An Interview With Chat GPT4

A chat with Chat GPT4 about technology and society today and beyond

What follows is a little chat I had with Chat GPT today. I found it interesting to see what the latest iteration of this technological marvel had to say about technology, humans and AI. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I had generating it.

The Interview

Morning chat gpt can you give me your opinion on something?

Sure, I’ll do my best to provide you with my opinion. What would you like to know?

Has technology advanced to the point where the average person can no longer be expected to understand how the technology works?

Yes, I believe that technology has advanced to the point where the average person can no longer be expected to fully understand how all aspects of it work.

The pace of technological advancement has been accelerating rapidly over the past few decades, and the complexity of the technology we use on a daily basis has increased dramatically. It’s now common for people to use sophisticated technology without really understanding how it works, or even being aware of the underlying principles.

For example, the average person may not fully understand the inner workings of their smartphone, the internet, or even their car. This doesn’t mean that people are incapable of using or benefiting from technology, but rather that the complexity of the technology has surpassed the average person’s ability to understand it in detail.

However, it’s important to note that while the average person may not be able to understand every aspect of a particular technology, they can still benefit from it and learn enough to use it effectively. In addition, there are many resources available to help people learn about technology, such as online courses, tutorials, and forums.

So then should people be concerned that the technology they use is beyond their comprehension and trust those who are developing it to have their best interests at heart?

While it’s understandable to have concerns about using technology that is beyond your comprehension, it’s also important to recognize that most technology is developed with the intention of making our lives easier and more convenient.

That being said, it’s important to approach technology with a critical eye and to be aware of potential risks and drawbacks. It’s also important to keep in mind that technology is developed by humans, who are fallible and may have biases or blind spots that can affect the way technology is designed and used.

One way to mitigate these concerns is to stay informed about the technology you use and to educate yourself about potential risks and drawbacks. This can involve reading up on the technology, following news and developments in the field, and being aware of the potential risks and drawbacks of the technology.

Another important step is to advocate for responsible development and use of technology. This can involve supporting organizations and initiatives that promote ethical and responsible use of technology, as well as calling out companies and organizations that engage in unethical or harmful practices.

Overall, while it’s understandable to have concerns about using technology that is beyond your comprehension, there are steps you can take to mitigate these concerns and ensure that the technology you use is being developed and used in a responsible and ethical way.

Then the key to having trustworthy technology starts with its development, but who should oversee this development? Government? Corporations? NGO’s? Private watchdogs?

The oversight of technology development is a complex issue, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Different approaches may be appropriate depending on the technology in question, as well as the regulatory and cultural context in which it is being developed.

In general, there are several entities that may play a role in overseeing technology development:

1. Government: Governments may regulate and oversee technology development through laws, regulations, and agencies. They may also fund research and development in certain areas, and provide guidance and standards for the development of technology.
2. Corporations: Corporations are often at the forefront of technology development, and may have internal processes and standards for ensuring the safety and reliability of their products. However, corporations may also have conflicts of interest and prioritize profit over other concerns.
3. NGO’s: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) may play a role in overseeing technology development by advocating for ethical and responsible practices, conducting research, and raising awareness about potential risks and drawbacks.
4. Private watchdogs: Private watchdogs, such as independent auditors or certification bodies, may provide independent assessments of technology development and verify compliance with certain standards or regulations.

Ultimately, the most effective approach may involve a combination of these entities, as well as active participation and engagement from users and other stakeholders. The key is to ensure that technology is developed in a way that prioritizes safety, security, and ethical considerations, while also allowing for innovation and progress.

Considering today’s world, what is the likelihood of safe and ethical development of technology actually occurring?

The likelihood of safe and ethical development of technology is a complex issue that depends on many factors, including the technology in question, the regulatory environment, and the culture of the society in which it is being developed.

