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Artificial intelligence is nothing without your data, but is that a bad thing? And can you actually do something about it?
AI and Your Data
Artificial intelligence, based on a language model like ChatGPT, relies heavily on data. And what better source of data than the texts, photos, and videos you post online?
This is What’s Happening Now
The popular internet forum, Reddit, has been under controversy for months. This is partly due to the news that the CEO of Reddit charges high amounts of money from third parties to access Reddit content. As a result, popular apps are no longer usable. But there’s another issue at play: Reddit wants to get paid when the platform’s posts are used to train artificial intelligence.
Reddit is an almost limitless source of information on various current topics, which is used by ChatGPT maker OpenAI and others to train their chatbots. The CEO of Reddit believes he can profit from this.
Many users are unhappy with this because they have no control over the matter. They also feel uncomfortable knowing that their texts and photos are used to train artificial intelligence, without knowing what forms that AI will take in the future.
Every online platform is currently addressing this issue. Zoom, for example, is controversial because it wants to use its users’ data to train AI. When you post something on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram, your data is also used to improve the artificial intelligences of those platforms. Unless you specifically indicate that you don’t want it with ChatGPT, everything you provide to the chatbot will be stored and used for training purposes.
What Does This Mean?
This means that everything you post online – whether it’s text, photos, or videos – can be used to train artificial intelligence. Currently, this mainly concerns generative AI, where texts, images, or videos are generated from the entered data. However, this data can also be used for other forms of artificial intelligence in the future.
Moreover, tech companies can now monetize your data in new ways, including old data such as photos from a social network or past blogs on a website.
What Does That Have to Do with Me?
There is significant criticism from writers, photographers, graphic designers, etc., that generative artificial intelligence uses their work without any compensation. This may be less relevant to you if you don’t share copyrighted material online.
However, current forms of artificial intelligence are unpredictable, and future forms are likely to be as well. Pieces of your data can appear in new places, leading to unforeseen consequences.
What Can I Do About It?
If you’re worried, there are concrete steps you can take:
- Think carefully about what you post online. Consider whether you would mind if it appeared elsewhere, especially if it’s linked to your name.
- Many apps offer the option in their settings to disable the use of your data for AI training. However, using this option may limit some functionality. For example, with ChatGPT, you may no longer be able to see chat history.
- Not only should you be conscious of new content you post online, but also review what you already have online. Consider deleting old data, such as old social media posts or photos stored on platforms like Flickr.
More About Artificial Intelligence
How dangerous is artificial intelligence? According to OpenAI, we must be cautious that this technology doesn’t pose a threat to humanity. If you want to explore ChatGPT, an official Android app has been released. We provide tips for effective ChatGPT prompts.