Dangers of AI? Yes To Replacing, But Mostly Embracing A Whole New World

Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI, at the recent Pride Summit 2023 in conversation with author, journalist and podcaster Kara Swisher.

“This may be as big as the hype now and it may be underhyped in the longterm,” Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI, told Kara Swisher, journalist and podcast host, at the recent Pride Summit 2023 hosted by Lesbians Who Tech. “This is closer to a societal revolution, not a technical revolution.”

“@Sama CEO of @OpenAI, told @karaswisher, journalist and podcast host, at the recent #PrideSummit2023 hosted by @Lesbiantech, that #AI is “closer to a societal revolution, not a technical revolution.””

He spearheads the company launched in November 2022 with an estimated 1 billion monthly users and 100 million active users.

“It would be unnatural not to have some fears or anxiety,” Altman says. “What do we want to allow? There is a lot of gray area of how to balance autonomy with rules of the road,” says Altman.

““It would be unnatural not to have some fears or anxiety,” @Sama says. “What do we want to allow? There is a lot of gray area of how to balance autonomy with rules of the road.” #AI #regulation”

What that means to leaders and all those engaged in process and content that can be automated is mixed and in need of structured oversight.

Global regulation of this new large language model technology is one of the hardest components of this massively influential approach. Explaining that he is embarking on a five-week tour visiting 22 countries speaking to policy makers, developers and users, Altman says creating a regulatory framework is key.

“The Silicon Valley bubble is so distorted, you get a warped sense of the world,” Altman says. Seeking input globally is crucial in creating worldwide rules not based in one country.

““The Silicon Valley bubble is so distorted, you get a warped sense of the world,” @Sama says. Seeking input globally is crucial in creating worldwide rules not based in one country. #AI #workplace”

Noting the fears around replacement of human capital and the dangers of costly life and death mistakes, Swisher says a real problem is misinformation. “Some say human creativity cannot be replicated.” She adds, “People don’t know what’s true.”

 “Some way to authenticate will be important,” Altman says. In that regard, liability is also an “under-active discussion.”

Read more in Take The Lead on gender bias in AI

 As leaders in the workplace, many are concerned about lost jobs and over-reliance on AI replacing human input. Copyright infringement for publishers and content owners is also a potential problem with solutions. Altman was reassuring and also slightly dismissive.

“Human creativity is not as magical as we think.” Altman says. “It will be worse for some jobs; some will totally go away. This happens with every tech revolution. But there will be much better jobs on the other side. We need to find smarter ways to responsibly make progress.”

The upsides include a boost to educational possibilities and access. “A great personal tutor on demand is incredible. If we make progress on education, we make progress on every problem in the world,” Altman says.

“The upsides to #AI include a boost to educational possibilities and access. “A great personal tutor on demand is incredible. If we make progress on #education, we make #progress on every problem in the world,” @Sama says. ”

Spending half of his time developing another company, Fusion, that creates reliable, clean energy, Altman says, this product will “change the world by the middle of the 2030s and is the resolution to the climate crisis.”

He explains, “I like doing things people say are impossible. I am attracted to things that are very hard to do and are transformative.”

Swisher says that the engaged tone of conversation with AI needs to improve so it doesn’t feel like talking to a computer.

Soon “it will feel natural and like talking to a person,” Altman says.

The fears and uncertainty about AI in the workplace are very real, research shows, and are also gendered in how people react to AI.

A new study from FlexJobs finds that men use AI tools on job application materials, including resumes and cover letters, more than women. Sixty percent of men polled say they either already have or are considering using AI for job applications, but only 46% of women say the same. 

“A new study from @FlexJobs finds that men use #AI tools on job application materials, including resumes and cover letters, more than women. #career #workplace”

According to the study, there is also a gender gap when considering AI’s career impact, as “38% of men said AI is currently threatening their job security, while 27% of women said the same, with 7% saying advances in AI are currently threatening their job security and 20% saying it may threaten their job security.” 

The FlexJobs study shows, however, that many are generally more positive about the impact of AI on the workplace as “35% of men believe AI technology will positively impact the workplace, compared to 25% of women.”

Read more in Take The Lead on the future of work

There is a definite risk of bias inserted into information generated by AI, says Bridget Frey, Redfin CTO, speaking at a later panel at Pride Summit 2023.

“There is a definite risk of #bias inserted into information generated by #AI, says @SVBridget, Redfin CTO, speaking at a later panel at #PrideSummit 2023. ”

Partnering with OpenAI, Redfin is using a ChatGPT plugin for home buyers to discover potential homes. To minimize bias, Frey says, “We don’t include demographic data and refer to the Fair Housing Act.”

Still, the use of AI in the workplace demands caveats to protect privacy and humanity.

Vivienne Ming, founder and executive chair of Socos Labs, as well as an author, told the Pride Summit 2023 audience in a later panel to be wary.

“When AI makes decisions of the most intimate and protected moments of our lives,” this can be dangerous, Ming says. “AI has potential to do real damage.”

Ming adds, “AI is one of the most powerful tools ever invented and every day it gets more powerful. What’s important is not looking at AI as magic, but thinking about implications for humans with a powerful tool.”

“@Neuraltheory adds, “AI is one of the most powerful tools ever invented and every day it gets more powerful. What’s important is not looking at #AI as magic, but thinking about implications for humans with a powerful tool.” ”

Leadership Takeaway:

“AI is one of the most powerful tools ever invented and every day it gets  more powerful. What’s important is not looking at AI as magic, but thinking about implications for humans with a powerful tool.” --  Vivienne Ming, founder and executive chair of Socos Labs