Artificial Intelligence (AI) has recently been a topic of much discussion and debate, with many experts hailing its potential to revolutionize various industries and improve our lives. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and there are also growing concerns about the potential for AI to be used for malicious purposes. This was recently brought to the forefront by a Member of Parliament (MP) in Australia, who delivered a speech in parliament warning about the dangers of AI and the need for caution and regulation.
Julian Hill, a federal Labor Member of Parliament, used what is thought to be the inaugural Australian parliamentary address partially composed by ChatGPT to caution that artificial intelligence could be potentially utilized for “mass destruction.”
During a session on Monday, the Member for Bruce proposed the need for preparing a white paper or initiating an inquiry to evaluate the potential advantages & drawbacks of AI. He cautioned that irresponsible usage of AI might lead to student cheating, job losses, discrimination, spreading false information, and uncontrolled military applications.
Hill included sections in the speech that were composed using ChatGPT prompts such as “please summarise recent media reports about students taking advantage of artificial intelligence in Australia and why it worries teachers” and “outline within two minutes the pros and cons to Australia from artificial general intelligence.”
The Victorian Member of Parliament addressed the House of Representatives.
The Victorian MP says:
“Recently there have been media reports of students in Australia using AI to cheat on their exams”.
“AI technology, such as smart software that can write essays and generate answers, is becoming more accessible to students, allowing them to complete assignments and tests without actually understanding the material causing concern for teachers, who are worried about the impact on the integrity of the education system,”
Hill cautioned that students might be at risk.
Hill says:
“Effectively bypassing the educational process and gaining an unfair advantage”
“Identify and address cheating”
“I have to admit I didn’t write that”.
“In fact no human wrote that. The AI large language model ChatGPT wrote that.”
ChatGPT’s Hill cautioned about the risk of job loss that could arise from artificial general intelligence, in addition to potential biases and discrimination it may cause and its ability for use for mischievous intentions such as cyber-attacks and disinformation campaigns.
ChatGPT provided various advantages, such as AI’s capacity to revolutionize many industries, from healthcare and transport to finance. This could result in greater efficiency, lower costs, and more informed decisions.
Hill, Australia’s top politician on TikTok, mildly teased the Liberal opposition by suggesting they inquire ChatGPT “Is climate change a reality?” and “What are our ideals?”.
Hill cautioned in certain areas that the use of artificial general intelligence might result in negative consequences that could be described as “devastating,” “catastrophic,” and “existential.”
Hill went on to say:
“[Artificial general intelligence] has the potential to revolutionise our world in ways we can’t yet imagine, but if AGI surpasses human intelligence, it could cause significant harm to humanity if its goals and motivations are not aligned with our own,”
“If humans manage to control AGI before an intelligence explosion, it could transform science, economies, our environment and society with advances in every field of human endeavour.”
“But the risk that increasingly worries people far cleverer than me is the unlikelihood that humans will be able to control AGI, or that a malevolent actor may harness AI for mass destruction.”
Hill suggested that scientists who assess potential perils increasingly see Artificial Intelligence as a higher risk than other concerns such as asteroids, climate change, super-volcanoes, nuclear devastation, solar flares, or pandemics with high mortality rates.
In conclusion, the recent speech delivered by the MP in Australia’s parliament, partially written by ChatGPT, serves as a wake-up call for the world to take the potential dangers of AI seriously. It’s clear that we are at a crucial moment in the development of AI and must take proactive steps to ensure that it is used ethically and responsibly.
This will require a concerted effort from governments, the tech industry, and society to work together to ensure that AI is developed and deployed to benefit humanity. By raising awareness about the potential for AI to be used for mass destruction, the MP’s speech is an important step in the right direction. It should inspire further discussion and action on this critical issue.”
Source: theguardian.com
