The AI industry had a significant start in 2023 as OpenAI’s ChatGPT was being used by students to assist with homework and essay writing, causing schools and universities to grapple with the issue.
Within a week, New York City Public Schools banned ChatGPT, initiating discussions around generative AI. The buzz surrounding Microsoft-backed ChatGPT, Google’s Bard AI, Baidu’s Ernie Chatbot, and Meta’s LLaMA raised questions about the handling of this powerful new technology.
While AI-generated images, music, videos, and computer code opened up new possibilities, they also raised concerns about misinformation and copyright infringement.
In March, prominent figures, including Steve Wozniak and Elon Musk, called for a pause in the development of more advanced AI due to its risks to society.
Although a pause did not occur, new laws and regulations were introduced by governments and regulatory authorities to monitor the development and use of AI.
Despite many unresolved issues around AI, 2023 is likely to be a major milestone in the history of the field.
Drama at OpenAI
OpenAI faced drama in 2023 when its board fired CEO Sam Altman, sparking a public struggle within the company between safety and commercial concerns.
The removal of Altman led to public drama and questions about the balance between the drive for profit and the potential dangers of AI.
In a survey, 79 percent of respondents expressed more concern than excitement about the future of AI. Concerns included mass surveillance, job displacement, and social isolation.
Sean McGregor emphasized the importance of shaping AI according to the needs of the people most impacted.
Legislating the future
The European Union and other countries rolled out legislation to regulate the future of AI, addressing concerns such as privacy and training data usage.
Similar legislative efforts are underway in the United States and the United Kingdom, while China released interim rules to regulate AI development.
In 2023, the first interim international agreement on AI safety was signed by 20 countries, recognizing the global impact of AI.
AI and the future of work
AI has led to class-action lawsuits and job displacement fears in the private sector, sparking strikes and discussions about the impact on the future of work.
Predictions about AI’s impact on jobs vary, with some suggesting that it will augment most jobs rather than replace them.
Year of the ‘deepfake’?
Concerns are raised about AI-generated content being used to spread misinformation during upcoming elections in over 40 countries, with “deepfake” images contributing to the challenge of distinguishing real content from fake.
Meta and YouTube have announced measures to address the use of generative AI in political ads and content, acknowledging the potential impact on elections.