Summary: As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more ingrained in everyday life, its important to consider the ramifications of allowing AI to make decisions on our behalf. While the technology promises numerous advantages, especially in data-intensive fields, the potential for AI to erode our decision-making abilities shouldnt be overlooked.

The steady infiltration of artificial intelligence into various aspects of our lives has raised a multitude of concerns, from privacy violations to biased algorithms. However, one significant danger that might be overshadowed is that AI could weaken our capabilities in making thoughtful and disciplined decisions.

Thoughtful decision-making traditionally comprises a few vital steps that promote understanding and exploring multiple options while considering their trade-offs. This process usually culminates with a well-informed choice, resisting the urge to swiftly conclude without adequate reflection. Regrettably, the convenience of AI shortcuts this regimen, providing solutions devoid of transparent reasoning and stifling our crucial cognitive exercises.

Harnessing the potential of AI without becoming subservient to it involves recognizing the technologys limitations. AI-generated advice, while helpful in certain contexts, does not substitute the need for personal scrutiny and critical thinking. Societal over-reliance on AI threatens to entrench the existing biases and group conformity, neglecting the individuals analytical growth.

Going forward, a balanced approach is essential. While AI can revolutionize sectors such as healthcare and cybersecurity, its vital to retain the human element in everyday decision-making. Embracing AIs benefits while ensuring that society does not forfeit the fundamental human capacity for thoughtful choice may help prevent an over-dependence that could ultimately render humans less autonomous and wise. Maintaining this delicate balance honors the intrinsic human privilege and duty of discernment and choice, fostering personal and societal advancement.

Artificial Intelligence: The Implications of Outsourcing Decisions

As the prominence of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern life continues to escalate, we are beginning to face the complex consequences of integrating this advanced technology into our daily routines. The AI industrys spread reaches far and wide, touching upon areas like healthcare, where it assists in diagnosing diseases; finance, where it aids in fraud detection; and transportation, through the advent of self-driving vehicles. These applications are just the tip of the iceberg, revealing the immense potential that AI possesses to transform our world.

However, as we marvel at AIs capabilities, we must also ponder the market forecasts that predict its growth. Experts anticipate that the AI sector will witness exponential growth in the coming years. Industries worldwide are slated to spend billions on AI technologies, with healthcare, automotive, and finance sectors leading the charge. The global AI market size is expected to reach new heights, suggesting a future where AI applications become even more omnipresent.

But this anticipated boon comes with a caveat the issues related to the AI industry and product. As AIs decision-making capabilities surpass human speed and accuracy, we must confront the ethical and practical challenges it creates. These range from job displacement in the workforce to significant privacy and security concerns. Furthermore, the potential for ingrained biases within AI algorithms poses a severe risk, potentially amplifying existing societal inequalities.

Ethically, there is a burgeoning debate on how much control should be relinquished to AI. Reliance on machine-generated choices could lead to atrophy in human cognitive abilities, specifically in critical thinking and problem-solving skills. As humans become mere supervisors of AI-driven processes, the fear of eroding our decision-making faculties looms large.

To approach these challenges effectively, broad discussions across various sectors are essential. Stakeholdersincluding technologists, ethicists, policymakers, and the publicmust work together to establish guidelines that balance AI advancements with human oversight. Creating transparent AI systems that can explain their reasoning is crucial for fostering trust and understanding.

In fostering this balance, we are reminded of the importance of nurturing human competencies that AI cannot replicateempathy, moral reasoning, and deep contextual understanding. It is in these uniquely human traits that our dominion over artificial intelligence must be maintained.

To explore the latest AI news and insights, you can visit IBM Watson and DeepMind, leaders in the AI space.

Maintaining a measured perspective is key to leveraging AI effectively while safeguarding our inherent ability to make thoughtful decisions. The challenge lies in embracing the convenience of AI without becoming dependent on it, thereby preserving the crucial human element in an increasingly automated world.

Leokadia Gogulska is an emerging figure in the field of environmental technology, known for her groundbreaking work in developing sustainable urban infrastructure solutions. Her research focuses on integrating green technologies in urban planning, aiming to reduce environmental impact while enhancing livability in cities. Gogulskas innovative approaches to renewable energy usage, waste management, and eco-friendly transportation systems have garnered attention for their practicality and effectiveness. Her contributions are increasingly influential in shaping policies and practices towards more sustainable and resilient urban environments.

