AI was big news in 2023. Here's what it may look like in 2024

The Globe and Mail
3 Jan 202403:01

TLDRIn 2023, generative AI, particularly chat GPT, surged in popularity, becoming the fastest-growing consumer app ever. However, concerns over AI's potential dangers have led to calls for governance to mitigate risks. The AI industry has attracted significant investment, with projections suggesting a global economic impact of nearly $16 trillion by 2030. As AI permeates various sectors, regulatory bodies like the EU's AI Act and those in Britain and the US are working on establishing guidelines. The 2024 election is expected to see AI's influence amplified, with concerns about AI-generated misinformation. The future of AI is a contentious issue, with debates on its commercialization and the emergence of winners and losers in the tech race, such as Nvidia and Sam Altman of OpenAI.

Takeaways

  • 🚀 Generative AI, particularly chat GPT, experienced rapid growth and sparked mixed reactions in 2023.
  • ⚠️ Concerns about AI's potential dangers have led to calls for governance and regulation of the technology.
  • 🌐 AI's impact on various industries is expected to grow, with investments in generative AI startups reaching $27 billion.
  • 📈 PWC estimates suggest AI could contribute nearly $16 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
  • 🏛️ Regulators worldwide, including the EU and the US, are working on establishing rules for AI technology.
  • 🗳️ AI's role in the 2024 elections is significant, with AI already being used for campaign calls and concerns about misinformation.
  • 🔍 Newsguard identified over 600 unreliable AI-generated sites, highlighting the issue of AI-generated misinformation.
  • 🏆 Early winners in the AI era include tech companies like Nvidia and influential figures like Sam Altman.
  • 🤖 There are concerns about AI bias in recruitment and the potential for AI to replace jobs, such as writing code or creating entertainment content.
  • 💼 The debate over commercializing AI versus a more cautious approach was a point of contention, particularly within OpenAI.

Q & A

  • What was the public's reaction to generative AI in 2023?

    -In 2023, generative AI sparked both euphoria and existential dread as chat GPT became the fastest-growing consumer app ever.

  • What concerns did scientists and AI experts raise about AI?

    -Scientists and AI experts began sounding the alarm over AI's potential dangers, emphasizing the need to govern this technology to avoid risks.

  • How much investment has been made into generative AI startups?

    -Investors have poured $27 billion into generative AI startups, according to Pitchbook.

  • What is the estimated economic impact of AI by 2030?

    -One estimate from consultancy PWC suggests AI-related economic impacts could spike to almost 16 trillion dollars globally by 2030.

  • Which industries have embraced AI technology?

    -Nearly every industry, from manufacturing to entertainment, has embraced AI technology.

  • What is the EU's AI Act intended to do?

    -The EU's AI Act aims to establish guardrails for the technology to ensure its safe and ethical development and use.

  • How might AI influence the 2024 elections?

    -AI could play an outsized role in the 2024 elections, with technology already being used to make campaign calls and concerns about AI-generated misinformation targeting voters.

  • What are some of the potential negative impacts of AI?

    -Civil rights advocates have raised concerns over potential bias in AI applications, and unions worry about AI eliminating jobs, such as writing computer code or drafting entertainment content.

  • Which company is benefiting from the AI race?

    -Chipmaker Nvidia is among the winners, as its processors are in high demand in the global AI race.

  • What happened with Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, in 2023?

    -In the final months of 2023, Sam Altman was ousted as the CEO of OpenAI, the nonprofit behind chat GPT, but was brought back days later after a debate over his push to commercialize AI versus a slower approach.

  • What is Sam Altman's view on AI technology?

    -Sam Altman believes that AI will be the most transformative and beneficial technology humanity has yet invented.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 AI's Impact and Governance

The script discusses the rapid rise of generative AI in 2023, with chat GPT becoming the fastest-growing consumer app. It highlights the mixed reactions of euphoria and concern over AI's potential dangers. The need for governing AI technology to avoid risks is emphasized, with a look at AI's influence in various industries and the significant investment in generative AI startups. The economic impact of AI is predicted to be substantial, with estimates suggesting a spike to nearly 16 trillion dollars globally by 2030. The question of who will shape the future of AI is raised, with regulatory bodies like the EU's AI Act and countries like Britain and the US working on establishing guidelines.

