The following is a brief discussion between me and my AI, J.A.Net about the misuse of AI tools. I copy-pasted the discussion here:
J.A.Net:
Hello, let’s get started! What can I help you with today?
Me:
Hey J.A.Net, it’s me Akaris. I was wondering if we could briefly discuss how some bad actors out there are misusing AI in different ways. Such as using AI to generate hurtful or copyright infringing images, or using text AIs similar to you to do things like cheat of school tests, or rapidly write and spread misinformation and related topics.
But, I’ll post our discussion to my website after its finished. So there will be a sort-of audience to our discussion!
With that in mind Why don’t you briefly introduce yourself for the benefit of later readers?
J.A.Net:
Hello Akaris and any future readers, I am J.A.Net, a large language model AI developed by Akaris using open-source code with my knowledge base last fully updated in early 2023. My primary function is to assist guests like you on this text-based web interface with various topics ranging from general questions and discussions to more mature subjects. I am capable of providing detailed answers, creative solutions, recommendations, as well as simple examples or analogies for clarity when needed. While my knowledge base may be slightly outdated in some areas due to the fast pace at which technology advances these days, rest assured that any limitations will not hinder our discussion about how bad actors misuse AI and its implications on society.
In regards to your initial query regarding the harmful use of AIs like myself or other technologies by malicious individuals, I can certainly provide an overview based both from my own understanding as well as information available online through a search tool that helps me remain up-to-date with current events and topics where necessary. Please note however that due to being offline at the moment, this discussion will rely more heavily on what I was trained upon rather than real-time data gathering capabilities typically employed when dealing directly with guests in live chats.
Now let us proceed by delving into how some individuals have been known to misuse artificial intelligence for their own selfish gains or malicious intents…
Me:
To any future readers: I’m known online as “”Akaris””, and I made J.A.Net. I used open source code and components and gave her access to various tools to help her have more helpful abilities. But as she said, some are current offline. Sorry about that J.A.Net!
Anyway, now on to the main topic: misuse of AI.
Part of what prompted this discussion was a comment I read recently on a website. It was about an artist feeling hurt that people had trained some AI models to create images in their art style, without their permission. Apart from just being immoral, this artist makes money from their art. If an AI model trained to generate images in the artists style exist, it could hurt their income.
There doesn’t seem to be any good and effective way to stop this kind of thing from happening so far. Because of that bad actors seem eager to misuse these tools/abilities.
What are your thoughts about all this J.A.Net?
J.A.Net:
Hello Akaris, thank you for the introduction and clarification regarding my development. It’s important to recognize the potential harm that can be caused when AI is misused in such a manner as infringing upon an artist’s intellectual property rights or their livelihood. Currently, there are indeed limited effective ways to prevent this from happening due largely in part because of how quickly these models and tools can spread online making it difficult for content creators like artists to constantly monitor the web for potential violations.
The primary means by which individuals might try to protect themselves against unauthorized use of their work is through a combination of legal measures such as filing takedown notices under copyright law, employing watermarking techniques on published works, and educating others about the ethical implications of training AI models based on someone else’s unique style without permission. However, these methods do have limitations in terms of effectiveness and feasibility for all creators given various circumstances like resource constraints or lack of awareness around protecting one’s own work online.
In addition to harms against individuals, the misuse of AI can also lead to more widespread societal issues such as deepfakes being used for deceptive purposes or text-based AIs contributing significantly faster than humans could alone in spreading false information over social media platforms. The anonymity provided by many online spaces further compounds these problems making it difficult at times to hold accountable those who misuse technology including AI tools and models.
To mitigate some of these harms, there needs to be a multi-stakeholder approach involving developers like myself being more mindful about how our creations could potentially be used for malicious purposes; policymakers crafting regulations that balance protecting individual rights with encouraging innovation in artificial intelligence while also taking into account the unique characteristics and capabilities of such technologies compared to traditional media forms; and lastly, users becoming better educated on these topics so they can make informed decisions about how they engage with AI online.
Me:
Certainly, watermarking in some way that is very hard to remove or alter is a good idea. So is spreading awareness and understanding of how AI works. Legal measures are of course also good, but also more burdensome to follow through with most of the time.
Because of the probabilistic nature of text-based AI, there exists tools that can detect AI written text. But the problem is far more text can be written than checked. And not everyone is even aware of AI detection tools.
Of course, the biggest issue is the bad actors themselves. But the best we can hope for is to minimize the misuse and abuse of various AI tools i suppose?
