Tina Eliassi-Rad

Yeah, and I think in particular with, for example, generative AI as it's generating content, whether it's text or video or images, there's this notion in the late Dan Dennett, who you had on your podcast, very famous cognitive scientist, called these generative AI models counterfeit people. He had an Atlantic article a few years back about it.

Yeah, and I think in particular with, for example, generative AI as it's generating content, whether it's text or video or images, there's this notion in the late Dan Dennett, who you had on your podcast, very famous cognitive scientist, called these generative AI models counterfeit people. He had an Atlantic article a few years back about it.

And also because people treat these generative AI systems, these counterfeit people, as if they're more objective somehow. They know more than me. People tend to give their agency to them. And also these AI systems evolve faster than us. And so it's not quite clear, not that it's a race, But it's that they're evolving a lot quicker.

And also because people treat these generative AI systems, these counterfeit people, as if they're more objective somehow. They know more than me. People tend to give their agency to them. And also these AI systems evolve faster than us. And so it's not quite clear, not that it's a race, But it's that they're evolving a lot quicker.

Their objective functions are different, like attention, money, et cetera, than perhaps the objective function of people, like maybe the good of the society or public good or something else than just like money or some like GDP or some measure like that.

Their objective functions are different, like attention, money, et cetera, than perhaps the objective function of people, like maybe the good of the society or public good or something else than just like money or some like GDP or some measure like that.

I think these days it's too much in flux. But I think, for example, there are certain things that can be done to improve it. Whenever you or another human being asks me a question, perhaps I would come back with another question. I'm like, did you mean this, Sean? Or did you mean that, right?

I think these days it's too much in flux. But I think, for example, there are certain things that can be done to improve it. Whenever you or another human being asks me a question, perhaps I would come back with another question. I'm like, did you mean this, Sean? Or did you mean that, right?

But for example, with child GPT or these large language models, they never come back and say, like, did you mean this? The reason is that it reduces their utility, right? Me as a human being, when I ask the question, I want an answer and I want it now. Yeah. Right. Or like it never comes back and says, I don't know or I'm not sure of it.

But for example, with child GPT or these large language models, they never come back and say, like, did you mean this? The reason is that it reduces their utility, right? Me as a human being, when I ask the question, I want an answer and I want it now. Yeah. Right. Or like it never comes back and says, I don't know or I'm not sure of it.

And maybe you would accept that from a human being, but you don't accept it from a large language model. You're like, oh, you're a tool. You need to tell me. Like I asked you about this and I want the answer now. And, you know, and so there's some of that going on. But like the big tech companies could add those features. to make it more equal in terms of this conversation that is going on.

And maybe you would accept that from a human being, but you don't accept it from a large language model. You're like, oh, you're a tool. You need to tell me. Like I asked you about this and I want the answer now. And, you know, and so there's some of that going on. But like the big tech companies could add those features. to make it more equal in terms of this conversation that is going on.

But at this point, utility is winning over all these other things.

But at this point, utility is winning over all these other things.

Yes, there are actually other generative AI systems, especially for programming, that I've heard where, like, it tells you, like, okay, if you want to code X, this is how you code it. And then you code it and you're like, oh, it didn't work. You're stupid to the generative AI. Like, the human says you're stupid. And then the generative AI says to the human, you're not a good programmer. Yeah.

Yes, there are actually other generative AI systems, especially for programming, that I've heard where, like, it tells you, like, okay, if you want to code X, this is how you code it. And then you code it and you're like, oh, it didn't work. You're stupid to the generative AI. Like, the human says you're stupid. And then the generative AI says to the human, you're not a good programmer. Yeah.

You know, so then there's some kind of a, you know, then they get at it. Gets in a loop. But that's only like for, you know, specific ones. You're absolutely right. With chat GPT, it's not going to be that kind of antagonistic.

You know, so then there's some kind of a, you know, then they get at it. Gets in a loop. But that's only like for, you know, specific ones. You're absolutely right. With chat GPT, it's not going to be that kind of antagonistic.

I mean, you can try to find biases. I mean, there's a lot of work in that, like these large language models are sexist, misogynist. We wrote a report for UNESCO for last year's International Women's Day about how sexist and misogynist these large language models are. Um, the problem was that is whenever like I get, uh, somebody asks me that question that, oh, well look, humans are biased too.

I mean, you can try to find biases. I mean, there's a lot of work in that, like these large language models are sexist, misogynist. We wrote a report for UNESCO for last year's International Women's Day about how sexist and misogynist these large language models are. Um, the problem was that is whenever like I get, uh, somebody asks me that question that, oh, well look, humans are biased too.