I’m concerned about upcoming AI regulations. Here’s why.
If you’ve been watching news about technology and the law in the last few weeks, you’ve seen the huge debacle with TikTok.
Congress questioned Tiktok CEO, Shou Chow, about Tiktok’s safety and privacy on the platform. The results were a disaster. Our congresspeople were asking the most inane, embarrassing questions.
like: “Does tiktok connect to the Wifi?” /Facepalm.
It was apparent that the congress men and women don’t know how to open a PDF — let alone regulate complex technology and algorithms.
Additionally, can we trust congress and the US Government (in general) to make ethical choices about technology?
I like regulations when they are smart, and well thought-out, and not based in fear.
A lot of the regulations around AI seems to be fear based, because:
- AI Collects data (so do meta and google, but nobody’s said anything about that)
- AI Can collect your trade secrets, if you put them into the AI (don’t put them in there...user error)
- In the AI Bill of rights, which was put out by the White House, it said, that “AI Threatens the Rights of the American Public”. This seems very fear-mongery to me.
I, like many other people who work on AI, am concerned about the lawmaker’s levels of technical knowledge with regards to what they understand about AI. I do not want to see AI stifled and technological progress stifled by laws that do not make sense.
What I suggest for the future of AI:
- There are ways that AI will change the way we live and work. For example, we need to protect people’s income. We can do this through UBI.
- We will need to retrain people for new jobs related to technology, as automation will make many jobs disappear.
- We need to educate the public on the technology, how to use it, how NOT to use it.
- We do need to figure out how to make AI safe for people, and ethical. But we should have experts discuss this, not luddites.
Here’s how governments are reacting to AI around the world
- India’s Ministry of Electronics (translated quote): “AI is strategically important, regulation will slow our economic growth”. Source
- China’s Office of Cyberspace (translated quote): “We seek to promote accuracy in generative AI. We want more protections.” Source
- The UK’s Department of Science, Innovation and Technology published a whitepaper on how “This is our new approach to regulating artificial intelligence to build public trust in cutting-edge technologies and make it easier for businesses to innovate, grow and create jobs.” Source
- In Italy according to Garante Per La Protezione Dei Dati Personali, (Translated Quote) “[There is] no way for ChatGPT to continue processing data in breach of privacy laws.” Source
Why AI isn’t a replacement, but augments our society
Remember, when photography was invented, it was “the enemy of art”. However, it actually wasn’t. Like AI — Photography is another medium for creation. It’s another way to get things done.
AI doesn’t mean art is dead. It doesn’t mean creativity is dead. It doesn’t mean writing is dead. None of that. AI feeds off of human creativity and art. AI is inspired by us, humans.
All technologies have risks. We need to evaluate if the risks within AI are acceptable for our society. And we need to figure that out together.
About Me: I’m Regina, an AI / tech researcher. I’m also the author of AI Weekly.