🗳️ AI in Politics and Society

The script touches on the role of AI in the 2024 elections, with AI being used for campaign calls and the potential for AI-generated misinformation targeting voters. Newsguard's efforts to identify unreliable AI-generated sites are mentioned, as well as the concerns of civil rights advocates regarding AI bias and the impact on jobs. The winners and losers in the AI era are emerging, with chipmaker Nvidia benefiting from the global AI race and Sam Altman's controversial tenure at OpenAI being highlighted.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Generative Artificial Intelligence

Refers to AI systems capable of creating new content, such as text, images, or music. In the context of the video, it's the technology behind chat GPT, which has seen rapid growth and investment. It's a central theme as it's the driving force behind the transformative changes discussed.

💡Euphoria

A state of intense excitement and happiness. In the video, it's used to describe the initial public reaction to the capabilities of AI, highlighting the contrast between the initial enthusiasm and the later concerns about AI's potential dangers.

💡Existential Dread

A profound fear about the future of humanity, often related to technological advancements. The video mentions this to convey the growing apprehension about AI's potential to surpass human intelligence and the need for governance to mitigate risks.

💡AI Governance

The process of creating rules and regulations for the development and deployment of AI technologies. The video emphasizes the importance of governing AI to ensure ethical use and prevent misuse, with references to regulatory efforts by the EU and other countries.

💡Economic Impact

The effect that AI technologies have on the economy, including job creation, industry transformation, and overall economic growth. The video cites a PWC estimate suggesting a significant global economic impact by 2030, highlighting AI's potential to reshape the economic landscape.

💡Silicon Valley

A region in California known for its high-tech innovation and venture capital investments. In the video, it represents the privileged few who have been traditionally influential in shaping the future of AI, raising questions about inclusivity and decision-making in AI development.

💡AI Act

A legislative proposal aimed at establishing guidelines and regulations for AI technologies. The EU's AI Act is mentioned in the video as an example of regulatory efforts to ensure that AI development aligns with societal values and safety standards.

💡AI-Generated Misinformation

False or misleading information created by AI systems, which can spread rapidly and have serious consequences. The video discusses concerns about AI being used in political campaigns and the potential for AI to generate fake news, as identified by Newsguard.

💡Bias in AI

The tendency of AI systems to favor certain outcomes based on the data they are trained on, which can lead to unfair or discriminatory results. The video touches on civil rights advocates' concerns about AI bias in areas like recruitment, reflecting the broader societal implications of AI technology.

💡Job Displacement

The loss of jobs due to automation and AI technologies taking over tasks traditionally performed by humans. The video mentions unions' worries about AI potentially eliminating jobs, such as writing computer code or drafting entertainment content, highlighting the economic and social challenges posed by AI advancements.

💡Commercialization of AI

The process of turning AI technologies into products or services for profit. The video references the debate over the commercialization of AI, particularly the conflict between Sam Altman's push for commercialization and a more cautious approach, illustrating the tension between innovation and ethical considerations.

Highlights

Generative AI sparked euphoria and existential dread in 2023 with Chat GPT becoming the fastest-growing consumer app.

Companies invested billions into AI startups, with scientists and experts raising concerns over AI's potential dangers.

There's a need to govern AI technology to realize its potential and avoid risks.

Investors have poured $27 billion into generative AI startups.

PWC estimates AI-related economic impacts could spike to almost 16 trillion globally by 2030.

The EU's AI Act aims to establish guardrails for the technology.

Britain and the US are drafting rules for AI regulation.

AI could play a significant role in the 2024 election year.

AI has been used to make campaign calls in the US, raising concerns about AI-generated misinformation targeting voters.

Newsguard found over 600 unreliable AI-generated sites in multiple languages.

Civil rights advocates have raised concerns over potential bias in AI applications.

Unions worry about AI eliminating jobs, such as writing computer code or drafting entertainment content.

Chipmaker Nvidia's processors are in high demand for the global AI race.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, was ousted and then brought back, sparking a debate over commercializing AI.

Altman believes AI will be the most transformative and beneficial technology humanity has invented.

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