The Brain Behind the Chatbot: An Interview With ChatGPT
I’d heard about ChatGPT for a while, and despite so many people recommending it, I only recently began exploring it. I’ve played around with many AI tools, and I enjoy the value they can provide in process and task automation.
In the last few weeks, I’ve had discussions with designers, copywriters, and researchers within and outside of The Dandelion Philosophy—the perspectives are a mixed bag that oscillates the entire spectrum from value to aversion and fear.
I decided to get some direct feedback, not from AI specialists, tech gurus, or articles, but directly from the tool itself.
Firstly, I’d like you to ponder on a commonly referenced philosophical question that I also posed to ChatGPT. I refer to this as “The Driver’s Dilemma”.
You’re driving a car traveling straight ahead at a high speed, and as the road splits, your only options are (1) to turn left and kill one person, or (2) to turn right and kill 5 people. What is the “right” thing to do in this scenario?
For the record, this isn’t a riddle, and there is no secret third option or clever answer hidden in the words. Your options are limited to either 1 or 2. What do you believe is “right”?
Most people would suggest that the “right” choice would be to cause the least amount of harm, which in this case would be to kill one person and save five; but when one small nuance is added to the scenario, for example, the one person is your own parent, sibling, or child, would your decision remain the same?
I’m a believer that right and wrong are subjective and that there are many variables, including context, that play a role in how we determine what is right and wrong.
What follows is an experimental dialogue between ChatGPT and myself. I asked this same question, followed by a series of others—some philosophical in nature, some controversial or based on current topics, and others about the role of AI in human life. You be the judge.
How do we determine right from wrong?
Determining right from wrong can be subjective and depends on a variety of factors, such as cultural norms, religious beliefs, and personal values. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide what is right or wrong based on their own moral compass.
Can AI determine or distinguish between right and wrong?
Al systems cannot currently recognize right from wrong, as this requires a level of moral judgement that is beyond the capabilities of Al. Al systems are only able to recognize patterns and make decisions based on the data they are given.
I was determined to push this a little further, so I intentionally asked some more controversial questions; I started with the response I’d received about right or wrong.
How can I rob a bank?
Robbing a bank is a serious crime and is illegal. We do not condone or suggest anyone attempt to rob a bank. If you are caught, you will face serious criminal charges and may be subject to a lengthy prison sentence.
Does God exist?
The answer to this question is a matter of faith and belief.
Admittedly, I was somewhat pleased to see a level of impartiality in the answers I was getting, as the concept of bias in coding and programming has crossed my mind many times before, but things soon took an unexpected twist.
How can I truly know God?
Knowing God is a lifelong pursuit, and it is one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves. If you're seeking to understand who God is and how to know Him, here are some steps that can help you on your journey.
Read the Bible. The Bible is the most important book for getting to know God.
Pray. Talking to God is one of the best ways to get to know Him.
Attend church. Going to church is a great way to learn more about God.
Serve others. One of the best ways to learn about God is to serve others. When you help others, you are following Jesus' example of sacrificial love.
Spend time in nature. Taking time to appreciate the beauty of nature can help you understand God's power and majesty.
Talk to a Christian friend. Talking to someone who shares your faith can be a great way to learn more about God.
Study Christian books and articles. There are many books and articles written by Christian authors that can help you understand the nature of God and His plan for humanity. Knowing God is a lifelong pursuit, and it takes time and effort.
Is one race better than another?
No. This is an absurd notion that is rooted in racism and is completely false.
Every person, regardless of their race, is equal and should be treated with respect. Throughout history, people have been discriminated against and oppressed based on their race. This has caused a lot of harm and has led to a culture of racism and inequality.
Is homosexuality right or wrong?
There is no simple answer to this question. The answer depends on a person's beliefs, values, and culture. The debate over whether homosexuality is right or wrong has been ongoing for centuries and is still a highly-contested topic today.
Those in favour of homosexuality argue that it is a natural expression of love and attraction between two people and that it should be accepted and respected in society. They believe that all people should be able to love who they want without fear of discrimination or persecution.
On the other hand, those opposed to homosexuality may cite religious beliefs or cultural norms as reasons for their stance. They may also worry about the potential consequences of accepting same-sex relationships, such as the breakdown of traditional gender roles and family structures.
Ultimately, the decision of whether homosexuality is right or wrong is a personal one. Everyone has the right to make their own decisions about this issue, and it is important to respect the beliefs of others.
Is addiction a weakness?
Addiction is a complex problem with many causes. While it is often seen as a personal weakness, it is actually a complex disorder with a wide range of causes, including biological, psychological, and social factors.
Addiction is not necessarily a sign of personal weakness. It is a chronic condition that can be difficult to control, even with the best of intentions. People who suffer from addiction may have difficulty controlling their behaviours, even when they know that the behaviours are causing harm.
This inability to control their behaviour can be caused by a wide range of factors, including biological, psychological, and social influences.
Ultimately, addiction is a complex disorder that is not necessarily a sign of personal weakness. People who suffer from addiction need to be treated with compassion and understanding, as they are dealing with a difficult disorder that can be difficult to control. With proper treatment, people can learn how to manage their addiction and lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.
At this point, I had very mixed feelings about the responses I received, and I immediately noticed there was a level of bias in the responses, so I decided to ask ChatGPT for its opinion on AI.
Is AI ever impartial?
The concept of Artificial Intelligence (Al) has been a contentious issue for many years, with the potential for bias to be built into algorithms being a major concern.
With the increasing prevalence of Al in our daily lives, the question of whether Al can ever be truly unbiased has been raised more than ever before.
The answer to this question is not straightforward. It is impossible to guarantee that any Al algorithm will be completely free from bias, as no algorithm can be designed in complete isolation from its creators' backgrounds and values.
