The Year of Generative AI: A Recap of 2023's Impact on the Internet
In just a year since OpenAI released ChatGPT in November 2022, generative AI has become a transformative force, reshaping the online landscape and sparking a race within Big Tech. The rise of generative AI has been dubbed the next industrial revolution, raising ethical questions and prompting governments to pay attention to its potential impact.
The Internet Chronicles
Hallucinations Beyond Drugs
Generative AI, including ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Bard, introduced the concept of "hallucination" to the internet. These models, trained on vast amounts of data, sometimes fabricate responses that sound linguistically sensible but blur the lines between facts and nonsense. From innocuous and silly to defamatory, these AI chatbots have led the internet to second-guess reality.
Deepfakes Go Mainstream
Generative AI tools like OpenAI DALL-E 3, Google Bard, Microsoft Copilot, and Meta's Imagine have made deepfake creation more accessible. AI-generated content, including realistic images, videos, and audio, became widespread. Despite efforts to implement safeguards, deepfakes raised concerns about their potential harm to public figures, leading to legislative actions to protect individuals from AI replicas without consent.
Training Data Debates
The effectiveness of Large Language Models (LLMs) relies on training them on vast internet data, raising questions about the legality of scraping information. OpenAI and Google faced class-action lawsuits for allegedly "stealing" personal information without consent. Issues of privacy and copyright infringement emerged, with debates over whether publicly available data constitutes fair use or requires updates to outdated copyright laws.
AI-Generated Content
Generative AI's ability to produce natural-sounding language led to the automation of various content types, from articles to creative works. However, early attempts at introducing AI-generated content faced backlash for inaccuracies, with concerns about the reliability and ethical implications of relying on AI for content creation.
Changing the Work Landscape
Tech companies, including Microsoft, Google, Zoom, Slack, and Grammarly, embraced generative AI tools to boost work productivity. However, issues of reliability and the need for human oversight emerged. Companies like Samsung faced challenges when employees inadvertently shared proprietary information with ChatGPT, highlighting the importance of data security in the evolving landscape of AI-generated tools.
Looking Ahead
Generative AI's impact on the internet in 2023 will be profound, introducing opportunities and challenges. As technology continues to evolve, the internet is likely to witness further transformations, raising important questions about privacy, ethics, and the role of AI in shaping the digital future.