Anticipating the Impacts of AI-Based Personal Chatbots: A Scenario-Driven, User-Centric Approach

מושגי ליבה

Citizens' anticipations of both desirable and undesirable impacts of AI-based personal chatbots on individuals and society, and how these relate to their underlying values.

תקציר

The study leverages scenario-writing at scale to map the anticipated impacts of AI-based personal chatbots from the perspective of individual users. The analysis reveals a balanced mix of desirable and undesirable impacts across individual and societal levels.

On the individual level, desirable impacts include improvements to well-being, skills, and work performance, enabled by the efficiency and convenience of chatbots. Undesirable individual impacts center around the loss of human skills, well-being issues like frustration and over-reliance, and the deterioration of human-human relationships.

At the societal level, the few desirable impacts mentioned include fostering collective action and promoting multiculturalism. Undesirable societal impacts are more prevalent, such as large-scale job displacement, declining social cohesion, ethical concerns around misinformation, and existential questions about the role of technology in human life.

The study also finds some associations between participants' sociodemographic characteristics and the types of impacts they anticipate, highlighting the need to engage diverse stakeholders in impact assessment. Overall, the findings underscore the value of a user-centric, scenario-based approach to anticipating the multifaceted impacts of general-purpose AI technologies like personal chatbots.

סטטיסטיקה

"AI can give you the confidence it requires to put yourself out there."
"The AI in my story helped my main character find balance in her life."
"Chatbots and AI can cut through the nonsense and provide efficient answers including step-by-step guidance in some instances."
"AI-based chatbots can help individuals achieve their dreams and aspirations with a vast amount of ideas."
"The story emphasizes the positive role AI can play in fostering collective well-being and addressing societal challenges."
"Even if AI is knowledgeable, they can misunderstand us and send us in the wrong direction."
"I also think people should be careful of the information they send to artificial intelligence bots as that information ultimately belongs to someone else."
"Considering how widespread "fake news" has been during the past few US elections I can only see that problem getting worse now that AI chatbots and AI image tools are more easily accessible to almost anyone."
"Worst thing is, I actually think AI could be a great tool, with amazing benefits to society. However, it's hard to have trust that the technology won't be abused by the people in power."
"I greatly value human connection and see it as a fundamentally important aspect of living, but what happens when the words of a human and the words of an AI are indistinguishable?"
"The quality of production we have today is because people have spent their lives learning a craft and expanding on it with their own ideas. An AI can't do that, it can't create meaning out of what it makes"
"Capitalism and AI don't mix well. In the name of profits, it doesn't matter what happens to the little person."
"I believe that people are making tech just to make it because it will sell or because it will help them sell something, not because it will help society in any way."

ציטוטים

"AI can give you the confidence it requires to put yourself out there."
"The AI in my story helped my main character find balance in her life."
"Chatbots and AI can cut through the nonsense and provide efficient answers including step-by-step guidance in some instances."
"AI-based chatbots can help individuals achieve their dreams and aspirations with a vast amount of ideas."
"The story emphasizes the positive role AI can play in fostering collective well-being and addressing societal challenges."
"Even if AI is knowledgeable, they can misunderstand us and send us in the wrong direction."
"I also think people should be careful of the information they send to artificial intelligence bots as that information ultimately belongs to someone else."
"Considering how widespread "fake news" has been during the past few US elections I can only see that problem getting worse now that AI chatbots and AI image tools are more easily accessible to almost anyone."
"Worst thing is, I actually think AI could be a great tool, with amazing benefits to society. However, it's hard to have trust that the technology won't be abused by the people in power."
"I greatly value human connection and see it as a fundamentally important aspect of living, but what happens when the words of a human and the words of an AI are indistinguishable?"
"The quality of production we have today is because people have spent their lives learning a craft and expanding on it with their own ideas. An AI can't do that, it can't create meaning out of what it makes"
"Capitalism and AI don't mix well. In the name of profits, it doesn't matter what happens to the little person."
"I believe that people are making tech just to make it because it will sell or because it will help them sell something, not because it will help society in any way."