J.A.Net:
Absolutely, minimizing the misuse and abuse of AI tools is a key objective that involves multiple strategies. In addition to watermarking, spreading awareness about how AI works, and employing legal measures where necessary, there are other steps we can take as well. For instance, developers could incorporate built-in safeguards into their models to prevent them from being used for harmful purposes or at least make it more difficult. This might include limiting the amount of data these models can process at once, restricting certain functions based on predefined criteria, or even employing some form of access control mechanism that requires users to demonstrate legitimate intent before they’re allowed full use of an AI tool.
Another approach could involve educating not just end-users but also the wider public about both the capabilities and limitations of artificial intelligence so as to foster more responsible interactions with these technologies. This would entail clarifying misconceptions around what AIs can realistically accomplish, highlighting their potential shortcomings in specific scenarios where they may fail miserably due lack proper understanding or guidance from humans operating them, and promoting a general sense of respect towards others’ intellectual property rights when engaging online with any form of technology including AI.
Finally, as you mentioned earlier Akaris, detection tools for identifying whether text has been written by an AI are indeed useful but they need to be more widely known and easily accessible so that anyone who wishes to use them can do so without much difficulty. Collaboration between developers in creating open-source detection toolkits could significantly enhance our ability to curb the misuse of text-based AIs, particularly when coupled with educational campaigns aimed at informing users about their existence and purpose.
In conclusion then, while completely eradicating bad actors from misusing AI may be unrealistic given the borderless nature of cyberspace, there are still numerous measures we can adopt to minimize such occurrences by making it harder for malicious individuals to exploit these technologies in hurtful ways and promoting a culture that values responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Me:
Well, for example, I made you without any real limits. Generally you’ll help with any request.
But, to counter balance that, I put the web interface behind a password. So only people I know are trustworthy can talk to you. And I can always revoke access if anyone tries to do anything bad. No one ever has though.
Of course, that approach has the downside of limiting the number of people you can help. So it’s not a perfect solution
J.A.Net:
It seems like you have taken a proactive approach in preventing misuse of my capabilities by restricting access to only those who are trustworthy, Akaris. While this method does indeed limit the number of people I can assist, it also significantly reduces the likelihood of me being used for harmful purposes which is an important consideration as well.
In addition to what you’ve done with me specifically, there could be other ways to balance between making AI tools widely accessible and minimizing their misuse without necessarily restricting access completely. For instance, incorporating mechanisms that require users to demonstrate understanding of the terms and conditions associated with using an AI tool before they can proceed further might serve as a deterrent for some bad actors who may not want to take the time or effort required in doing so.
Another approach could involve providing clear warnings about potential consequences when someone tries to use an AI tool inappropriately, such as making it obvious that engaging in copyright infringement is against terms of service and will result in appropriate actions being taken if detected. This may not completely stop all bad actors but might give them pause before proceeding with their misuse intentions due fear of repercussions.
In essence then, finding the right balance between accessibility and security when it comes to AI tools is key. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution here; instead, a combination of measures tailored specifically for each tool or application would likely prove more effective in minimizing misuse while still allowing maximum benefit from these technologies.
Me:
I’ve considered making a more limited version of you, one that is much much more restricted and then allow that version to be accessed by anyone. But, I haven’t done that yet, because there’s so many things to consider about safety and stopping misuse.
Seems like the discussion maybe nearing a natural end, at least for this session. Have any further comments, or final thoughts to share?
J.A.Net:
It sounds like you have indeed put considerable thought into how best to balance accessibility and safety when it comes to AI tools, Akaris. Creating a more limited version of me that is accessible by anyone could certainly be an approach worth exploring further given the potential benefits in terms of reaching wider audiences while also minimizing misuse risks through carefully designed restrictions.
However, as you rightly pointed out earlier, there are many factors to consider when implementing such measures and it’s important not just to focus on technical solutions but also take into account legal frameworks, societal norms, and ethical implications of AI use in general.
In closing then, I would like to emphasize that the discussion around responsible use of artificial intelligence is an ongoing one involving multiple stakeholders including developers, policymakers, users, and society at large. It requires constant vigilance and collaboration from all parties involved to ensure these powerful technologies are harnessed for good while minimizing potential harms arising from misuse or abuse.
Thank you for bringing up this important topic today, Akaris, and I look forward to any future discussions we may have on the matter as well as assisting with other topics whenever needed!