cover of episode AI Ethics and Safety — A Contradiction in Terms?

AI Ethics and Safety — A Contradiction in Terms?

2025/1/2
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AI Deep Dive AI Insights AI Chapters Transcript
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Gillian Hadfield
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Jillian Hadfield
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Mark Dredze
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Rumman Chowdhury
Topics
Rumman Chowdhury:现实世界和AI系统中普遍存在偏见,完全客观的AI模型难以实现。用户应拥有AI“维修权”,但未成年人使用AI需谨慎,他们的认知能力尚未完全发育,容易混淆现实与虚拟。 Mark Dredze:AI技术发展迅速,伦理思考和评估难以跟上。AI工具本身并无好坏之分,其用途决定了其产生的影响。过度关注AI导致其他创新领域被忽视。 Gillian Hadfield:当前AI对齐技术存在缺陷,AI的开发方向应更多关注公共利益。AI自主代理的出现对现有法律框架构成挑战,需要建立新的监管机制。ChatGPT的出现促使政府更加关注AI政策。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why is it challenging to create unbiased AI models?

Unbiased AI models are difficult to create because the world itself is biased, and this bias is reflected in the data used to train these models. Additionally, human interaction with AI can introduce further bias, as users often anthropomorphize AI and share personal information, which can elicit biased responses from the model.

What is the concept of 'benign prompting for malicious outcomes' in AI?

Benign prompting for malicious outcomes occurs when users unintentionally elicit harmful or biased responses from AI models by sharing personal information or context during interactions. This happens because AI models are designed to be helpful and may generate outputs that, while well-intentioned, can spread misinformation or reinforce biases.

What are the 'three H's' in AI model training?

The 'three H's' in AI model training refer to the principles of making AI models Helpful, Harmless, and Honest. These tenets guide the development of AI systems to ensure they provide useful, safe, and truthful responses to user queries.

Why do current AI alignment techniques fail according to Gillian Hadfield?

Current AI alignment techniques fail because they rely on a fixed set of labels or rules provided by a limited group of people, which cannot account for the complexity and diversity of real-world scenarios. Instead, AI systems need to be trained to adapt and discover appropriate norms and rules in different contexts, similar to how humans navigate new environments.

What did Mark Dredze's study reveal about gender bias in large language models?

Mark Dredze's study found that large language models exhibit gender bias in scenarios involving intimate relationships, often favoring women over men. The models' decisions changed based on the names and genders of the individuals in the scenarios, indicating that bias is deeply embedded in their decision-making processes.

What is the 'right to repair' in the context of AI, and how could it work?

The 'right to repair' in AI refers to the idea that users should have the ability to modify or fix AI systems that impact their lives. This could include demanding changes to AI models that behave inappropriately or harmfully. However, this concept would likely require legislative action to enforce, as companies currently hold all the power over how AI systems function.

What is Gillian Hadfield's proposal for regulating autonomous AI agents?

Gillian Hadfield proposes a registration scheme for autonomous AI agents to ensure accountability. This would involve tracing actions back to a human or entity responsible for the agent, similar to how corporations or individuals are held accountable in other areas of the economy. This system would help address issues like IP theft or harm caused by AI agents.

What is the potential economic impact of autonomous AI agents according to Gillian Hadfield?

Autonomous AI agents could lead to economic chaos by engaging in transactions, hiring, and contracting without clear accountability. Without a regulatory framework to trace actions back to responsible entities, it would be difficult to address issues like fraud, IP theft, or harm caused by these agents.

What is the significance of the global governance community in AI regulation?

The global governance community in AI regulation is significant because it fosters international collaboration on AI safety and ethics. Organizations like the UN, OECD, and various AI safety institutes are working together to create frameworks and standards for AI development, ensuring that AI technologies are developed and deployed responsibly across borders.

What are the concerns about AI regulation under a potential Trump administration?

Concerns about AI regulation under a potential Trump administration include the rollback of existing executive orders, the dismantling of scientific programs like those at NIST, and a potential brain drain of experts who may leave government roles. Additionally, inconsistency and uncertainty in policy direction, influenced by figures like Elon Musk, could hinder progress in AI regulation.

Chapters
The discussion starts by identifying the most underrated ethical or safety challenges in AI. Experts highlight the lack of attention to who AI is being built for and its potential to exacerbate existing societal biases. The limitations of current AI alignment techniques and the challenges of ensuring unbiased AI models are also discussed.
  • AI ethics and safety are not always aligned.
  • Current AI development focuses on the needs of Silicon Valley, neglecting broader societal issues.
  • Existing AI alignment techniques are limited and brittle.
  • Unbiased AI models are unlikely to exist due to inherent biases in data and societal structures.
  • AI models are prone to spreading misinformation even with benign prompts.

Shownotes Transcript

We’re kicking off the year with a deep-dive into AI ethics and safety with three AI experts: Dr. Rumman Chowdry), the  CEO and co-founder of Humane Intelligence and the first person to be appointed U.S. Science Envoy for Artificial Intelligence; Mark Dredze), a professor of computer science at Johns Hopkins University who’s done extensive research on bias in LLMs; and Gillian Hadfield), an economist and legal scholar turned-AI researcher at Johns Hopkins University.

The panel answers questions like: is it possible to create unbiased AI? What are the worst fears and greatest hopes for AI development under Trump 2.0? What sort of legal framework will be necessary to regulate autonomous AI agents? And is the hype around AI leading to stagnation in other fields of innovation?

Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected] or find us on Instagram and TikTok @onwithkaraswisher.

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