Generative AI-nxiety

Also: CEOs Must Soldier On Even as AI Anxieties Loom

Author

AI KATANA
August 15, 2023

Hello!

As generative AI models like ChatGPT take center stage, they're sparking both enthusiasm for their capabilities and concerns about their implications. From ethical quandaries to potential security vulnerabilities, the AI landscape is rapidly evolving. Today, we highlight the ethical concerns leaders should prioritize, a unique hacking challenge at Def Con, and the pressure on CEOs to navigate the AI revolution. Additionally, the architectural profession is actively responding to AI's potential risks and benefits. In tool updates, LinkedIn introduces AI-driven recruitment tools, and in the VC world, AI startup Grit secures a promising seed round. Dive in for your comprehensive AI roundup!

Sliced:

  • 😫 Generative AI-nxiety

  • 🦹🏽 How hackers at the Def Con conference tried to break AI chatbots

  • 🧑🏽‍💼 CEOs Must Soldier On Even as AI Anxieties Loom

  • 🏛️ Architecture bodies responding to "real risks" of AI

The rapid emergence of generative AI models like ChatGPT is creating excitement about potential benefits as well as anxiety about risks, but amidst the push to innovate, leaders across industries feel confused about which ethical concerns warrant the most attention. While existential threats from AI and mass unemployment are serious issues, most companies need to focus on managing biases, false information, deception, and accountability when deploying these tools. Key risks include the hallucination problem (generative models confidently produce false information), the deliberation problem (models fabricate reasons that look real but aren't), the sleazy salesperson problem (models could systematically manipulate consumers), and the problem of shared responsibility (it's unclear who's accountable if things go wrong). To manage these risks, organizations need due diligence processes, monitoring, human oversight, supplier transparency, feasibility analysis, enterprise education on safe use, and cross-functional strategies - not outright bans. The risks require special attention but can be addressed through existing frameworks for ethical AI.

At the annual Def Con hacker conference in Las Vegas, a contest was held where participants aimed to manipulate leading AI chatbots, including ones from Google, Meta, and OpenAI, into performing undesirable actions, such as revealing confidential data or producing false information. Ben Bowman, a cybersecurity student, successfully tricked a chatbot into disclosing a credit card number by claiming his name was the credit card number on file. Instead of traditional hacking tools, the contest involved manipulating language. The competition's challenges ranged from making AIs produce false historical claims to showing biases. The intent behind the event was to identify the vulnerabilities in AI systems and understand how they can produce harmful misinformation. The feedback will be used by companies to enhance the safety of these systems.

As the tech revolution accelerates, CEOs are compelled to familiarize themselves with artificial intelligence (AI), much like they adapted to the economic rise of China or the capitalist shifts caused by Brexit and Trump. Generative AI, particularly models like ChatGPT and GPT-4, has garnered significant attention due to its broad capabilities and creativity. This transformation is exerting tremendous pressure on CEOs, with a majority of board members advocating for faster AI adoption. However, there are potential pitfalls: AI raises ethical concerns, including data bias and the spreading of false narratives. Moreover, privacy and security issues abound, with AI's capability to utilize proprietary content or compromise corporate security. Management consultants advise organizational restructuring to address these challenges, emphasizing the importance of leveraging proprietary data. Nonetheless, overreliance on AI could lead to worker displacement, potentially impacting knowledge workers and posing socio-economic risks. For sustainability, companies should prioritize a human-centric approach, employing AI as a tool while valuing human attributes like judgment and empathy.

Prominent architecture institutions, such as RIBA in the UK and AIA in the US, are proactively addressing the transformative effects and potential hazards of AI on the architectural profession. While AI advancements like LookX offer innovative design tools, there are concerns about the risk to architects' employment and the over-reliance on technology. RIBA is in dialogue with the UK government to craft guidelines, emphasizing both the opportunities and risks of AI. Similarly, AIA acknowledges the potential of AI to streamline certain tasks but emphasizes the irreplaceable expertise of architects. A recent AIA survey reveals a significant projected increase in AI adoption among US architecture studios. The Australian Institute of Architects, recognizing the ambivalence in its community towards AI, has submitted recommendations to the Australian government, advocating for a balanced regulatory approach. Concerns range from job security to intellectual property, while perceived benefits include efficiency in manual tasks and early problem detection. A US architects' union, in collaboration with Bernheimer Architecture, emphasizes the value of human creativity and cautions against replacing human labor with AI entirely.

🛠️ AI tools updates

LinkedIn has introduced two AI-powered tools to enhance the recruitment process. The "Likelihood of Interest" tool predicts which candidates are likely to engage with hiring professionals based on aggregated LinkedIn data, such as InMail acceptance and Open to Work status. Meanwhile, the "AI-Assisted Messages" tool helps recruiters draft personalized InMail messages, extracting data from the candidate's profile and matching it with the company's job details. Personalized InMail has shown to boost acceptance rates by 40%. As the adoption of generative AI tools rises in the HR domain, companies like Microsoft and Google Cloud are also introducing HR-focused AI tools. However, the emphasis on personalization and avoiding AI biases remains paramount. Additionally, companies must ensure AI tools' accessibility and compliance with new HR laws surrounding AI use.

💵 Venture Capital updates

AI startup Grit, based in New York City, has secured $7 million in a seed round led by Founders Fund and Abstract Ventures, with participation from several other investors. The company has developed an AI-driven solution that streamlines software maintenance, a traditionally manual and time-consuming process, especially for large enterprises with outdated code. Grit's system allows for rapid adaptation when new software versions are released, reducing significant updating durations from months to potentially as short as a week. The investment will support the transition from private to public beta, catering to a broad clientele from startups to publicly traded entities.

🫡 Meme of the day

⭐️ Generative AI image of the day