Did you watch Oprah Winfrey’s special, AI and the Future of Us? If you’re like me, you don’t entirely trust artificial intelligence (AI) nor do you completely reject it as a tool.

Oprah interviewed key players in the AI movement including Open AI CEO, Sam Altman, Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, and FBI Director, Christopher Wray. So, was this an hour-long infomercial for AI? Not at all.

The AI experts have concerns, which I find frightening for the rest of us. So, what are their concerns?

The AI Wild Horse

As you would expect, Altman and Gates had a lot of good things to say about AI. Gates predicts the most dramatic impact will be on education and health care.

But all agreed the speed at which AI has taken off and the lack of any regulations presents “significant concern about the risk.”

Gates admitted the industry was naive about the influence of the internet and social media.

What they expected…

were better tools for learning the truth and acquiring information.

They did NOT expect…

a “niche for misinformation,” such as the explosion of podcasts cranking out conspiracies and disinformation.

One of my dad’s favorite southernisms was: That’s like closing the barn door after the horse has escaped.

Sounds like the AI horse has already escaped.

Writers and AI

For writers (and all creatives), there is much to be concerned about with AI. Leading with the apparent lack of respect for copyrighted material. The following are just a few examples of potential AI infringements.

• The Authors Guild and 17 authors filed a class action suit against Open AI for copyright infringement of their works to train GPT.
• Independent writers (and even former employees) have reported the loss of work from companies that have elected to use AI-generated content instead.
• A LinkedIn setting automatically defaults to you giving LinkedIn permission to use your personal information and content to train generative AI.

A shout-out to Linda Berberich, PhD, for sharing this information on LinkedIn. Below is an illustration of where to find this setting.

Additional AI Kicks to Look Out For

Despite the tremendous good that can come from AI, you know criminals and the influence of the almighty dollar are already in play.

Criminal Abuse

FBI Director, Christopher Wray provided chilling examples of AI’s misuse.

• The conviction of a child psychologist who used innocent photos of children and through AI converted them into child pornography
• Increase in sextortion cases using AI targeted at teenagers
• Use of AI in manipulating voice and images to create fake videos (deepfakes)

Workforce Disruption

One aspect of the special that wasn’t particularly reassuring to me was the discussion of AI’s impact on the workforce. Both Gates and Altman agreed that AI could replace various functions in different industries (“warehouse work, factory work, cleaning rooms, cooking…”).

The statement by Gates that well down the road work won’t be as important and we could see a three-day workweek sounded more like an attempt to appease the masses than credible. In my humble opinion.

When asked what skills would persist in this AI world, Gates remarked it was difficult to predict. But he thinks “aspects of creativity” and the human-related skills (such as those of social workers, therapists, and educators) may be beyond the AI touch. Aspects of creativity…hmm…

Corralling AI: Reality or Dream?

Altman and Gates were in agreement on how to manage AI is through regulation and collaboration. When Gates suggested companies needed to work with government to craft an AI world that is not just focused on profit, I laughed out loud.

• Right. Because government and business seldom focus on profit.
• And relying on government to come up with the regulations *sigh*
• Did you watch Congress “grilling” Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg?

In my view, the single biggest problem we have in this world is corporate greed. And here in the U.S., Congress does not exactly inspire confidence.

New technology will always attract the dark side of humanity. If we can shift our belief in the good and never lose sight of the individual, we have hope. Never lose hope.

Maybe AI will be the catalyst to change our world to better help others.

Lord, I hope so.