All of history, all of existence, every bit is stored somewhere on the internet… right?
The internet is not this pristine perfect replication of everything you have ever known, it is a combination of bits and pieces all hosting very different interpretations of each event, and you are subjugated to what the algorithms decide is what you want to consume based on your prior media consumption.
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This means that your interpretation of the world is resembled in what you consume online. While this might work for keeping you interested in what you are reading, watching, or listening to online, it most certainly does not work effectively for when attempting to gather data for artificial intelligence.
AI ethics are starting to form in our current caldron through trial and error. How an algorithm should be learning could affect every aspect of what data is redistributed to the masses. This would mean specific interpretations of historical events, who actually coined specific ideas, and which one of your idols should or shouldn’t be praised anymore.
This goes beyond any control that CNN or Fox news has currently, if they were to let’s say push exaggerated headlines or modified storylines of current events, it could push their viewers to believe a certain way. Well in the case of AI, having a single companies values decide every bit of data it decides to push out can most definitely rewrite history.
Who is in control of what data is collected on Open AI to ensure of any biases are filtered through prior to executing a chat prompt? Well Open AI has put it up to a few employees to make nontransparent decisions. Their decision does in fact include any news article from most major sources. The data you are reading now from ChatGPT may not be altered, at least right now, these sources haven’t caught on yet.
If we have learned anything from google, it will be that we can’t live in the dark. This data can’t be from random sources chosen by an algorithm without consistent vetting. Ground News is a news app that has shifted the game a little, and I like where it is going. It is able to provide all the same sources as google when searching a topic, however, it will tell you where these publications lean, and what they intentionally chose not to cover those stories. Which in this case, can be an indicator of which side of the political aisle this story will detract from or promote. I see efforts like this as a much-needed step in the right direction to pop our isolated information bubbles.