{"id":32921,"date":"2023-09-07T22:20:34","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T05:20:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=32921"},"modified":"2023-09-07T22:20:34","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T05:20:34","slug":"ai-enhance-and-not-harm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/ai-enhance-and-not-harm\/","title":{"rendered":"AI: Enhance and Not Harm"},"content":{"rendered":"

At my daughter\u2019s graduation from Seattle Pacific University four years ago, the commencement speaker, Skip Li, spent the first half of his speech presenting \u201cThe Top Ten Lessons in Life,\u201d and then he took an abrupt turn and used the second half of his speech to warn the audience of the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI).[1]<\/a> We all thought that to be an odd graduation speech. What we did not know at the time is that the AI genie was already out of the bottle, and as David Boud remarks, there is no putting that genie back.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

As the use of AI is becoming more prevalent and we\u2019re learning more about its potential, some, like Skip Li, fear this technology is leading us into a \u201cmoral wilderness.\u201d[3]<\/a> Other people see AI as a tool that can enhance human intelligence, potential, and purpose.\u201d[4]<\/a> Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, notes, \u201cI think we\u2019re at the cusp of using AI for probably the biggest positive transformation that education has ever seen.\u201d[5]<\/a> Like almost all new technologies, the possibilities for abuse or enhancement are endless.<\/p>\n

Contemplating the Weaknesses and Strengths of AI Usage in our Studies<\/strong><\/p>\n

The topic of AI is enormous, with many avenues to pursue.\u00a0 For this blog, I will specifically focus on the dangers, limits, and possibilities of AI for my studies at Portland Seminary.<\/p>\n

Limitations and Dangers<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>When I think about using generative AI, it is helpful for me to understand how it works, so that I can then better understand its limitations, dangers, possibilities, and potential. \u201cGenerative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that uses machine learning algorithms to create new and original content like images, videos, text, and audio.\u201d[6]<\/a> Open AI, creator of ChatGPT, says, \u201cWe build our generative models using a technology called deep learning, which leverages large amounts of data to train an AI system to perform a task.\u201d[7]<\/a> Through a collection of large amounts of data, AI programs producing text, for example, are trained to predict the probability of next words and make a choice as to the correct word. \u201cDuring the training phase, the model learns the underlying patterns and structures present in the training data.\u201d[8]<\/a><\/p>\n

Because the AI application is only as good as the data set used in its training, limitations can include social biases and outdated material. Lucinda Knight, of Deakin University points out that social biases occur in AI output when biases and prejudices are embedded in the data used to train the AI model and when certain perspectives, people, and situational content are left out of the data set used for training.[9]<\/a> Limitations can also include \u201cAI hallucinations,\u201d which occur when the system produces \u201cnonfactual responses\u201d as a result of poor training or the system\u2019s inability to interpret data correctly.[10]<\/a> Another limitation is that the quality of the response is only as good as the query used to generate that response; and, AI is not known to be good at calculating facts, specifically in the discipline of mathematics.[11]<\/a><\/p>\n

Some of the dangers to my studies, following the above limitations of AI, include spreading implicit and explicit bias, using information that is not up to date, and using data that is false. Another danger that I see in using AI, comes out of its limitation to operate as a thinking, feeling entity.\u00a0 AI does not think or feel. It operates through predictive algorithms, and yet, it can appear to be responsive to, interested in, and even curious about us.\u00a0 Khan Academy\u2019s new Khanmigo function offers students the benefits of having a tutor that operates interactively.\u00a0 I think there could be the tendency to relate to AI creations as caring beings, and yet, we cannot have a meaningful relationship with an artificially generated \u201cperson.\u201d There are benefits to learning from an AI tutor or counselor, but I think we need to always be aware of the dangers of human beings relating to AI creations as humans.<\/p>\n

Possibilities<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many possibilities for AI use in my studies. I am interested in experimenting with this tool and am curious about the effectiveness of AI regarding my NPO project-related disciplines. I will need to do some research in these areas. As well, I will need to learn to make quality AI prompts and judge the quality of AI outputs.[12]<\/a><\/p>\n

Areas in which to I want to try engaging AI, capitalizing on its strengths, include:<\/p>\n