The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on our world has been nothing short of dramatic, promising to revolutionise every facet of modern life. The year 2023 witnessed a global frenzy as businesses, regulators, and individuals sought to capitalise on the promises of AI. The result was a collective and sometimes absurd fascination with the emerging technology.
Besides the billions of dollars invested and the belief that AI would reshape our future, the year also had a series of events that could only be described as dumbfounding. This article takes a closer look at some of the dumbest AI moments of 2023, especially the intersection of AI with human folly.
The Legal Blunder: AI Fabricates Legal Documents
In the legal industry, the influence of AI took an unexpected and alarming turn when two New York City lawyers decided to put ChatGPT to the test. Despite ChatGPT’s known penchant for AI hallucinations or the generation of fabricated information, the lawyers Peter LoDuca and Steven A. Schwartz allowed the AI to generate legal paperwork. The consequences were the court uncovering imaginary citations and quotes in six legal cases, marking one of the dumbest AI moments of 2023.
The fallout from this bizarre experiment was not limited to the AI’s fabrication but extended to the lawyers’ actions. The court accused LoDuca and Schwartz, along with their firm Levidow, Levidow & Oberman, P.C., of acting in bad faith and lying to the court to cover up their mistakes.
The respondents were criticised for abandoning their responsibilities and submitting non-existent judicial opinions with fake quotes and citations created by ChatGPT. This event served as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of blindly trusting AI-generated content, especially in critical domains such as the legal system.
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Regulatory Charm Offensive: Senate Judiciary Committee and OpenAI CEO
Amid widespread worries that AI might lead to an apocalyptic scenario, regulators felt the pressure to, at the very least, appear proactive in preventing such outcomes. In May, the Senate Judiciary Committee orchestrated one of the dumbest AI moments of 2023 when they called in OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for a hearing. Expectations were high that a hearing with one of the most powerful figures in Silicon Valley would involve rigorous questioning.
However, what transpired was a calm and friendly affair that saw politicians seemingly charmed by Altman. The lead-up to the hearing was marked by Altman’s efforts to build rapport with the politicians. Politicians complimented Altman, even referring to him by his first name as if they were old friends. Such a friendly interaction during what was expected to be a serious inquiry may point to the need for more robust oversight.
Existential Threats vs. Real-World Issues: AI Executives’ Plea
While we all acknowledge the potential existential threats posed by AI, the industry found itself entangled in a different kind of dilemma. In May, over 350 AI executives, researchers, and industry leaders signed an open letter pleading with society to prioritise mitigating the risks of AI, likening it to global priorities such as pandemics and nuclear war.
The juxtaposition of these concerns with the reality of AI causing tangible problems in the present highlighted the industry’s internal conflicts. The plea is a blend of genuine concern and a form of grandstanding. It involved millionaires expressing their fear of the technology they were building, recognising the potential for catastrophic consequences.
However, the letter also reflected the industry’s ongoing commitment to advancing AI, raising questions about the sincerity of the plea. It became an outstandingly dumb example of grandstanding in a year already marked by various absurdities.
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The Enigmatic Sam Altman: OpenAI’s CEO’s Grand Plan
The year 2023 brought Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, into the limelight, revealing an enigmatic character with ambitions that bordered on the absurd. A profile titled “The ChatGPT King Isn’t Worried, but He Knows You Might Be” depicted Altman’s unconventional approach to his role. Altman, a player in Silicon Valley for well over a decade, emerged as an unusual tech leader, a characteristic shared by many in the industry.
The profile provided a glimpse into Altman’s unsettling plans for the future. Altman envisioned building a super-intelligence so powerful that it would “Capture much of the world’s wealth”. What makes this one of the dumbest AI moments of 2023 is the self-styled messiah claiming that he would then redistribute that wealth back to the people while admitting to having no concrete plan for such a monumental task.
Sports Illustrated’s AI Blunder: A Groan-Inducing Affair
Sports Illustrated found itself in the midst of controversy for publishing AI-written articles disguised as human work. The articles were not explicitly attributed to AI, but they were deemed so poorly written that they appeared to be machine-generated. This incident highlighted the challenges of integrating AI seamlessly into creative efforts, particularly those requiring a human touch.
The AI-produced content included an article that included content like “Volleyball can be a little tricky to get into, especially without an actual ball to practice with.” Whether intentional or not, the blunder by Sports Illustrated is definitely one of the dumbest AI moments of 2023. Additionally, it raises questions about the readiness of AI to contribute meaningfully to creative fields.
AI and Political Correctness: Musk’s Grok Chatbot
The intersection of AI and political correctness took centre stage as Elon Musk commissioned the Grok chatbot. Musk aimed to counter the perception that AI, including ChatGPT, was biassed towards left-wing views. However, Grok’s release faced criticism from right-wing users who claimed it mirrored the woke narrative. Musk’s response, attributing the issue to an “Overrun internet with woke nonsense”, showcased the ongoing struggle to balance AI neutrality and user expectations.
The development and release of Grok highlighted the challenge of creating AI systems that adhere to diverse political perspectives. Musk’s attempt to address the perceived bias in AI and offer an alternative chatbot revealed the complexities inherent in navigating the intersection of technology and political ideologies. It became another chapter in the ongoing debate about AI’s role in shaping and reflecting societal values.
The Grok chatbot saga wasn’t just one of the dumbest AI moments of 2023, it was also a good example of the complexities of the relationship between technology and political ideologies.
Corporate Spectacle: OpenAI’s Boardroom Drama
In what can only be described as one of the dumbest AI moments of 2023, OpenAI’s board of directors voted to fire CEO Sam Altman. Apart from Altman being one of the most successful CEOs in recent memory, the board refused to disclose the reasons for Altman’s termination and provided him with zero warning about the impending decision. This corporate spectacle happened in November, sending shockwaves through the AI community.
Shortly after that, almost every OpenAI employee threatened to quit if Altman wasn’t reinstated, turning the situation into a full-blown crisis. Less than a week later, the board brought Altman back as a conquering hero. However, the drama did not end there. Every single member of the board, except for one, faced replacement.
Rounding Up
From legal blunders to corporate dramas and the ongoing struggle with biases and political correctness, the dumbest AI moments of 2023 revealed the unpredictable nature of AI’s integration into our lives. We must learn from these absurdities and establish a balance between embracing innovation and addressing the real-world challenges posed by AI. In doing so, we can navigate the complexities of AI with a better understanding and ensure that the promise of AI aligns with responsible and thoughtful implementation.
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