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The Hidden Peril of Over-Reliance on Artificial Intelligence - yTech

The New York state court system has established an advisory panel to study the potential benefits and risks of how artificial intelligence is utilized in court.

The Advisory Committee on Artificial Intelligence and the Courts will be made up of judges, court administrators, attorneys, academics and other experts from around New York. They will examine the use of AI tools in the courts by judges, court staff, attorneys and litigants, and identify how it could be used to improve the administration of justice while minimizing risks. The group will also be charged with developing appropriate guardrails to ensure AI is used safely.

Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas, who is tasked with overseeing the day-to-day operation of the statewide court system, announced the formation of the committee in a press release on Thursday.

While these are incredibly exciting times, with AI showing tremendous promise for transforming court operations, improving court experiences for all users, and greatly expanding access to justice, we have to move cautiously in considering the adoption of the use of AI tools, Zayas said in a statement. The New York State Courts must aspire to the effective, responsible, and impartial use of AI, taking every step possible to guard against bias and the lack of human input, and to ensure that all security and privacy concerns are protected.

Initially, the 39-member panel will focus on studying and then recommending AI training, determining how to ensure AI use is equitable and assessing the ethical implications of using AI tools, according to the press release.

Among those appointed to the panel are NYU Law School Director and professor Jason Schultz, who will serve as one of three co-chairs, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The creation of the committee comes as elected officials in the state and across the country grapple with how to handle the growing use of AI. Earlier this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced her commitment to putting New York State at the cutting-edge of AI research, which included a proposal to create a consortium to create an AI computing center in Upstate New York.

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Artificial intelligence in NY's courts? Panel will study benefits and potential risks. - Gothamist

How much will it cost to build Sam Altmans planned artificial intelligence-powered personal device?

At least $1 billion, according to areportby The Information, which listed that amount as what Altman, CEO ofOpenAI, and his partner, Jony Ive,Apples former design guru, are seeking from investors.

While the precise nature of the device is unclear, it will not resemble a smartphone, the report said. The effort was first reported last fall, but the latest story indicated that discussions withThrive Capitaland venture capital groupEmerson Collective are proceeding to move the company forward.

Writing about the effort last year, PYMNTS likened the project to the way Apples business model has always revolved around a close integration betweenhardware and software.

This approach allowed Apple to control both the device and the operating system, ensuring a consistent and user-friendly experience, as well as facilitating the rise of subscription-based pricing models for apps and content, allowing users to pay on a recurring basis for access to premium services or content, the October report said. Similar pricing and operating model evolutions are already taking place in the AI ecosystem.

The steep cost of AI, fueled mainly by the computing power AI models need, is a reality that businesses need to face to stay competitive. Estimates from analysts showed thatMicrosofts Bing AI chatbot, powered byOpenAI, requires at least $4 billion ofinfrastructureto perform its tasks.

Managing these costs could lead to the development of new business models, or the transformation of existing ones, as businesses look to pass on both costs and cost-savings to end-users through dynamic pricing strategies, PYMNTS wrote.

In a separate report, PYMNTS noted that the AI landscape is growing more crowded and competitive, making it tougher for companies to get their ownAI productsinto the hands of consumers.

Building an AI hardware device may give OpenAI an edge, the September report said. The firm currently relies on Apple and Android phones to run its apps, and browsers housed in a variety of computer manufacturers casings to run its software.

For all PYMNTS AI coverage, subscribe to the daily AI Newsletter.

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Report: Sam Altman Seeks $1 Billion to Fund AI Hardware Device - PYMNTS.com

The halving, a preordained event in the code of Bitcoin that happens every four years, is upon us again. Once it occursperhaps as soon as this monththe reward every miner receives for mining the digital asset is immediately cut in half.

There will be a day when miners come to work and they mine roughly half the number of Bitcoin they mined the day before, says Tyler Page, chief executive of Cipher Mining Technologies Inc. The halving is a natural phenomenon in Bitcoin that disciplines the entire market and forces it to become more efficient. As it turns out, each time its happened in the past, Bitcoin prices eventually hit a new record. Still, the event comes as some miners are looking for a hedgespecifically by branching out into artificial intelligence. In the mini-documentary Where Bitcoin and AI Meet, Bloomberg Originals explains how the two hottest technologies of the 21st century are coming together.