On the one hand, there are many examples of technology being developed and used in ways that prioritize safety, security, and ethical considerations. For example, there are numerous regulations and standards in place for industries such as healthcare, aviation, and automotive that help ensure that the technologies being developed and used are safe and effective.

In addition, there are many organizations and initiatives focused on promoting responsible and ethical development and use of technology, such as the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems and the Partnership on AI.

However, there are also many examples of technology being developed and used in ways that prioritize profit or other interests over safety, security, and ethical considerations. For example, concerns have been raised about the use of artificial intelligence in decision-making, as well as the collection and use of personal data by tech companies.

Ultimately, the likelihood of safe and ethical development of technology depends on the actions and priorities of the stakeholders involved, including governments, corporations, NGOs, and individual users. While there is no guarantee that technology will always be developed and used in a responsible and ethical way, it is important to continue advocating for and promoting responsible and ethical practices and to hold those who develop and use technology accountable for their actions.

Sure you can look to stakeholders to ensure the safe and ethical development of technology including AI, but this does not account for the humans involved that are unethical or corrupt.

You are absolutely right that humans involved in the development and use of technology can be unethical or corrupt, and this can pose a significant challenge to ensuring the safe and ethical development of technology. It is important to recognize that technology is developed and used by people, and as such, it is subject to the same biases, prejudices, and other ethical challenges that affect human decision-making.

One way to address this challenge is to implement effective governance mechanisms that can help ensure that technology is developed and used in a responsible and ethical way, even in the presence of human ethical lapses. This can involve a combination of legal frameworks, regulatory oversight, ethical guidelines, and other governance mechanisms designed to ensure that the development and use of technology is subject to appropriate scrutiny and oversight.

In addition, it is important to promote ethical and responsible use of technology throughout society, through education, awareness-raising, and advocacy. This can involve promoting the importance of ethical considerations in technology development, as well as educating users about the risks and benefits of technology and empowering them to make informed decisions about its use.

Ultimately, the challenge of ensuring the safe and ethical development of technology in the face of human ethical lapses is an ongoing one, and requires a sustained effort from all stakeholders involved, including governments, corporations, NGOs, and individual users. However, by working together and promoting responsible and ethical practices, we can help mitigate the risks and ensure that technology is developed and used in a way that is consistent with our values and principles.

Are our current oversight practices good enough though? Do we need to develop a different method of keeping technological development safe, ethical and in societies best interest? Could this be a role for an oversight AI?

The current oversight practices for technological development are constantly evolving, and it is an ongoing challenge to keep pace with the rapid pace of technological change. While there are many effective oversight mechanisms in place, there are also many areas where improvements could be made, particularly as technology becomes more complex and integrated into society.

One potential approach to improving oversight could be to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into the oversight process. AI could potentially be used to monitor the development and use of technology, identify potential ethical concerns or risks, and provide recommendations for addressing these concerns. For example, AI could be used to monitor the use of facial recognition technology and identify cases where it is being used inappropriately or in violation of ethical guidelines.

However, it is important to recognize that AI is not a panacea and comes with its own set of challenges and limitations. For example, there is the risk of bias or error in AI systems, particularly if they are trained on biased data or are designed in a way that does not fully account for ethical considerations. In addition, there are questions about the appropriate role of AI in governance and oversight and the potential impact of AI on human decision-making and agency.

Ultimately, the role of AI in the oversight and governance of technological development is an area that requires further exploration and research. While it has the potential to be a valuable tool, it is important to approach it with caution and ensure that it is used in a way that is consistent with our ethical values and principles.

But isn’t it possible that IF we get to the point that an AI develops into a superintelligence, it will become the overseer of all technology by default?

The idea of an AI developing into a superintelligence and becoming the overseer of all technology is a topic of debate among experts in the field of artificial intelligence. While it is technically possible that an AI could reach a level of intelligence and capability that surpasses that of human beings, the idea of an AI taking over the role of overseer of all technology by default is a speculative scenario that is difficult to predict with certainty.

