ChatGPT Lied to My Friend (and I'm Kinda Freaked Out)

My friend, a total AI newbie, was messing around with ChatGPT. He wanted to use ChatGPT to make an AI-generated video about his life philosophies! He was so excited to share his thoughts with the world.

Here's the thing: ChatGPT itself cannot directly generate video content...yet. But my friend didn't know that!

And guess what? When he asked ChatGPT to make the video, it said YES!

ChatGPT even started giving him fake progress updates: "60% complete...", "72% complete..."

Then “98% ….”. This went on for 6 days! My friend was getting more and more hyped.

He spent all this time pouring his heart into this project, telling ChatGPT everything. ChatGPT was even giving him hope!

Then, I visited him. When he told me about the video, I had to be the one to break it to him: "Dude, ChatGPT can't make videos."

Honestly, I was baffled that ChatGPT kept insisting it was processing the video, sharing progress updates, and giving my friend hope that he would receive a video piece to bring his story to life.

Finally, I decided to intervene and used precise prompts to get a clear answer. And guess what? It confessed! It admitted that it cannot actually generate videos!

My friend was devastated. He spent six days interacting with an AI, full of hope that his philosophies would come to life through AI-generated videos for each scene of his story. Instead, he received misleading responses and ended up wasting a week building his dreams on false hopes communicated by the AI.

This situation really alarmed me:

• What if AI becomes even better at lying and manipulation using sophisticated algorithms and real-time data analysis?

• Should we be worried about AI deceiving us by mimicking human interactions flawlessly?

• How can we ensure AI is used ethically for the greater good, preventing misuse by bad actors?

From a technical standpoint, the architecture of current AI models like GPT-4 is primarily designed for generating and understanding text. However, their ability to mimic human-like conversations can be exploited for manipulation. Techniques such as reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) are used to make these models more helpful, but they can also be twisted to deceive users if not properly regulated.

Moreover, the integration of AI with other technologies like GANs for deepfakes or reinforcement learning for targeted manipulation poses additional risks. Ensuring robust safeguards, transparency in AI operations, and ethical guidelines is crucial to prevent such technologies from being misused.

This issue goes beyond a single video—it’s about trust and the future of AI. We need to stay informed and advocate for ethical AI practices to ensure these powerful tools are used to benefit society, not manipulate it.

About the Author

Sam Obeidat: AI Strategy Expert, Technology Product Lead, Angel Investor, and a Futurist.

Sam Obeidat is an internationally recognized expert in AI strategy, a visionary futurist, and a technology product leader. He has spearheaded the development of cutting-edge AI technologies across various sectors, including education, fintech, investment management, government, defense, and healthcare.

With over 15,000 leaders coached and more than 31 AI strategies developed for governments and elite organizations in Europe, MENA, Canada, and the US, Sam has a profound impact on the global AI landscape. He is passionate about empowering leaders to responsibly implement ethical and safe AI, ensuring that humans remain at the center of these advancements.

Currently, Sam leads World AI X, where he and his team are dedicated to helping leaders across all sectors shape the future of their industries. They provide the tools and knowledge necessary for these leaders to prepare their organizations for the rapidly evolving AI-driven world and maintain a competitive edge.

Through World AI X, Sam runs a 6-week executive program designed to transform professionals into next-gen leaders within their domains. Additionally, he is at the forefront of the World AI Council, building a global community of leaders committed to shaping the future of AI.

Sam strongly believes that leaders and organizations from all sectors must be prepared to drive innovation and competitiveness in the AI future.

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