In 2023, artificial intelligence became widely accepted and used – although it had been anticipated for a while, there is still much progress to be made before the technology reaches the level of human-like machines depicted in science fiction.

ChatGPT sparked a year of excitement for AI. The chatbot provided a sneak peek into the latest developments in computer science, although not everyone fully understood its functioning or potential uses.

“I believe this can be seen as a turning point,” stated renowned AI researcher Fei-Fei Li. “In the future, 2023 may be recognized for significant advancements in technology and increased public awareness. However, it also highlights the complexity of this rapidly evolving field.”

In the past year, individuals were tasked with understanding the purpose and functionality of this, as well as its positive, negative, and unfavorable effects. This was stated by the speaker.

In early 2023, following the reopening of classrooms and schools in cities like Seattle and Paris, there was a widespread concern about AI. This was primarily due to the fact that ChatGPT, a chatbot that had been launched in late 2022, was being used by students to complete assignments and tests. As a result, schools began blocking access to the chatbot.

Technology like ChatGPT relies on advanced AI language models that use patterns from a vast collection of human-written works to predict the next word in a sentence. Despite occasionally making errors, these models produce outputs that seem natural and have generated interest in future advancements in AI and its potential for deceitful purposes.

Concerns grew as these latest generative AI programs began producing not only written content, but also unique images, music, and synthetic voices, posing a threat to the careers of those who rely on writing, drawing, playing music, or coding as their livelihood. This led to protests from writers and actors in Hollywood, as well as legal disputes from visual artists and popular authors.

A group of highly respected scientists in the field of AI cautioned that the rapid advancement of technology could lead to surpassing human intelligence, potentially posing a threat to our existence. However, other experts dismissed these concerns as exaggerated and emphasized the pressing dangers that need immediate attention.

During the spring season, artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, some of which were very convincing, became prevalent in U.S. election campaigns. One of these deepfakes falsely depicted Donald Trump hugging the country’s former leading infectious disease expert. This technology has also made it challenging to differentiate between authentic and manipulated war footage in Ukraine and Gaza.

At the close of the year, the AI emergencies had changed to the creator of ChatGPT, the startup company OpenAI based in San Francisco. The company was almost ruined due to internal conflicts involving its dynamic CEO. Additionally, discussions in a government conference room in Belgium resulted in a deal between worn-out political leaders from various countries in the European Union, establishing the first significant legal protections for AI.

It will take several years for the new law on AI to be fully implemented and other governing bodies, such as the U.S. Congress, are far from passing their own legislation.

It is undeniable that the development of commercial AI products in 2023 included advanced technology that was not achievable during the earlier stages of AI research, dating back to the mid-20th century.

According to market research company Gartner, the current trend of generative AI is highly hyped and reaching its peak. Gartner has been monitoring the “hype cycle” of new technology since the 1990s, likening it to a rollercoaster climbing up to its highest point before descending into a “trough of disillusionment” and eventually leveling out.

According to Gartner analyst Dave Micko, Generative AI is currently at the peak of inflated expectations, with vendors and producers making grand claims about its capabilities and its potential to deliver on those capabilities.

Google faced backlash this month for altering a video showcasing its highly advanced AI model, Gemini, in a manner that portrayed it as more impressive and human-like.

Micko stated that prominent AI developers are advocating specific methods of utilizing the most recent technology, many of which align with their current product offerings – whether they are search engines or workplace productivity software. However, this does not necessarily reflect how the technology will be utilized by the world.

The speaker stated that while companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple may want us to embrace their technology and methods of delivery, true adoption actually originates from the grassroots level.

It is important to remember that this is not the initial stage of AI commercialization. Li and other researchers have used computer vision methods to sift through a large collection of images, identifying objects and faces, and assisting in the navigation of self-driving vehicles. Improvements in speech recognition have also led to the widespread use of voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa in people’s daily lives.

Tom Gruber, one of the co-founders of Siri Inc., stated that when Siri was introduced in 2011, it quickly became the most popular consumer app and the primary example of AI technology for the general public. Apple acquired Siri Inc. and incorporated it as a key feature on the iPhone.

However, Gruber is convinced that the current state of AI is the largest wave yet, bringing with it both opportunities and risks.

“Training a machine to play solitaire on the entire internet has unexpectedly revealed a remarkable proficiency in language,” remarked Gruber. “It’s truly impressive.”

In 2024, there is a possibility for a rapid increase in danger due to the use of AI-generated deepfakes during major national elections in the United States, India, and other countries.

In the future, advancements in AI technology such as improved language processing, visual recognition, and strategic planning could greatly enhance the capabilities of a digital assistant. However, this can only happen if we allow it access to the core components of our digital lives, according to Gruber.

According to Gruber, they have the ability to control your focus by suggesting things like, “You should watch this video. You should read this book. You should respond to this person’s message.” This is similar to the role of a traditional executive assistant. However, there is a significant risk to personal information and privacy if we were to implement this type of assistance.

Source: wral.com