Italian Senator Sparks Debate on Artificial Intelligence with ChatGPT-Generated Speech

Italian senator Marco Lombardo has sparked a debate around artificial intelligence (AI) by delivering a speech in parliament that was drafted by a chatbot. Lombardo aimed to prompt a discussion on the risks and opportunities presented by AI and questioned whether people could distinguish between a text produced by human intelligence and one produced by an algorithm. Lombardo’s staff input information into OpenAI’s GPT-4 chatbot and the software produced the speech almost instantly. Lombardo highlighted the need for a balance between regulation and innovation to ensure that the potential of AI is utilised responsibly, as Italy has emerged as a major participant in global AI regulation efforts.