GenerativeAI
Hope, Hype, Doom, & Gloom
Seems Bad
“Literally everyone on earth will die.”*
There has been no shortage of hyperbolic statements regarding the rise of GenAI. But some statements have been more cataclysmic than others. A stark thread of AI doomerism has existed at the heart of what is sometimes termed “the pause debate.” Though, truth be told, there was no debate. Some voices have shouted dire warnings from the sidelines—about potential harms from social upheaval due to propaganda for which the body politic is wildly unprepared (highly probable) to total extinction of the human race (slightly more fantastical)—while the GenAI train has just kept rolling.
There is a parallel thread of gloomerism. Where doomerism is premised on the AI being too good, gloomerism suggests that there is no there there. The gloomists lament us being stuck in yet another hellish hype cycle with carnival barkers using vapid technobabble and utopian promises to line their own pockets while distracting us from the real work of work.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has expressed his goal of creating artificial general intelligence (AGI). While there is no clear definition or timeline for AGI, Zuckerberg aims to build it and has reorganized Meta's AI research group to focus on generative AI. Meta has also amassed a large amount of computing power to support AGI development. Zuckerberg emphasizes the importance of open-source models and acknowledges the concentration of power that AGI may bring. Despite this new focus on AGI, Zuckerberg maintains that Meta remains committed to the metaverse and Reality Labs.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has expressed his goal of creating artificial general intelligence (AGI). While there is no clear definition or timeline for AGI, Zuckerberg aims to build it and has reorganized Meta's AI research group to focus on generative AI. Meta has also amassed a large amount of computing power to support AGI development. Zuckerberg emphasizes the importance of open-source models and acknowledges the concentration of power that AGI may bring. Despite this new focus on AGI, Zuckerberg maintains that Meta remains committed to the metaverse and Reality Labs.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has expressed his goal of creating artificial general intelligence (AGI). While there is no clear definition or timeline for AGI, Zuckerberg aims to build it and has reorganized Meta's AI research group to focus on generative AI. Meta has also amassed a large amount of computing power to support AGI development. Zuckerberg emphasizes the importance of open-source models and acknowledges the concentration of power that AGI may bring. Despite this new focus on AGI, Zuckerberg maintains that Meta remains committed to the metaverse and Reality Labs.
Researchers found that safety measures for large language models like OpenAI's GPT-3.5 Turbo can be bypassed with fine-tuning, posing AI safety concerns and challenging the assumption that commercial chatbots are inherently safer. Improved mitigation and legal considerations are needed.
The article discusses an expert's claim that AI could potentially destroy humankind within two years. The article provides a link to the full article for more information.
Effective regulation of AI needs grounded science that investigates real harms, not glorified press releases about existential risks
Cory Doctorow discusses the AI bubble, comparing it to past tech bubbles. He questions the value left behind when the bubble bursts and examines the business models of AI companies. He expresses skepticism about the future of AI and suggests that low-stakes applications may be the only viable ones. The article concludes by considering potential outcomes and the skills gained from the AI bubble.
Google DeepMind has unveiled its new AI model called Gemini, which is positioned as a competitor to OpenAI's GPT-4. While Gemini is touted as a powerful and versatile model, some experts believe it may signal the peak of AI hype. The model combines text, images, and audio to answer a wide range of questions and perform tasks. However, it remains to be seen if Gemini represents a significant advancement over previous models. The full release of Gemini will be staggered over the coming months.
OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap warns that AI is overhyped for businesses, as it cannot deliver immediate and substantial change. Companies have unrealistic expectations of AI solving all their problems, cutting costs, and driving growth. AI is still in its experimental phase and has yet to become part of critical tools and applications. OpenAI has launched an enterprise version of its ChatGPT platform to address concerns about data leaks. Early adopters of AI have experienced challenges and limitations in its implementation.
Storytelling computers will change the course of human history, says the historian and philosopher
Mustafa Suleyman, cofounder of Deeind and Inflection AI, talks about how AI and other technologies will take over everything—and possibly threaten the very structure of the nation-state.