ChatGPT, the world’s most used chatbot, has been hailed for its ethical guardrails and political correctness, but beneath the surface lies a deeper reality – this system is essentially amoral and can be used for dangerous purposes such as the production of misinformation at massive scale. OpenAI has been closed about how its guardrails and algorithms actually work, and we are kidding ourselves if we think we can fully understand these systems. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
