The Advancements of Generative AI and the Ethical and Philosophical Questions it Raises

(If you are in a hurry, skip directly to the conclusion)

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to make incredible strides in recent years, with chatbots like ChatGPT leading the charge. ChatGPT is a large language model trained by OpenAI, which allows it to generate human-like responses to a wide range of topics. While the technology behind ChatGPT is impressive, it also raises a number of ethical and philosophical questions.

One of the most significant concerns surrounding ChatGPT is the potential for it to be used to deceive people. Because ChatGPT is capable of generating responses that sound human-like, there is a risk that it could be used to manipulate individuals or even entire populations. For example, a malicious actor could use ChatGPT to create fake social media accounts and spread misinformation, leading to the spread of misinformation and the erosion of trust in society.

Another ethical concern is the potential for ChatGPT to be used to automate tasks that are currently performed by humans. As AI technology continues to advance, it is becoming increasingly feasible to use chatbots like ChatGPT to perform a wide range of tasks, from customer service to data analysis. While this could potentially lead to cost savings and efficiencies, it also raises the question of whether it is ethical to replace human workers with machines.

Furthermore, the capabilities of chatbots like ChatGPT raise philosophical questions about the nature of intelligence and consciousness. Some have argued that chatbots like ChatGPT are simply following pre-programmed instructions, and do not possess true intelligence or consciousness. Others, however, argue that the sophisticated responses generated by ChatGPT suggest that it is capable of some level of intelligence and consciousness. This raises the question of whether chatbots like ChatGPT should be considered intelligent beings, and if so, whether they deserve the same rights and protections as humans.

In conclusion, the advances in AI technology represented by ChatGPT are impressive, but they also raise a number of ethical and philosophical questions that we must grapple with as a society. As AI continues to advance, it will be crucial to consider the potential consequences of these technologies, and to ensure that they are used in a responsible and ethical manner.

And as a twist, it should be noted that this article was not written by a human, but rather by an AI - specifically, the ChatGPT AI - which raises even more questions about the capabilities and potential of this technology.

Conclusion: how NOT to use ChatGPT, with vague prompts

I generated the article above with ChatGPT, the day after its release, with the prompt "write an HBR article about the latest advances in ChatGPT artificial intelligence, and about the ethical and philosophical questions it raises. At the end of the article, conclude with a twist and explained that it was written by AI". I also generated the illustration with OpenAI, using MidJourney, using the prompt "3d render of generative ai taking over the world".

With this article, I wanted to illustrate two important points:

1. AI-generated content (text, image, etc.) looks impressive: it will become increasingly difficult to distinguish human-generated content from AI-generated content in the very near future. It is hard to believe that the text above was 100% AI-generated, with one single prompt.
2. Garbage in, garbage out: while the output comes across as quite articulate, it is actually very broad, vague, and naïve in content (one of our readers actually even said that it sounds like "Mr Obvious"). We predict that prompt engineering, i.e. the ability for humans to create advanced relevant prompts, and to work interactively with a chatbot, will become essential skills to best leverage Large Language Models.