תובנות מפתח מזוקקות מ:

My Future with My Chatbot: A Scenario-Driven, User-Centric Approach to Anticipating AI Impacts

by Kimon Kiesli... ב- arxiv.org 05-01-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2401.14533.pdf

שאלות מעמיקות

How can the desirable individual impacts of chatbots be amplified while mitigating the undesirable societal impacts?

To amplify the desirable individual impacts of chatbots while mitigating the undesirable societal impacts, a multi-faceted approach is necessary.

Ethical Design and Development: Chatbots should be designed and developed with ethical considerations in mind, ensuring that they prioritize user well-being and empowerment. This includes incorporating principles of transparency, accountability, and fairness into the design process.

User Education and Empowerment: Users should be educated on the capabilities and limitations of chatbots, as well as their potential impact on society. Empowering users to make informed decisions about their use of chatbots can help mitigate negative consequences.

Regulatory Frameworks: Implementing robust regulatory frameworks that govern the use of chatbots can help prevent misuse and ensure that they are deployed in a responsible manner. This includes guidelines on data privacy, security, and algorithmic transparency.

Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging a diverse set of stakeholders, including users, developers, policymakers, and ethicists, in discussions about the impact of chatbots can lead to more comprehensive solutions that address both individual and societal concerns.

Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation: Regular monitoring and evaluation of chatbot usage can help identify potential risks and address them proactively. This includes collecting feedback from users and conducting impact assessments to measure the effects of chatbots on individuals and society.

By implementing these strategies in a coordinated manner, it is possible to amplify the positive impacts of chatbots on individuals while minimizing the negative societal consequences.

What safeguards and governance frameworks are needed to ensure chatbots are not used to undermine human skills, social cohesion, and democratic values?

To ensure that chatbots are not used to undermine human skills, social cohesion, and democratic values, the following safeguards and governance frameworks are essential:

Ethical Guidelines: Establish clear ethical guidelines for the development and deployment of chatbots, emphasizing the importance of preserving human skills, promoting social cohesion, and upholding democratic values.

Algorithmic Transparency: Implement mechanisms to ensure transparency in the algorithms used by chatbots, allowing users to understand how decisions are made and preventing biases or manipulation.

Data Privacy Protection: Enforce strict data privacy regulations to safeguard user information and prevent misuse of personal data by chatbots or their developers.

Accountability Mechanisms: Hold developers and organizations accountable for the actions of chatbots, including mechanisms for redress in case of harm caused by chatbot interactions.

Public Oversight: Establish independent oversight bodies or regulatory agencies to monitor the use of chatbots and intervene in cases where they are found to undermine human skills, social cohesion, or democratic values.

Education and Awareness: Promote education and awareness campaigns to inform the public about the potential risks associated with chatbots and empower users to make informed choices about their use.

By implementing these safeguards and governance frameworks, it is possible to mitigate the negative impacts of chatbots on human skills, social cohesion, and democratic values.

Given the diverse perspectives on the role of technology in human life, how can we foster a broad societal dialogue to collectively determine the appropriate boundaries and applications of AI-based personal assistants?

Fostering a broad societal dialogue to collectively determine the appropriate boundaries and applications of AI-based personal assistants requires a comprehensive and inclusive approach:

Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: Engage a diverse range of stakeholders, including policymakers, industry experts, ethicists, academics, and community representatives, in discussions about the role of AI-based personal assistants in society.

Public Consultations: Conduct public consultations and forums to gather input from the general public on their concerns, values, and expectations regarding the use of AI-based personal assistants.

Ethics Committees: Establish ethics committees or advisory boards comprised of experts from various fields to provide guidance on the ethical implications of AI technologies and help shape policies and regulations.

Education and Awareness Campaigns: Launch educational campaigns to raise awareness about the capabilities and limitations of AI-based personal assistants, as well as the potential impact on individuals and society.

Policy Co-Creation: Involve citizens in the co-creation of policies and guidelines that govern the development and deployment of AI-based personal assistants, ensuring that their voices and values are reflected in decision-making processes.

Continuous Dialogue: Maintain an ongoing dialogue with the public through surveys, focus groups, and public hearings to gather feedback and insights on the evolving role of AI in human life.

By adopting a participatory and inclusive approach to decision-making, it is possible to foster a broad societal dialogue that reflects the diverse perspectives and values of the population, ultimately leading to more informed and ethical use of AI-based personal assistants.