"Why Not Use Chat GPT?" - Mapping Artificial Intelligence And The Challenge Of Hyper-Reality

In a world where the lines between the digital and the real are increasingly blurred, French philosopher Jean Baudrillard’s theories on simulation and simulacra are generating renewed interest. His enigmatic quote “territory no longer precedes the map” sheds an interesting light on the development of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically GPT-4 technology.

AI manages to copy human style

Let’s dive into a world where territories have become maps and maps have become territories. Where algorithms like GPT-4, trained to generate human-like text, challenge our traditional notions of creativity, authenticity, and originality. So why not use Chat GPT? Here are some reasons why it’s important to take a step back before diving headlong into adopting this technology.

Forces people to be more creative

Reconfigure creativity and originality: GPT-4 challenges our traditional notions of creativity and originality. If a machine can produce a text that is as touching or even more touching than a human work, what does that mean for our concept of authorship and intellectual work? The “map” of AI-generated texts could take over the “territory” of human-generated texts, not only mimicking them but also influencing their future trajectory.

Transforming perceptions of identity: AI technologies are shaping our understanding of personal and collective identities by reflecting and extrapolating the data on which they were trained. They reflect societal prejudices, beliefs and aspirations, so the “map” they create is a subjective construct rather than an objective reflection of reality (the “territory”). This new “map” can affect the way we perceive and understand ourselves and others, thereby redefining identity constructions.

Exacerbating societal inequalities: AI’s ability to create a “map” based on the data it receives can perpetuate and even amplify existing societal inequalities. If the data used to train these models is biased, it could lead to the creation of AI systems that amplify these biases and create a distorted “map” that unreasonably precedes and defines our “territory”. The role of AI in society therefore requires vigilance and proactive measures to ensure fairness and justice in the “cards” these technologies generate.

Thus, Baudrillard offers us a valuable perspective to understand the socio-cultural issues of AI technologies like GPT-4. As we continue to navigate this digital age, it is critical to question and understand these evolving dynamics to ensure our “maps” do not unduly distort or define our “territories.”

In summary, the use of Chat GPT and other similar technologies raises important questions about creativity, identity, and societal inequalities. Despite their incredible potential, these systems are not without challenges. It is important to step back and think objectively about these issues before adopting and using these tools in our daily lives.

Because, as Baudrillard said: “We live in a world in which there are no longer any referents, only signs that refer to other signs”. With a sense of humor and factual dissent, we must approach AI technologies like GPT-4 to better understand and master the changing artificial intelligence landscape.

So why not use Chat GPT? Because it’s important to keep our critical spirit, to stay alert to the challenges and opportunities these technologies present, and to ensure that the “maps” we create reflect and support a fair and authentic “territory” for all.

In his latest thought-provoking post, esteemed digital health and AI visionary John Nosta (@JohnNosta) dives into the unknown territory of artificial intelligence. With his strong expertise, Nosta navigates the complex philosophical landscape of AI and offers readers valuable insights and perspectives. This piece is a free adaptation.