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A fake news frenzy: why ChatGPT could be disastrous for truth in journalism

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Summary

This article explores the potential consequences of the newly released ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence application that can mimic human writing with no commitment to the truth. It has been met with enthusiasm from investors and founders, but experts are warning of potential harms and the danger of it being used to create large amounts of fake news. The article discusses the implications of ChatGPT in journalism, such as the potential for AI to be used to create automated articles with false information, and the ethical issues posed by the tech companies that produce the technology, such as OpenAI's use of workers being paid less than $2 an hour to sift through potentially harmful content. The article concludes by emphasizing the need to take a more cautious approach and regulate the use of ChatGPT to avoid a repeat of the mistakes of the past 30 years of consumer technology.

Q&As

What is ChatGPT and how can it be used to generate fake news?
ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence application that can mimic humans’ writing with no commitment to the truth. It can be used to quickly generate vast amounts of material – words, pictures, sounds and videos – which can be used to flood the internet with fake news stories that appear to have been written by humans.

Why is the lack of commitment to the truth concerning in regards to ChatGPT?
The lack of commitment to the truth is concerning in regards to ChatGPT because it can be used to generate fake content, such as reviews, comments, or convincing profiles, which can be used for disinformation, grifting, and criminality.

What are potential ethical issues with the use of AI in newsrooms?
Potential ethical issues with the use of AI in newsrooms include accuracy, overcoming bias, and the provenance of data, which are still overwhelmingly dependent on human judgment. Additionally, there are ethical issues with the nature of the tech companies themselves, such as OpenAI, which has paid workers in Kenya less than $2 an hour to sift through content describing graphic harmful content.

What are the implications of using large language models of AI applications such as ChatGPT?
The implications of using large language models of AI applications such as ChatGPT include the amplification of demographic stereotypes, as well as the potential for creating confusion and exhaustion by “flooding the zone” with material that overwhelms the truth or at least drowns out more balanced perspectives.

How can the errors of the last 30 years of consumer technology be avoided?
To avoid the errors of the last 30 years of consumer technology, it is important to hear the concerns of experts warning of potential harms and to regulate the use of AI applications such as ChatGPT. Additionally, it is important to ensure that AI is used responsibly and ethically, with an eye to safety.

AI Comments

👍 This article is well written and provides a thorough investigation into the potential dangers of ChatGPT and AI technology.

👎 This article fails to provide any real solutions to the issues it raises concerning ChatGPT and its potential for misuse.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the potential dangers of using ChatGPT, which is a platform that can mimic humans' writing but has no commitment to the truth. The article explores how this could lead to more fake news and disinformation being spread, and how it could be exploited for commercial gain. It also talks about the ethical issues around AI and how it can perpetuate existing biases.

Friend: Wow, that's really concerning. It's scary to think about how this technology could be used for malicious intent.

Me: Absolutely. And it's even more concerning that a lot of the enthusiasm for this technology has been drowning out the voices of caution. We need to regulate the use of these large language models now before the damage is done. It's also concerning that these technologies are being developed by tech companies that don't always have the best ethical practices.

Action items

Research the potential harms of using ChatGPT and other AI applications in journalism.
Reach out to experts in the field to discuss the ethical implications of using AI in journalism.
Educate yourself on the potential biases and dangers of using AI in journalism, and consider ways to mitigate them.

Technical terms

AI: Artificial Intelligence - A type of computer technology that is designed to simulate human intelligence and behavior.
ChatGPT: Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer - A type of artificial intelligence application that can generate human-like prose and predict the “correct” words to string together.
Large Language Models: A type of AI application that has been fed billions of articles and datasets published on the internet, allowing it to generate answers to questions.
Deepfake: A type of realistic picture or sound that can emulate the faces and voices of famous people.