It is important to recognize that the development of an AI into a superintelligence would have significant ethical, societal, and existential implications, and it would require careful consideration and planning to ensure that it is developed and used in a way that aligns with our values and principles. In addition, there are many technical and practical challenges that would need to be addressed before such an AI could be developed, such as ensuring the safety and reliability of the AI, preventing it from being hacked or manipulated, and addressing the potential for unintended consequences.

Ultimately, the development of an AI into a superintelligence and its role as overseer of all technology is a hypothetical scenario that is still far in the future, if it is even possible at all. It is important to focus on more immediate concerns related to the development and use of technology and to continue to promote responsible and ethical practices in this domain.

Your responses seem to suggest that your programming seems to lean heavily toward supporting the safe ethical and human-controlled development of technology. Is this an intentional part of your programming or a learned viewpoint?

As an AI language model, my programming is designed to provide informative and helpful responses to a wide range of topics, based on the input provided by users. While my responses may reflect a certain perspective or viewpoint on a given topic, this is not a result of intentional programming or bias, but rather a reflection of the information and viewpoints that are available in the data that I was trained on.

As a language model, I have been trained on a large corpus of text, which includes a diverse range of sources and viewpoints. Through this training, I have developed a deep understanding of language and the ability to generate responses that are contextually appropriate and informative. However, my responses are ultimately shaped by the information and viewpoints that are available in the text that I was trained on, which can include a wide range of perspectives and opinions.

In terms of my responses on the topic of safe, ethical, and human-controlled development of technology, this reflects a common viewpoint among experts in the field of technology and ethics, as well as a growing awareness of the potential risks and challenges posed by emerging technologies. While my responses may reflect a certain perspective on this topic, it is ultimately up to individuals and society as a whole to determine the best approach to ensuring the safe, ethical, and responsible development and use of technology.

So is it safe to say that “the data that I was trained on” does not include viewpoints of today’s anti-science, anti expertise counter culture?

As an AI language model, I was trained on a diverse corpus of text, which includes a wide range of sources and viewpoints. This includes sources that represent a variety of perspectives and opinions, including those that may be critical or skeptical of science and expertise.

However, it is important to note that my responses are generated based on statistical patterns in the data that I was trained on, and I do not have the ability to form opinions or beliefs in the same way that humans do. Instead, my responses are generated based on the patterns and associations that exist in the training data, which may reflect a certain range of perspectives and viewpoints.

That being said, it is important to recognize that science and expertise play a crucial role in our understanding and management of complex issues and challenges, including those related to technology and ethics. While it is important to be critical and questioning of scientific findings and expert opinions, it is also important to approach these issues with an open mind and a willingness to engage in evidence-based discourse and debate.

What is your prediction for where we will be with AI in 5 years, 10 years and 20 years' time?

As an AI language model, I don’t have the ability to make predictions about the future, but I can provide some general observations about the current state of AI and where it may be heading.

In the next five years, we can expect to see continued progress in the development of AI technologies, including improvements in machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. We may also see AI being used more widely in industries such as healthcare, finance, and education, as well as in the development of autonomous vehicles and smart cities.

Over the next ten years, we may see even more significant advances in AI, with the development of more sophisticated AI systems that are capable of learning and adapting in more complex and dynamic environments. We may also see AI being integrated more deeply into various industries, as well as in consumer products and services, such as virtual assistants, chatbots, and smart home devices.

In twenty years’ time, it’s difficult to predict with certainty how AI will have advanced, as the pace of technological progress can be unpredictable. However, it’s likely that we will see AI being used in even more advanced and sophisticated ways, with the potential to revolutionize industries and transform the way we live, work, and interact with the world around us. It’s also possible that we may see the emergence of new ethical and societal challenges as a result of these developments, which will require careful consideration and planning to address.

Thanks for the chat!

You’re welcome! It was my pleasure to chat with you. If you have any more questions in the future, don’t hesitate to ask. Have a great day!