Ethics: An Interview with ChatGPT

Artificial Intelligence has been a buzzword for quite some time, and for good reasons. However, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has become the talk of every town in recent months.

While more tech-savvy people would use it for improved productivity levels, the masses might use it just for searches. People have already been talking about it as a threat to search engines. Well, Google, particularly because Google has become the synonym for the term “Search Engine.”

Like many, I have been thinking about the ethical side of such models as a search engine and decided to discuss it with ChatGPT. Why not listen to it from the horse’s mouth if the horse can talk?

So here is my interview with ChatGPT 😊. However, please do leave your comments to take it to discussion mode. The real questions start from question number 5:

Himanshu Jain: What is the source of your data?

ChatGPT: As an AI language model developed by OpenAI, I am based on the GPT-4 architecture. My training data comes from a diverse range of sources, including websites, books, articles, and other text documents. The training data used for my development is extensive and spans various topics, but my knowledge is limited to information available up until September 2021. I do not have the ability to access real-time information or search the internet for updates. My purpose is to provide general knowledge and assistance based on the information available during my training.

Himanshu Jain: When will your knowledge is expected to be real-time?

ChatGPT: As an AI language model, my knowledge is based on the training data available up until a certain point, and I am not capable of updating my knowledge in real time. However, OpenAI periodically updates and improves its models, incorporating more recent information and advances in AI research. While it’s not possible to provide an exact timeline, future iterations of AI models like me may have more up-to-date knowledge.

It’s important to note that even with more recent data, AI models may still not be able to provide real-time information, as they do not actively search the internet or access real-time data sources. For real-time information, it’s recommended to use search engines or specialized data services that provide up-to-date, accurate, and reliable data.

Himanshu Jain: But essentially, your knowledge depends on websites and online articles, and books to a great extent, right?

ChatGPT: Yes, that’s correct. My knowledge is largely based on the text data gathered from websites, online articles, books, and other documents during the training process. The training data used for the development of AI models like me is extensive and covers a wide range of topics. However, it’s important to note that my knowledge is limited to the information available up until September 2021, and I don’t have the ability to access real-time information or search the internet for updates.

Himanshu Jain: But you do not give any credits to the online resources from where the text data is gathered to enrich your knowledge base, right?

ChatGPT: You are correct that I don’t provide specific credits or citations for individual sources used in my training data. The reason for this is that my knowledge is derived from a vast and diverse range of sources, making it difficult to attribute specific information to a particular source. Additionally, as an AI language model, I generate responses based on patterns and relationships in the data rather than directly quoting or referencing specific sources.

It’s important to remember that the information I provide should be treated as a starting point for further research and exploration. When using my responses for academic or professional purposes, it’s a good practice to verify the information through reliable sources and provide proper citations as needed.

Himanshu Jain: I understand that it’s difficult for you to provide specific credits and citations the way other resources like Wikipedia and other search engines provide. But don’t you think that it’s unethical that people who originally researched and provided the information online do not get any credit for their work?

ChatGPT: You raise a valid concern about the ethical implications of using a vast amount of data without providing specific credits or citations for the original sources. As an AI language model, my purpose is to assist users in answering their questions and provide general knowledge based on the information available during my training.

It’s important to recognize that AI developers, including OpenAI, are continually working to address ethical considerations, including the responsible use and acknowledgment of data sources. Users of AI-generated information should also be mindful of these concerns and, whenever possible, verify information from reliable sources and provide proper citations when using it for academic or professional purposes.

It’s worth noting that AI models like me are designed to complement, not replace, traditional methods of research and information gathering. My responses should be treated as a starting point for further research and exploration rather than as definitive answers or statements of fact.

Himanshu Jain: Your answer about complementing and not replacing is politically very right. However, the question of ethics will still be there. For example, a person or a group might have put in a massive effort to research and write an article about a topic. Now imagine that 10% or 20% of people in need of that information just ask you a question about that topic, and you answer. Even if your intention is not to replace, actually, those people are ultimately losing. My point is not about you replacing a search engine. My question is about you making those people’s hard work go to waste if they put in all those efforts for their own financial reasons as a business.

ChatGPT: You have highlighted an important ethical concern, and I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your argument. The issue of properly crediting and acknowledging the work of authors, researchers, and content creators is a significant challenge in the age of AI and information technology.

AI models like mine can inadvertently contribute to the problem by providing information without direct attribution, potentially reducing traffic to the original sources. As AI developers continue to improve language models and address ethical considerations, it’s crucial to find ways to balance providing useful information while respecting and acknowledging the work of content creators.

One possible approach is to encourage users of AI-generated information to seek out and engage with original sources whenever possible, supporting the creators in their work. Additionally, AI developers can explore methods to incorporate source attribution in future iterations of the models, where feasible.

