If 2023 was the year artificial intelligence (AI) made its breakthrough, then 2024 seems to be the year when attempts are made to control it. The quick advancement of AI technology has sparked wonder and anxiety in equal measure. It has opened up new avenues for economic innovation and improved quality of life, but it has also brought up significant ethical, legal, and societal issues.
With notable developments in huge language models like ChatGPT, created in November 2022 and based on large datasets, including social media and literature, the unrestrained spread of AI has become especially concerning. But insufficient regulation has led to a legal limbo, especially when it comes to AI-generated content’s copyright protection.
Even though AI is still subject to legal uncertainty, 2024 might be a watershed year for how society uses and governs AI. A number of events point to a change in the direction of responsible AI governance:
Rise of Chief AI Officers
President Biden issued an AI Executive Order in October requiring the appointment of Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) by government agencies. These officers are responsible for monitoring the use of AI in government, with a focus on safety, innovation, and resolving bias in AI. A commitment to responsible AI implementation is evident in the growing trend of hiring CAIOs across industries.
AI Literacy Act
In December, Representatives Larry Bucshon and Lisa Blunt Rochester presented the AI Literacy Act. With the help of this legislation, educational curricula from K–12 schools, colleges, and workforce development programmes will incorporate AI literacy. Prioritising AI education becomes crucial for attaining racial fairness and empowering communities with low digital literacy accessible as AI changes the nature of work.
Combatting Fake News
Fake news has become more prevalent as a result of the widespread use of generative AI. Although artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to fight misinformation in the future, fake news websites created by AI are currently a problem. To solve this problem and stop AI from being used for disinformation, constant attention to detail and creativity are needed.
Google Algorithm Evolution
In 2024, it’s anticipated that search engines like Google will concentrate their algorithm improvements on more accurately recognising and prioritising AI-generated content. This is essential to stop the spread of misinformation created by AI on social media and search engines alike.
Copyright Lawsuits and Intellectual Property
The growing controversy over intellectual property rights in AI-generated content is brought to light by high-profile litigation brought against significant tech companies and AI programming tools. Concerns raised by artists and authors regarding their works being interpreted as intellectual property have led to court cases that could change the rules governing AI model training and content ownership.
A concentrated attempt to find a balance between utilising AI’s promise and addressing the ethical and legal issues it raises is probably going to be seen in the AI landscape as the year goes on. Even with ongoing difficulties, AI is clearly having a positive impact and is pushing society to change and adapt in order to optimise advantages and reduce hazards.