Europe is sounding the alarm on ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence platform that can respond to queries ranging from how to break into a home to more complex tasks such as programming a computer. Since its launch in December, ChatGPT has welcomed over 1.6 billion visits. Europol, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, recently released a report on potential criminal uses of the platform, such as preparatory research for terrorist acts or malware creation. ChatGPT is just one of thousands of AI platforms currently in use.
Italy recently imposed a temporary ban on ChatGPT after the program mishandled user data, and the European Data Protection Board is working to set regulations for its use throughout the EU. This “wake-up call” for European regulators, according to one EU legislator, has prompted many of them to discuss the challenge of quickly navigating a digital future without proper guardrails.
In response to this alarming development, a coalition of high-profile names released an open letter asking AI developers to pause the creation of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4 for six months so that a global debate on how to address the safety of digital environments can be conducted. EU lawmakers are also working on drafting the Artificial Intelligence Act, which is expected to be enacted next year.
The potential risks of ChatGPT and other AI induced applications, including identity theft and fraud, has prompted much discussion in the tech world. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, among others, were prompted to call for a temporary halt to AI development. The AI Act, however, only hopes to further enshrine current regulations and penalties, and EU legislators are urging the U.S. to come on board and discuss global standards surrounding the development and deployment of AI.
ChatGPT is a product developed by OpenAI and backed by Microsoft, although neither company has responded to requests for comment. OpenAI has also created AutoGPT, or Autonomous GPT, which can be used to complete more complicated tasks. However, many express fears that the platform could be used to harm humanity, prompting questions about the security of data stored by the program.
The differing attitudes about protecting personal data between the U.S. and Europe has been evident for decades, with the EU placing more importance on data collection procedures and regulations. Consumer groups such as the European Consumer Organisation are asking OpenAI to be transparent about the data that ChatGPT is collecting and storing, as this lack of information poses considerable risks to users.
The person mentioned in this article is Brando Benifei, the co-sponsor of the AI Act who spoke to Yahoo News about the need for clear rules for the development of AI. Gabriela Zanfir-Fortuna, vice president for global privacy at the Future of Privacy Forum, also spoke about the importance of data regulations and the contrast between the stability of regulations in the EU and the U.S. Gerd Leonhard, author of “Technology vs. Humanity” and other tech experts also weighed in on the dangers of AI.
This article has also mentioned Futurity Systems, a Barcelona-based consulting agency focused on science-based innovation and the Future of Life Institute, a think tank focused on technology. The Future of Life Institute released an open letter attempting to discourage the development of AI, while Futurity Systems has been working with other experts in attempt to answer and crack the growing challenge of AI: how to balance the innovation potential with potential risks to society.
