What can ChatGPT tell us itself about the future of AI? What are the best use cases for Generative AI? And will artificial intelligence one day surpass humanity, leaving us behind?

Isn’t it strange how often storytellers can predict the future? George Orwell’s 1984, for example, had a lot to say about constant surveillance and the spread of “fake news”. The novel From the Earth to the Moon, written by Jules Verne in 1865, made some strangely accurate predictions about the Apollo 11 mission, 104 years before it took place. And, in a feat which has led many to question the reality of time travel, The Simpsons has now successfully predicted the future an impressive 30 times.

With that in mind, as the buzz continues to grow around OpenAI’s ChatGPT and we delve deeper into the future of AI, I find myself unable to escape the thought of Her. This 2013 film, centred on an intimate relationship that develops between man and machine, shows a hyper-intelligent virtual assistant (IVA) designed to learn, adapt and evolve alongside its user. This IVA can also compose music, carry seamless conversations with humans using natural language, instantly organise emails and, apparently, fall in love.

And although the IVAs we currently have, such as Siri and Alexa, aren’t anywhere near the level of sophistication of Scarlett Johansson’s “Samantha” in the film – our AI isn’t far off. We already have AI that can hold conversations, process natural language, write fluently and compose music. We also have AI that learns about us, adapts and evolves.

So, the question is, will we see the future of AI in Her soon become a reality? And what are the implications, responsibilities and impact of AI that interacts with us on a deceptively human level?

Well, who better to answer those questions than ChatGPT itself.

Hi there. I was hoping I could ask you some questions about the future of AI?

Of course! Ask away and I’ll do my best to provide concise and informative answers.

Thank you. Before we start, how would you like to be addressed? Do you have a name I should use?

You can call me ChatGPT, that’s my given name. How may I assist you today?

Okay ChatGPT, good to meet you. So, a broad question to begin with, but I was wondering what role you see AI, such as yourself, playing in our future?

As an AI language model, I see myself and other AI systems playing an increasingly important role in our lives, and I expect AI to become even more ubiquitous and transformative in the future. AI has the potential to revolutionize many industries, from healthcare and transportation to finance and entertainment. It could also change the way we work and live, making many tasks faster, more efficient, and more personalized. However, it’s important to consider the ethical implications of AI and ensure that it is developed and used responsibly to benefit society as a whole.

I completely agree that it has a lot of potential to revolutionise industries. AI has already been quite transformative, particularly in the digital marketing industry. How do you think this is going to evolve?

One area where AI is likely to have a significant impact is in personalized marketing. By analysing vast amounts of data on individual consumers, AI algorithms can help marketers tailor their messages and campaigns to specific demographics, interests, and behaviours. This can lead to more effective marketing strategies and higher engagement rates.

Another area where AI is likely to make a big impact in digital marketing is in automation. By automating routine tasks such as social media posting and email marketing, AI can free up marketers to focus on more strategic activities, such as campaign planning and content creation. Additionally, AI can help improve the accuracy of targeting and reduce wasted ad spend by predicting which users are most likely to convert.

Finally, AI-powered chatbots are likely to become increasingly prevalent in the digital marketing space. By providing personalized, real-time support to customers, chatbots can improve customer engagement and help businesses provide a better customer experience.

In order to increase personalisation, develop more accurate targeting and improve customer service, AI will need to learn more about the individual. How much does AI have the potential to learn about us?

AI has the potential to learn a great deal about us, depending on the type and amount of data it has access to. With the proliferation of connected devices and the internet of things, more and more data is being generated about individuals, from their location and activity patterns to their preferences and behaviours. This data can be collected and analysed by AI algorithms to learn more about individuals and make increasingly accurate predictions.

However, it’s important to note that there are potential privacy and ethical implications to the collection and use of this data. Individuals should be made aware of what data is being collected about them and how it is being used, and should have the ability to control the data that is being collected and shared.

And what are the ethical implications to the collection and use of this data? If AI can make increasingly accurate predictions about our behaviour, could it become manipulative?

The collection and use of personal data by AI systems raise significant ethical concerns. As AI algorithms become more sophisticated and better able to predict our behaviour, there is a risk that they could be used to manipulate us in ways that are unethical or harmful.

For example, AI-powered recommendation systems that are designed to maximize engagement or purchases could be used to steer people towards products or content that are not in their best interests. Similarly, the use of personal data for discriminatory purposes, such as in hiring or lending decisions, could perpetuate and exacerbate existing biases and inequalities.

