Introduction
As AI continues to evolve, users should be able to recognize and address the broad ethical and social issues that accompany its global impact. This module will provide you with an overview of some of the most pressing concerns.
Watch:
GenAI Considerations (5 minutes)
Read:
For this activity, you’ll choose one of the GenAI concerns mentioned in the video that is most important to you personally or professionally and read a short (~5 minute) article about it.
Misinformation and disinformation: How GenAI is boosting the spread of disinformation and propaganda
Risk of Bias: Unmasking the Bias in Facial Recognition Algorithms
Academic Integrity: How do we maintain academic integrity in the ChatGPT era?
Privacy and Data: ‘A new privacy threat:’ Protecting personal data in the world of artificial intelligence
Environmental Impact: Explained: Generative AI’s environmental Impact
Discussion
Which reading did you choose? What was your biggest takeaway from this module?
4 replies on “thing 4: GenAI Concerns”
I chose to read ‘Explained: Generative AI’s Enivornmental Impact’. The impact on our environment – specifically the impact on electrical grids and water useage -should be of major concern as our usage of (dependency on)GenAI in ‘everyday’ situations continues to grow. I was alarmed to read about the frequency of new models being available and that subsequent impact on the environment as those new models will need to be trained. The amount of waste and cost to maintain the data centers & hardware has to be harnassed in conjunction with the future improvements in Gen AI.
I chose the reading about privacy and data. As someone who is interested in cybersecurity is it fascinating how some people have taken all of these AI tools and let them do their thing without wondering what kind of data it is collecting or what that data is being used for. The article mentioned internet of things (iot) products like Google Home and Alexa collecting data inside of the homes of people with no way to know if or when it is recording. The microphone on a Google Home device can be turned off, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not still listening.
There are also other devices with cameras that send data to a remote server like Ring doorbells and some automated vacuums. It really makes me wonder what they are going to do with that data. They could easily analyze the videos to see when the person leaves and comes home or what kind of items they own.
I chose the environmental impact reading. The information was surprising. I didn’t realize how much energy is being used to create and run AI. I’m going to think twice about my unnecessary responses to gen AI next time I’m about to reply with, “thank you.” I went on to find articles about that very topic, and when I think about all the times all the users simply say thank you and receive, “you’re welcome,” I realize it must really add up in terms of energy usage.
I chose “Misinformation and disinformation”. This is indeed a problem, but it existed before AI and is not going away any time soon. The antidot is supporting freedom of speech, which should allow access to all trustworthy sources of information, and not only those which support the government’s agenda. The paper itself could have benefited from more examples from recent US history.