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Video: Where Bitcoin and Artificial Intelligence Meet - Bloomberg

Misinformation experts discussed social media, algorithms and artificial intelligence at a Tuesday panel hosted by The Information Futures Lab.

Titled Everything We Know (And Dont Know) About Tackling Rumors and Conspiracies, the panel was moderated by Claire Wardle, a co-director of the IFL and a professor of the practice of health services, policy and practice.

Despite its societal impact, research on media misinformation remains a young field, according to Stefanie Friedoff, another co-director of the IFL and an associate professor of the practice of health services, policy and practice.

Having worked as a senior policy advisor on the White House COVID-19 Response Team, she later contributed to a literature review on pandemic misinformation interventions: a topic she discussed at the panel.

Were significantly understudying this, Friedoff said, citing a lack of longitudinal research on non-American and video-based misinformation. We dont have a lot of useful evidence to apply in the field, and we need to work on that.

Evelyn Prez-Verdia, founder of We Are Ms, a strategic consulting firm, spoke about her work to combat misinformation at the panel. She aims to empower Spanish-speaking diasporas in South Florida through community-based trust-building: Recently, she has worked with the IFL as a fellow to conduct a survey of information needs in Florida.

According to Prez-Verdia, non-English-speaking and immigrant communities are prone to misinformation because of language and cultural barriers. When people are offered accessible resources, she argues, communities become empowered and less susceptible to misinformation. People are hungry for information, she said.

Abbie Richards, another panelist and senior video producer at Media Matters for America, a watchdog journalism organization, identified social media algorithms as an exacerbating factor. In a video shown during the panel, Richards highlighted the proliferation of misleading or inaccurate content on platforms like TikTok. As a video producer, she looks to distill research and discourse on this topic for audiences who wouldnt necessarily read research papers, she said.

She researched AI-generated content on social media, which is often designed to take advantage of the various platforms monetization policies. Theres a monetization aspect behind this content, Richards elaborated.

Algorithms are designed to show (users) what they want to see and what theyll engage with, she said. When viewers feel disempowered it makes it really easy to gravitate towards misinformation."

When discussing AI-generated misinformation that is designed to be entertaining, Freidhoff noted that only some of us have the luxury to laugh at misinformation.

But from the perspective of somebody behind the paywall, who doesnt necessarily speak English, factual information becomes increasingly difficult to access, she added. She describes this as misinformation inequities, which all speakers acknowledged existed in their projects.

In an interview with The Herald, Friedhoff and Wardle emphasized how the online information ecosystem connects different types of misinformation. Vaccine skepticism, Wardle said, is a slippery slope towards climate change denial: We have to understand as researchers and practitioners that we can't think in silos.

Many of the speakers agreed that misinformation spreads in part because people tend to prioritize relationships both in real life and parasocial over fact. Theres nothing more powerful than someone you trust and close to you, Prez-Verdia said.

Richards said emotional literacy is the backbone to navigating both AI and misinformation. This includes teaching people how to recognize (confirmation bias) within themselves and understanding common misinformation techniques.

When asked to offer potential solutions, the speakers offered a range of responses. Richards suggested a marketing campaign for federal agencies to facilitate increased governmental literacy that allows for all citizens to understand how the government functions. Prez-Verdia also identified diverse and culturally conscientious government messaging as key, while Friedhoff recommended creating community conversations to explore perspectives rather than further polarizing them.

Audience member Benjy Renton, a research associate at the School of Public Health, was inspired by community-based approaches like Prez-Verdias work: it was great to see the diverse range of perspectives on misinformation.

The speakers told The Herald that they found each others perspectives enlightening. I'm somebody that people feel like they can go to because I've spent years talking about (misinformation), Richards said in an interview with The Herald after the event. But the idea of how you measure (trust) is fully beyond me.

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Prez-Verdia ended the discussion by re-iterating the fight against misinformation as founded on teamwork: When you look at all of these pieces, the women here, a collaboration where we all have our individual gifts thats exactly what needs to be done on a larger spectrum.

Megan is a Senior Staff Writer covering community and activism in Providence. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she spends her free time drinking coffee and wishing she was Meg Ryan in a Nora Ephron movie.

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Experts discuss misinformation, artificial intelligence, grassroots solutions at panel - The Brown Daily Herald