In the age of technology, we have to ask ourselves what impact the rapid development has on our lives. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has now spoken out in favor of legal rules for dealing with artificial intelligence. Especially so-called deepfake videos, in which real people can be deceptively portrayed, pose a danger to society. Their production must have consequences, Pichai emphasized in an interview with the US TV station CBS.
But what is actually so different about the much-discussed generative artificial intelligence and how does it work? Generative AI can produce texts, images or videos and is based on a large amount of information that it has processed for learning. In the case of texts, it can estimate word by word how a sentence should continue. The result is sometimes completely incorrect information that is not recognizable to the user.
It is therefore of great importance to think about the social rules when dealing with artificial intelligence. As Pichai points out, we need to bring technology to the public that society is prepared for. An important question, therefore, is: How can we harness the advancement of technology without compromising the safety and well-being of society?
The current AI race between the big tech players was sparked by the release of ChatGPT by startup OpenAI late last year. Google has been working on artificial intelligence software for years, but has always been reluctant to make it publicly available, citing social responsibility. But now a pact between OpenAI and Google rival Microsoft is on the horizon, putting the Internet giant in a bind.
It remains to be seen what legal regulations will be introduced in the future for dealing with artificial intelligence. One thing is certain, however: careful consideration of the opportunities and risks is needed to ensure that the technology serves us and does not harm us.
