How Artificial is “Artificial Intelligence”?

Artificial Intelligence (or “AI” for short) started off as a sub-discipline in the computer science world to mimic human intelligence that includes completing routine tasks, solving mundane problems, and making simple decisions through computer algorithms, coding and simulations. However, there has been a current buzz about the increasing potential and dangers of AI as seen by recent headlines:

• Dec 5, 2022 – PetaPixel: Photo Editing App soars to top of Apple charts with AI Selfie Generator
• Dec 7, 2022 – VOX: AI is finally good at stuff, and that’s a problem
• Dec 7, 2022 – WIRED: ChatGPT’s most charming trick is also its biggest flaw
• Dec 8, 2022 – BuzzFeedNews: People have raised serious concerns about the AI Art App that’s all over your Instagram Feed
• Dec 11, 2022 – BostonGlobe: Boston’s startup’s search engine uses AI to make dense research more accessible
• Dec 13, 2022 – CNBC: Why tech insiders are so excited about ChatGPT, a chatbot that answers questions and writes essays
• Dec 14, 2022 – VICE: Artists are revolting against AI Art on ArtStation

Discussion Questions:

1. Select and read thoroughly two of the 7 articles listed above. Discuss the growth of AI as well as the potential danger it poses to the services that it is trying to replicate.

2. View the online video, “PBS Frontline: In the Age of AI” [~ 115 min] to respond to the following questions
   • List in a 2-column table all the positive externalities and negative externalities that you can find from the video. Compare your list with your neighbor, share with the class one positive externality and one negative externality that stood out to you. 
   • Illustrate and describe the impact this growth in AI has on
     • The Production Possibilities Curve, and
     • The Long Run Aggregate Supply Curve
   • Examine and share 2 reactions you had from this video with respect to the impact AI will have in the energy markets that may affect the environment.
   • Discuss how the role the federal government evolves in the age of AI in providing public goods like public schools, law enforcement, health services, roads/bridges/streetlights, etc.?
   • Given that AI will be increasingly used to displace workers, and that the current tax revenue stream for the federal government is from income tax, discuss whether the federal government
     • should modify their tax revenue sources from workers (labor) to machinery (capital) OR
     • simply increase corporate tax rates of companies heavily engaged in AI (e.g. Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Tesla, etc.), OR
     • do nothing?

3. Self-reflection:
   • Indicate your current academic program (e.g., A.A., A.S., B.A., B.Sc.) and the career you are working towards.
   • Read the following 2 sections of “Starting a Career in Artificial Intelligence”:
     • Artificial Intelligence Courses and Curriculum,
     • Landing a Job in AI: It’s about Initiative.
   • Share if AI is already infused in the career you are seeking?
   • Explain how you are preparing yourself to be a successful worker in the age of AI?

Sources| PetaPixel: – https://petapixel.com/2022/12/05/photo-editing-app-soars-to-top-of-apple-charts-with-ai-selfie-generator/; VOX: – https://www.vox.com/recode/2022/12/7/23498694/ai-artificial-intelligence-chat-gpt-openai; WIRED: – https://www.wired.com/story/openai-chatgpts-most-charming-trick-hides-its-biggest-flaw/; BuzzFeedNews: – https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kelseyweekman/ai-art-app-lensa-instagram-photo-trend-problems; Boston Globe: – https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/12/11/business/boston-startups-search-engine-uses-ai-make-dense-research-more-accessible/; CNBC: – https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/13/chatgpt-is-a-new-ai-chatbot-that-can-answer-questions-and-write-essays.html; VICE: – https://www.vice.com/en/article/ake9me/artists-are-revolt-against-ai-art-on-artstation; PBS Frontline – In the age of AI – https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/in-the-age-of-ai/; Best Colleges: – https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/future-proof-industries-artificial-intelligence/