AI Anxiety: Navigating & Regulating the Evolving Landscape
What was exclusive to Silicon Valley and the tech departments of large corporations is now available to the masses. The astronomical rise of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has, without a doubt, forever changed the way we live and work. But is that a good thing?
Generative AI models identify patterns and structures in existing data networks to generate new and original content. This kind of machine learning and AI has been around for a long time. Take Google’s search engine, social media algorithms, and virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa as contemporary examples.
The tipping point in the conversation, particularly about the ethics and regulation of AI, was in November 2022 - when OpenAI launched ChatGPT. Its sophisticated model, paired with its simplistic and easy-to-use interface, helped ChatGPT achieve the fastest adoption of technology in the history of mankind, with over 100 million current users and 1.8 billion visitors a month.
Generative AI models are trained on data that already exists on the internet, including the information it absorbs when we enter prompts. It raises the big questions that regulators and ethicists are racing to answer; is all AI content plagiarised? How can intellectual property and privacy be protected? How can you tell what’s AI-generated and what’s real? Can we trust AI to be unbiased and truthful? What happens when AI is used for evil?
It’s an ongoing and critical discussion, especially for businesses wanting to compete in this evolving technological landscape.
Why are regulators worried?
The discussion around AI regulation is moving faster than anything Alyve CEO Mark Cameron has seen before. Previously regulators have taken a reactive approach when new technology is misused.
“This time around, regulators and lawmakers are putting in a lot of effort to be proactive in this space because the risks and the scale of impact that bad actors can cause are huge,” said Cameron.
Protecting our data and privacy
What regulators are explicitly looking at is how personal data is to be used and whether or not AI-generated content requires a disclaimer.
Currently, ChatGPT is an exceptional generalist, but over time consumers will want their AI tools to be customised to their individual needs and wants, like a personal assistant of sorts, to help them make better and faster decisions.
For this to work, all their personal information, including bank details and everything they’ve ever done online, needs to be connected to the AI tool. This inevitable development is a vital piece of the puzzle to solve for regulators.
Observing the power balance
On the other hand, regulators also need to be careful not to over-regulate this technology category. AI can generate vast amounts of wealth and new opportunities, but this expansive power can potentially be at the whim of a few influential people atop the economic pyramid.
Deep consideration also needs to be given to the job marketplace. People can sense that change in this area is fast approaching, but this isn’t the first time we’ve experienced new technology in the workplace.
Regulators need to ease the transition strategically, evict the dystopian scene of robots taking over our jobs, and reassure the public that our jobs are evolving with the times - as they always have.
How to unleash the power of Al in business
Introducing AI into your business systems is not about doing the same things you’ve always done but faster and cheaper. It’s about changing the culture of the organisation to compete in a world that’s being fundamentally and regularly changed by technology.
Changing the way we work for the better
Industries like health care, education, supply chains, agriculture, and government organisations have a lot of administrative overheads and would benefit the most from AI and intelligent automation.
Rather than seeing people as an organisation’s most significant financial cost – and using AI to reduce that cost – envision AI as a tool that helps get more value from everyone within the organisation by augmenting how they work alongside technology.
“Through deep analysis, strategic planning, willingness to experiment, and a gradual culture shift, your people can effectively work with AI,” said Mark.
“It will give people the space to do what they’re good at, come up with new ideas, and positively contribute to the overall success and growth of the organisation.”
Putting ethics into practice
Being an ethical business means implementing AI tools right the first time. The human safety of the people within the company and the consumers rely on AI models' transparency, impartiality, accountability, reliability, and security.
Companies are now hiring AI ethicists as part of their core team to ensure regulators don’t come knocking on their door. Alyve works closely with many AI companies that hold AI ethics in the highest regard, like Mesh.AI, which specialises in mastering complex conversational journeys, and TRU Recognition which specialises in recognition tools through video, audio and sensors.
“Implementing technology around the human experience can set positive and long-lasting change in motion and give organisations the ability and confidence to move forward,” Cameron continued.
We spoke with the CEO of Mesh.AI about the importance of partnering with Alyve. He said, “Alyve’s strength lies in its ability to facilitate the successful adoption of critical systems and cultural changes in the workforce, such as implementing Simpatico, a Conversational AI Mental Health Application.
Given the complex and sensitive nature of these changes, effective change management plans are essential to address potential resistance, ensure smooth transition, and maximise the benefits of new initiatives. Alyve's expertise and guidance in this field play a vital role in mitigating challenges, fostering an environment of acceptance, and paving the way for the successful execution of transformative strategies for improved workplace mental well-being.”
The future of AI
At this point in time, technology is centre stage, and humans are seemingly competing with it. Humans will always come second if we expect our productivity and analytical power to match an AI model.
But society is not as fragile to change as we think it is. Take the invention of the calculator as an example. Teachers worldwide protested against it, claiming it destroyed the traditions and knowledge needed for mathematics. Now calculators are merely a tool we use to make our work faster and more accurate. The conversation around AI used in universities, and essay writing is not dissimilar, although AI is a much more powerful and influential tool.
“Ideally, we can get to a point where the AI automation and integrations disappear into the background of our everyday lives where technology is no longer playing a central role. It’s simply and reliably there when we need it,” Cameron predicted.
AI regulations and clear ethical guidelines will help dissipate the mystery of its functions and impacts. It will ensure everyone - from the everyday worker using ChatGPT to write an email to police streamlining their admin and tech giants analysing massive datasets - is held accountable by the same rule book.
Human Kind technology - making lives and workplaces better
It’s important not to lose sight that AI is really good at doing things that have been done before. They scrape existing data and rearrange it in new ways, but AI itself is a human innovation.
Humans are great at doing and creating new things - ideas that have never existed. And now, we can use AI in our everyday lives and business structures to continue transforming the world.
At Alyve, we believe that a lot of good can happen when we connect powerful technologies to human needs.
Get ahead of the game, put your people's benefits first, and forge a meaningful legacy. Talk to our team of humankind technology experts.