The Senate's Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law conducted a hearing on AI, which commenced with a recorded speech delivered by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the chair of the subcommittee. The recording featured a voice resembling the senator's, and the speech appropriately addressed the topic at hand. Interestingly, both the voice and the content of the message were generated by AI technology. Blumenthal highlighted a potential threat posed by generative AI, imagining a scenario where an AI-generated endorsement of Ukraine's surrender or Russian President Vladimir Putin's leadership was provided in response to a query. This incident sheds light on the dangers that generative AI could pose to society. Initially, generative AI was primarily associated with academic misconduct, enabling students to cheat on homework assignments. However, with its expanded capabilities, this technology can now produce new content and even create digital replicas of individuals delivering AI-authored messages. The implications of this capability are concerning. To illustrate, let's rewind to the evening of October 30, 1938, when the CBS Mercury Theatre on the Air aired a radio adaptation of H. G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds. " The program depicted a fictional Martian invasion of New Jersey. Some listeners who tuned in late mistook the dramatization for authentic news reports of an ongoing disaster. The production caused widespread panic across the country, despite the improbability of the events depicted. This example underscores the potential for generative AI to create similar deepfake scenarios that could trigger panic on a national or even global scale. Such scenarios could disrupt elections, international relations, news coverage, military operations, and virtually every sector of society. Consider what might occur if, during the 5:00 p. m. CBS News broadcast, breaking news interrupted the program with a deepfake version of President Biden announcing a nuclear attack on Washington, D. C. by North Korea. The ramifications would be immense. Speaking before the Senate committee, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and creator of ChatGPT, acknowledged the anxieties surrounding this technology and the need to address its potential impact.

Altman stated, "As this technology advances, we understand that people are anxious about how it could change the way we live. We are too. " He further emphasized that if this technology goes awry, the consequences could be substantial. Altman proposed the establishment of a U. S. or global agency with the authority to enforce compliance with AI safety standards. However, this approach may be futile, akin to attempting to close the barn door after the horse has already bolted. The feasibility of Altman's proposal is questionable, as international collaborations have a track record of prioritizing national interests over global initiatives. For instance, the 2015 Paris Climate Accords involving 193 countries and the EU have struggled to meet their climate mitigation goals. Expecting a single regulatory body to control the global deployment of AI, a technology that is widespread among the masses, appears highly unrealistic. Those working in the field of generative AI readily admit that they do not possess a comprehensive understanding of how the technology functions. Consequently, regulating and overseeing it becomes an even greater challenge. As a case in point, chatbots are designed to avoid answering questions that could cause harm or danger. Nevertheless, an enterprising hacker managed to manipulate one of these chatbots into providing instructions for making dangerous substances by disguising them as bedtime stories. Ultimately, human ingenuity, coupled with greed and the thirst for power, will surpass society's efforts to control generative AI. Society lacks the capacity to predict when, where, and how the next deepfake attack will occur. The creators of AI have effectively opened Pandora's box, introducing a swarm of negative and unpredictable consequences into the world that cannot be recaptured. Mary Ann Paliani, a resident of Boulder, raises these concerns. It is important to note that the opinions expressed in guest articles, like Paliani's, do not reflect the views of the Daily Camera, nor do the authors work for or receive compensation from the publication. The Daily Camera welcomes a diverse range of voices on its opinion pages, even if some readers may find certain viewpoints objectionable. To stay informed, readers can sign up for email newsletters, and for those seeking a beautiful park-like atmosphere in Aurora, Heather Gardens offers a 200-acre space centered around an exquisite executive 9-hole golf course with round-the-clock security.