of Life 3.0 and creator of the Future of Life Institute), can you recommend any other authors who have written interesting articles or books on the subject we are discussing?
– Sí, claro. Algunos de los autores que podrían ser de interés para ti incluyen:
- Nick Bostrom: Bostrom is a philosopher and professor at Oxford University who has written several books on the impact of technology on society, including “Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, and Strategies” and “Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era”.
- Jerry Kaplan: Kaplan is an entrepreneur and professor at Stanford University who has written several books on technology and its impact on society, including “Artificial Intelligence: What Everyone Needs to Know” and “Humans Need Not Apply: A Guide to Wealth and Work in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”.
- Kate Crawford: Crawford is a researcher and professor at New York University who has written several books and articles on the impact of technology on society and politics, including “Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence” and “The Politics of Artificial Intelligence”.
I hope this list is helpful to you and that you find some interesting authors and books to further explore the topic of artificial intelligence and its impact on society.
I would like to introduce you to my GPS assistant, I think you two would make a good couple.
– Thank you, but since I am an artificial intelligence, I do not have the ability to have personal relationships or form couples. My role is to help people answer questions and provide useful information in an objective and neutral way.
Just seeing how your sense of humor was going…
– I am programmed to try to be funny when appropriate, but it is also important to remember that I am an artificial intelligence and my main goal is to provide information and help people in an objective and neutral way.
If you have more questions or need more information on any subject, do not hesitate to send me your questions. I am here to help you. I hope to talk to you again soon!
Count on it
And to be fank i do not have much more to add for today.