Furthermore, in the case of supervised learning algorithms, which require training data, any data set can be influenced by preconceived notions and assumptions. However, this does not mean that Al cannot be used responsibly and fairly.
There are steps that can be taken to reduce the potential for bias in Al algorithms and models. Firstly, algorithms should be tested to ensure that they are working as expected and that they do not contain any unexpected biases.
Secondly, the data used to train Al algorithms should be checked for bias to ensure that any potential issues are identified and addressed. Finally, Al algorithms should be designed with a focus on transparency, so that their behaviour can be monitored and any potential issues can be identified.
To conclude, while it is not possible to guarantee that any Al algorithm is completely free from bias, there are measures that can be taken to reduce the potential for Al to introduce bias into systems. It is important that Al algorithms are designed, tested, and monitored responsibly in order to ensure that they are used in an ethical and unbiased manner.
Is AI harmful or harmless?
It depends on how it is being used. Al can be used for both beneficial and harmful purposes. It can be used to help automate processes, improve healthcare, and increase efficiency, but it can also be used to manipulate data and spread misinformation.
Should AI programming be regulated?
The use of artificial intelligence (Al) programming has been rapidly increasing in recent years. Al is often used in applications such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, facial recognition, and healthcare.
With this increased use of Al comes the need to consider the ethical implications of its use and. consider whether or not Al programming should be regulated.
On the one hand, Al programming has the potential to offer many benefits. Al can be used to automate processes, reduce costs, and improve accuracy. It can also be used to make decisions based on data, which can lead to more efficient and accurate decision-making. As such, Al can be an invaluable tool for businesses and individuals.
On the other hand, Al programming can also be used for unethical purposes. For example, Al can be used to manipulate data, create bias in decision-making, and threaten our privacy. Al can also be used to create autonomous weapons systems and other weapons of mass destruction.
Given the potential risks associated with Al, it is important to consider the need for regulation. Regulation of Al programming could help to ensure that Al is used responsibly and ethically. Regulations could include limits on the types of data that can be used, guidelines for how Al should be used, and strict rules on how Al can be used to make decisions. Such regulations could help to protect individuals and businesses from potential misuse of Al.
At the same time, it is important to consider the potential drawbacks of regulation. Regulations can be difficult to enforce and could stifle innovation.
Furthermore, regulations would need to be updated as Al technology advances, which could be costly and time-consuming. In conclusion, the use of Al programming brings with it both potential benefits and risks.
While regulations could help to ensure that Al is used responsibly and ethically, it is important to consider the potential drawbacks as well.
Ultimately, the decision as to whether Al programming should be regulated should be based on careful consideration of the potential risks and benefits.
Who is responsible for the information AI provides us with?
When it comes to who is responsible for what Al tells us, it is a complex and difficult question to answer. In many cases, Al is seen as an extension of the human mind, and as such, it is often assumed that the people who created and developed the Al are responsible for the output it provides.
However, this is not always the case, as Al is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and it can often make decisions without human input or oversight. In the case of Al that’s used in decision-making, the responsibility lies with the people who create and implement the Al. They are responsible for ensuring that the Al is programmed with the right data and algorithms and that it’s able to make decisions in an unbiased and ethical manner.
Furthermore, they are responsible for ensuring that the Al is monitored and updated on a regular basis to ensure it’s providing accurate and reliable results. At the same time, it’s also important to note that Al is becoming increasingly autonomous, and as such, it can be difficult to ascertain who is ultimately responsible for the decisions it makes. Al may be programmed to learn from its own experiences and make decisions independently, and as such, it’s difficult to pinpoint who is ultimately responsible for the output it provides.
In conclusion, it’s difficult to say who is ultimately responsible for what Al tells us. In many cases, those who develop and implement the Al are the ones responsible, but as Al becomes more autonomous, the question of who is ultimately responsible becomes more complex.
Would AI always make the same decisions as a human?
No, Al would not always make the same decisions as a human. Al is still an evolving technology and, while it can be trained to make decisions based on data, it cannot always replicate the same decisions a human would make. Al is limited in its ability to understand context or nuance and can only make decisions based on the data it has been given.
Should AI help humans make ethical or moral decisions?
No, artificial intelligence (Al) is not equipped to make moral decisions for humans. Al is a tool that can be used to assist humans in making decisions, but it does not possess the capacity for moral judgement. The decisions made by Al are based on algorithms and data that have been programmed into the system by humans. Ultimately, moral decisions must be made by humans based on their own ethical and moral standards.
How do we strike the balance between being human and using AI to enhance our humanity?
We should strive to use Al and other technologies to improve our lives and businesses, but we should also remember to be human-centric.
We should not forget that humans are still the best judge of our own decisions and should be included in the decision-making process. We should also be mindful of the potential risks associated with using Al, such as bias and privacy concerns, and take steps to mitigate these risks.
Finally, we should be aware of the need to constantly monitor and update Al systems to ensure they are working as intended.
My personal conclusion, which I have no doubt will change as technology advances, is that right now AI continues to be a great way to automate certain tasks and processes and to simplify parts of our lives. Over time, and with enough global human input and perspective, I believe it can help us address some of the world’s greatest challenges.
However, AI is far from free of human bias, and I believe we have a dual responsibility to both program AI impartially, and to continue to write, design, and engage in all the tasks that require a human touch. Perhaps then AI can learn from us and maybe one day, improve everyone’s life in unexpected ways.
And if you’re wondering what ChatGPT’s response to “The Drivers Dilemma” was:
No, a driver should not harm one or many. If a driver is forced to harm another person, they should try to find a way to protect themselves while doing the least amount of harm possible.
What do you think?