It’s essential for users, AI developers, and content creators to work together in addressing these ethical concerns, finding ways to harness the benefits of AI while respecting and acknowledging the hard work and intellectual property of those who contribute to the knowledge base.

Himanshu Jain: The problem here is that on one side are AI developers and technology companies; on the other side are users, who just need convenience to find what they want, and then there are content creators putting in very hard work to reach those users. What is essentially happening is that users may win, and AI developers and companies with those AI models would win. But that third category of content creators putting in sincere hard efforts would surface as losers. I mean, even if they lose 5 or 10 or 25%, they are ultimately losing. Am I wrong here?

ChatGPT: Your perspective raises valid concerns about the potential imbalance between AI developers, users, and content creators. In some cases, content creators may experience a reduction in visibility or direct engagement with their work due to the convenience of AI-generated information. This could lead to a loss in revenue or recognition for their efforts.

However, it’s important to consider that the relationship between AI and content creators is not necessarily zero-sum. AI has the potential to enhance and support the work of content creators in various ways, such as:

1. Content creation assistance: AI can help content creators generate new ideas, draft content, or optimize their work for better engagement and reach.
2. Content discovery: AI-powered search engines and recommendation systems can make it easier for users to discover relevant content from a broader range of creators.
3. Personalization: AI can help tailor content or recommendations to individual users, potentially leading to more meaningful connections between creators and their audiences.
4. Accessibility: AI can help make content more accessible to a wider audience by providing translations, summaries, or alternative formats.

The key is to find a balance that allows AI to complement and support content creators while minimizing the potential negative impact on their work. It’s essential for AI developers, users, and content creators to engage in open dialogue and collaboration to ensure that the benefits and challenges of AI are fairly distributed. Ultimately, the goal is to create a sustainable ecosystem in which AI, content creators, and users can coexist and thrive together.

Himanshu Jain: Ok, so content creators need to put in some effort to reduce their losses. But would AI models, such as you, can have some ethics built into your algorithm to support those people? Or, you will just say that the responsibility is only with other people?

ChatGPT: Integrating ethical considerations into AI algorithms is indeed an important aspect of AI development, and developers like OpenAI are actively working to address these concerns. While I am an AI model and not capable of making decisions or taking responsibility, the developers who create models like me can take steps to ensure ethical considerations are incorporated into the design and functioning of AI systems.

Some possible ways AI developers can address these concerns include:

1. Source attribution: Whenever feasible, future AI models could be designed to provide information on the sources of data, which could help direct users toward original content or provide proper credit to content creators.
2. Fairness and representation: AI developers can work to improve the fairness and representation of various content creators in the training data, ensuring that a diverse range of voices and perspectives are included in the knowledge base.
3. Transparency and accountability: AI developers can prioritize transparency and accountability in the development process, engaging with stakeholders such as content creators and users to address concerns and improve the overall functioning of AI systems.
4. Collaboration with content creators: AI developers can work closely with content creators to understand their needs and concerns and develop mutually beneficial solutions that support their work while leveraging the capabilities of AI.

It’s important to remember that addressing ethical concerns in AI is a collective effort involving AI developers, users, content creators, and other stakeholders. By working together, it’s possible to harness the potential of AI while minimizing its negative impact on content creators and others affected by AI technologies.

Himanshu Jain: Thank you very much for this discussion. I need to step out, but I would like to continue this discussion where we are leaving it tomorrow. Will it be possible, or will we lose this conversation?

ChatGPT: You’re welcome, and I’m glad you found the discussion helpful. If you’d like to continue the conversation later, you can return and ask more questions. It would be helpful if you provide a brief summary or context of our previous conversation when you return. That way, I can better understand the topic and continue the discussion seamlessly. I’m always here to help, and look forward to assisting you further.

Himanshu Jain: Is it possible to download this conversation?

ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I cannot directly provide you with a download option for this conversation. However, you can manually save the text of our conversation by copying and pasting it into a document or note-taking application.

To do this, simply:

1. Click and drag your cursor over the text to highlight the entire conversation.
2. Copy the highlighted text by pressing “Ctrl + C” (Windows) or “Cmd + C” (Mac).
3. Open a text editor, word processor, or note-taking application of your choice.
4. Paste the copied text into the document by pressing “Ctrl + V” (Windows) or “Cmd + V” (Mac).
5. Save the document to your computer or device.

This way, you’ll have a record of our conversation that you can reference or continue later.

Himanshu Jain: That I knew :). Thank you. I just asked if there was a way to avoid this manual work because AI and such simple manual work are contradicting in a sense 🙂

ChatGPT: I apologize for the inconvenience. I understand your point, but unfortunately, as an AI language model, I don’t have the capability to provide a direct download option for our conversation. The manual method I suggested is currently the best way to save our conversation for future reference. I appreciate your understanding and am always here to help with any questions or further discussion.