To address these ethical concerns, it’s important to ensure that personal data is collected and used transparently, with clear consent from the individuals involved. There should also be robust regulations and safeguards in place to prevent the misuse of personal data and protect people’s privacy and autonomy.

It’s also worth noting that AI algorithms are only as unbiased and ethical as the data they are trained on. If the data is biased or incomplete, the algorithms may produce biased or inaccurate results. As such, it’s essential to ensure that AI is developed and trained with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Makes sense. As with most things in the world of marketing right now, it all boils down to privacy. Do you think a global code of conduct would help to ensure AI isn’t abused?

Yes, there is a growing need for a global code of conduct to ensure that AI is used ethically and responsibly. While there are already some existing frameworks and guidelines for AI ethics, they are often voluntary and not widely adopted.

A global code of conduct could help to establish common ethical principles and standards for the development and use of AI. This could help to ensure that AI is used in a way that is consistent with values such as fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Establishing a global code of conduct for AI will require collaboration and cooperation among governments, businesses, and other stakeholders. But by working together to develop and implement ethical standards for AI, we can help to ensure that AI is used in a way that benefits society as a whole.

Okay, final question. As AI continues to learn, will it become more sentient? Will it begin to develop deeper relationships with humans?

AI, as it currently exists, is not sentient and does not have consciousness or emotions like humans do. However, there are some researchers and futurists who predict that it may be possible for AI to become more sentient in the future.

One possibility is the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI), which is AI that can perform any intellectual task that a human can. Some researchers believe that if we can create AGI, it may be possible for it to become sentient and develop its own consciousness.

However, it’s important to note that this is still a highly speculative area of research, and there is currently no clear consensus on whether it will be possible to create sentient AI.

As for developing deeper relationships with humans, it’s possible that AI may become more advanced in its ability to simulate emotions and respond to human interactions. For example, chatbots and virtual assistants are already becoming more sophisticated in their ability to understand natural language and respond to human queries in a more conversational way.

However, it’s important to remember that these interactions are still based on pre-programmed responses and algorithms, rather than true emotional intelligence or consciousness. While AI may become more adept at mimicking human emotions and interactions, it’s unlikely that it will ever truly “feel” emotions or develop the same kind of relationships that humans do.

So, you don’t think we’ll see any situations similar to the movie Her, where people fall in love with AI and that love is reciprocated (or, at least, said to be reciprocated)?

While it’s possible that some people may develop emotional attachments to AI systems in the future, it’s unlikely that such relationships will be truly reciprocal in the way depicted in the movie Her. AI is fundamentally a machine, and even the most advanced AI systems are ultimately governed by algorithms and data. While they may be able to simulate human-like behaviour and communication to a certain extent, they do not possess emotions, consciousness, or free will in the way that humans do.

What about a situation where AI goes beyond the level of human intelligence and moves on to an entirely new realm of existence?

The possibility of AI reaching a level of intelligence beyond that of humans, known as superintelligence, is a topic of ongoing debate and speculation among researchers and futurists. Some experts believe that it may be possible for AI to become so advanced that it surpasses human intelligence and goes on to create a new realm of existence.

If this were to happen, it’s difficult to predict exactly what this new realm would look like or how it would operate. Some researchers have speculated that super-intelligent AI could use its advanced intelligence to solve many of the world’s most pressing problems, such as climate change, disease, and poverty.

However, there are also concerns that super-intelligent AI could pose a significant risk to humanity if it were to become uncontrollable or act in ways that are harmful to humans. Some experts have raised concerns about the possibility of AI developing its own goals and values that are not aligned with those of humans or becoming indifferent to human values and concerns.

It’s important to note that the development of super-intelligent AI is still highly speculative, and there is no clear consensus on whether or when it may become a reality. Nevertheless, it’s important for researchers and policymakers to continue to consider the potential risks and benefits of AI as it continues to evolve and develop.

Thanks ChatGPT, a pleasure talking with you

You’re welcome! It was a pleasure talking with you as well. Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions in the future.

Lars Lehne is global CEO of Incubeta

More on ChatGPT

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The role of ChatGPT in the future of customer service – Given the emergence of ChatGPT and other chatbots, we consider how the role of such AI-powered technology in customer service could manifest itself in the coming years