ABSTRACT
The development of technology is inherently neutral. Its impact is not predetermined but rather determined by human application, which can lead to categorizing it as a positive or negative, ally or adversary. For example, when Sir Isaac Newton discovered the third law of motion, his intention was not to contribute to the development of weapons. Similarly, with AI, the outcome is heavily influenced by human application. In the field of medicine, AI algorithms have the potential to be utilized for identifying optimal chemical compositions for disease treatment, thereby advancing medical care. On the other hand, AI can also be exploited for destructive purposes. It’s important to recognize that the ethical deployment of AI hinges on the intentions and purposes of its human users.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: FRIEND OR ENEMY
(Author: Ananya singh, a student at Babu Banarasi Das University)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch or a broad field of computer science that uses computational models, algorithms, and data to allow machines to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence. It can learn from previous experiences, and patterns, understand natural languages and make decisions. For example, ChatGPT, Midjourney.
The idea of artificial intelligence (AI) has been present since the 1800s when Alan Turing introduced the concept of an “imitation game” to evaluate machine intelligence. However, the practical realization of AI has only become achievable in recent years thanks to the advancements in computing power and the abundance of data available for training AI systems.
In the future, the understanding of AI will rely on recognizing the unique aspects of human intelligence. Our ability to learn from experiences and apply those lessons to new situations sets us apart from other creatures. This is made possible by our advanced brainpower, which is characterized by a greater number of neurons compared to any other animal species.
Current computer systems do not come close to matching the complexity of the human biological neural network. However, they possess a significant advantage over humans in their capacity to process enormous quantities of data and experiences at a speed far surpassing human capabilities.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a potent concept, but it operates based on data, not magic. It’s crucial to recognize that AI’s effectiveness hinges on the quality of the data it learns from. The model and algorithm are only as reliable as the input data. Consequently, the availability of data, biases, inaccuracies in labelling, and privacy concerns can all exert substantial influence on the performance of an AI model.
In light of the growing prevalence and utilization of AI, it is crucial to take into account various key factors. These factors encompass data availability, computational capacity, and privacy, especially concerning sensitive information like healthcare data. While data plays a vital role in the development of AI models, acquiring such data plays a vital role in the development of AI models, acquiring such data can be arduous due to stringent regulations governing the safeguarding of healthcare data.
AI can be a friend to one and foe to another depending on how it is used.
AI a friend: In April 2024, 13-years-old Nikita used Alexa, Amazon’s virtual AI voice assistant, to save her 15-month-old niece from a group of money attack commanding the Alexa to bark, as soon as the voice assistant made a loud barking noise the monkey got scared and ran away from the baby. The video of the girl’s quick action went viral on social media and gained appreciation, In the end, it reached Anand Mahindra and he couldn’t stop himself from praising a 13-year-old girl who saved her baby sister from a group of monkeys. Taking to X, the chairman of Mahindra groups twitted with lavish praises on the teen named Nikita, who saved herself as well as her baby sister from groups of monkeys using an Alexa device.
When 17 doctors failed to find the correct diagnosis ChatGPT became a saviour to a mother in finding the correct diagnosis for a 4-year-old child. The young boy named Alex had suffered a three-year-long severe pain and unexpected symptoms. The mother Courtney described that she had to give him a pain-relieving drug (Mortin) every day, or he would have a huge meltdown, but when he had Mortin, he was fine. Even after visiting 17 doctors, they couldn’t find the reason behind the persistent toothache and stunted growth. Feeling helpless she shared Alex’s symptoms with ChatGPT for some help. To her shock, ChatGPT indicated a rare neurological condition known as Tethered Cord Syndrome.
AI an enemy: On November 7, 2023, a day after a dissolute video of South actress Radhika Mandanna went viral on many social media platforms, she came out condemning the authenticity of the video. To the surprise of everyone, the actor’s face was unwittingly superimposed on the body of a British Indian influencer.
In 2020 the Indian Legislative Assembly elections politician Manoj Tiwari’s speech in English was manipulated and disseminated in the ‘Haryanvi’ dialect.
In March 2022, a video of Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy surfaced on many social media platforms wherein the President is seen to be making Ukrainians, who are pleading, lay down their arms and surrender. The video was created using deepfake.
REGULATIONS GOVERNING DEEPFAKES IN INDIA:
The Minister of Electronics and Information Technology’s latest Advisory, dated November 07, 2023, directs major social media intermediaries to:
- Exercise due diligence and make reasonable efforts to identify misinformation and deepfakes, particularly information that violates rules, regulations, or user agreements.
- Take prompt action against such instances within the specified timeframes outlined in the IT Rules 2021.
- Prohibit users from publishing such information or content
- Remove reported content within 36 hours.
- Act swiftly within the specified timeframes outlined in the IT Rules 2021 and limit access to the content or information.
THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT,2000
It emphasized that not complying with the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (referred to as the “IT Act”) and Rule 7 of the Information Technology Rules (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics) Code, 2021(referred to as the “IT Rules”) would result in organisations losing the protection provided under section 79(1) of the IT Act.
Section 79(1) of the IT Act provides immunity to the online intermediaries from being held liable for any third-party information, data, or communication link hosted by them. In addition, Rule 7 of the IT Rules grants individuals the right to pursue legal action against platforms under the Indian Penal Code.
Section 66E of the IT Act stipulates penalties for the infringement of an individual’s privacy through the unauthorized publication or transmission of images showing their private areas, punishable by a fine of INR 2 lakh, and three years’ imprisonment.
Sections 67, 67A, and 67B of the IT Act prohibit and provide penalties for publishing or transmitting obscene material, material containing sexually explicit acts, and sexually explicit depictions of children in electronic form, respectively.
In the event of electronic impersonation such as the manipulation of images to misrepresent individuals, social media companies have been instructed to respond to complaints within 24 hours. Section 66D of the IT Act stipulates a penalty of three years imprisonment and a fine of up to one lakh rupees for individuals who engage in impersonation through communication devices or computer resources.
LEGAL CASES THAT HAVE SET PRECEDENTS AGAINST THE WRONGFUL USE OF AI:
Anil Kapoor v. Simply Life India and Ors.: The plaintiff claims that all the defendants are utilising various aspects of the plaintiff’s identity and exploiting them in harmful ways. These include:
- Creating and selling digital stickers featuring the plaintiff’s image.
- Using the plaintiff’s name and pictures for posters.
- Selling t-shirts using the plaintiff’s name and likeness.
- Distributing fake signatures and images of the plaintiff.
- Generating offensive deepfake videos of the plaintiff, morphing their face with those of other actresses such as Katrina Kaif, Madhuri Dixit, and the late Sridevi.
- Creating cartoon images of the plaintiff using artificial intelligence.
- Sharing GIF images of the plaintiff on social media platforms.
In the legal case of Amitabh Bachchan v. Rajat Negi and Ors., the renowned actor Mr Amitabh Bachchan was granted ad interim in rem injunction to prevent the unauthorized commercial use of his personality rights, including his voice, name, image and likeness.
CONCLUSION
In considering the future of artificial intelligence (AI), one intriguing concept arises: could digital intelligence potentially represent the next phase of human evolution, with humans as creators? Don Lannone explores this in his article “The Two Faces of ‘Digital Spirituality,” suggesting that technology if approached with the right intentions, ethics, and knowledge, could contribute to individual and collective spiritual growth. This raises questions about the potential spiritual use of technology and its role in our future.
In the short term, AI tools such as ChatGPT undoubtedly lead to a significant increase in productivity and reduction in time spent on mundane tasks. However, in the long run, this technological advancement might result in a scarcity of meaningful work for humans. The essential threat posed by AI could potentially catalyse a much-needed spirit of collaboration and cooperation among us, leading to a future where humans and digital intelligence coexist and complement each other.
In conclusion, AI can be viewed as both a friend and a foe. While its advantages are undeniable, we must exercise caution and be mindful of its potential threats. As we navigate an increasingly AI-centric world, it’s critical to maintain a spirit of collaboration, foster an environment of coexistence, and ensure that we harness the potential of AI for the betterment of all.
FAQ’s
- What is an AI?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a prominent domain within computer science, leveraging computational models, algorithms, and data to empower machines with the ability to execute tasks traditionally necessitating human intelligence. These capabilities encompass learning from previous experiences and patterns, comprehension of natural languages, and autonomous decision-making. Notable instances of AI applications include ChatGPT and Midjourney.
- What are the regulations on the unethical usage of AI?
The Minister of Electronics and Information Technology’s latest Advisory, dated November 07, 2023, directs major social media intermediaries to:
– Identify and remove misinformation and deepfakes promptly.
– Prohibit users from publishing such content.
– Take action within specified timeframes outlined in the IT Rules 2021.
Act swiftly in accordance with the IT Rules 2021 and limit access to such content.
- What are the penalties mentioned in sections 67, 67A, and 67B of the IT Act?
Sections 67, 67A, and 67B of the IT Act prohibit and provide penalties for publishing or transmitting obscene material, material containing sexually explicit acts, and sexually explicit depictions of children in electronic form, respectively.
Watson, S.M. (2022) Technology is not neutral, Forrester. Available at: https://www.forrester.com/blogs/technology-is-not-neutral/ (Accessed: 04 August 2024).
Emily A. Vogels, L.R. and J.A. (2020) 5. tech causes more problems than it solves, Pew Research Center. Available at: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/06/30/tech-causes-more-problems-than-it-solves/ (Accessed: 04 August 2024).
Anderson, J. (2018a) 3. Concerns about the future of people’s well-being, Pew Research Center. Available at: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/04/17/concerns-about-the-future-of-peoples-well-being/ (Accessed: 04 August 2024).
