AI REGULATION SERIES - II

I began on the first point - Excellence in AI and Safety and Effectiveness (See Sep 30th)

This week I move on to my favorite topic.

Algorithmic Discrimination

I already have quite a few posts on this issue. I began with - AI & Food Consumption where I wrote about how AI could reshape healthcare as we know it. Then there's the bit about Dust Bunnies which while currently a common issue, has the potential for harm if unregulated. I followed that up with this write-up about the superficiality of AI in Writing World no matter how well Chat GPT may be able to copy a copy, titled - Robots .

There's a lot more on that website - AI Archives (Hover over the “M” on top for all archived posts) .

The White Paper

The white paper delves into this issue on Page 3. That page begins with the listing of “Two kind of risks which exist in AI-based applications” and Risks to Fundamental Rights is the first one. .

THIS IS BIG

For someone in tech, or governing it, to state in bold letters that a robot or a computer could end up compromising an individual's fundamental rights hints at the seriousness of the whole thing. We have had a million scientific breakthroughs so far including cloning. This is the first time there's the fear of basic rights being infringed.

Here is a list of specific rights this White Paper warns may be infringed chiefly thanks to human oversight or the use of biased inputs when designing A.I. applications/systems-

• a) Freedom of Expression
• b) Freedom of Assembly
• c) Human Dignity
• d) Non-discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, and even disabilities! Also non-discrimination based on age or sexual orientation.
• e) Protection of Private Data (This is a labyrinth)
• f) Right to effective judicial remedy
• g) Right to a fair trial, and
• h) Consumer Protection

A.I. Bill of Rights

This document seeks to protect individuals from bias thanks to badly coded algorithms.

“Systems should be used and designed in an equitable way” .

The Bill suggests that one way this could be achieved is by using "representative data" when designing A.I. systems.

This pretty much reiterates the points in the White Paper. The above list can be reproduced here and the following added -

• i) national origin,
• j) veteran status, and
• k) genetic information

Personally, I would like to go ahead and add “PERSONAL ANIMOSITY” to this list.

This is when we need to keep an eye on that. Enmity between individuals exists. That is a fact. That few know anything about algorithms is also a fact. The strength in numbers is lost, and there is no specific wording in the constitution to cover this. As the gap widens between those in the know and those that aren't in the small group of genius coders, the potential to harm any one individual like in that movie, “The Net” (Sandra Bullock) only grows. This is also a fact. This is not paranoia.

For example, any one user on X say could end up in a corner thanks to how any single word (or more) in her/his profile has been, unknown to said user, “specially flagged” or somehow “bypasses” algorithmic equality at random. I base this on tweets/posts about such things. Like the feeling that they are not “seen”. Where does that come from? That is not that person's normal, and they sense it. They feel different online. Sometimes, it is about how algorithms are levelling the playing field, and sometimes it is quite another story.

The Bill goes on to say that “plain language reporting in the form of an algorithmic impact assessment…” is a must.

To conclude - A.I. can harm your fundamental rights, it has that potential. We need regulation to prevent that. Now is the time to work in your wants and needs into these proposals for a future law.

Currently Streaming

Many of you may know me from Quora where I post regularly on the topic of TV Shows. I call myself a binger of sitcoms. I used to have a blog earlier making lists of various things TV related from “Ten Best Sitcom Idiots” to “Ten Best Sitcom Geniuses” and so on.

(Yeah, I rarely do kiddy stuff like “Ten best << enter genre >> Shows")

Last year, I got locked out of my Facebook account and lost access to my blog. I just sort of drifted into this thing here. I am seriously thinking about reinstalling that here.

I had, despite my boastful claim to being a binger, forgotten all about that delightful classic “Moonlighting”. This is one of those sitcoms I watched with family at home in India. Thanks to HULU am streaming this again, much to my delight, even while nursing depression over what is going on with the star of that show, the superstar of Hollywood, the star with a billion and more Die-Hard fans - Bruce Willis. Hope he recovers, or is at least able to handle his ailments. Prayers for his family.

A little unknown fact - my hometown back then, Jamshedpur, was at the time the largest community in Asia connected by a single cable network. I think, maybe, perhaps, this fact made it into the Guiness Book of World Records. The cables laid down just for this, and overnight the town went from one channel to a million…okay, about 50 or so. This was in the early 90’s.

And all of it was/is Rupert Murdoch's. In India it is called “Star TV”.

On Star TV back then we got shows from

• a) The U.K. (BBC et. al)
• b) The USA (all networks) and
c) Australia

I am still looking for this offbeat British comedy I recall, titled “Rich Tea and Sympathy”. I couldn't find it online.

Other shows including the famous Australian Soap “Neighbors” and Talk Shows like Oprah and Donaghue -

• a) M.A.S.H. (my favorite at the time)
• b) Ellen
• c) Newhart

To name a few.

I was only into the second season of Moonlighting when I had to leave my hometown. I moved to Bangalore for a job opportunity. Housing with a few colleagues, I had no access to a TV set let alone cable. And now, I am finally catching up.

What is striking about this workplace comedy set around a detective agency called “Blue Moon Detective Agency”, is the lack of a fixed format. Also, there is no pre-defined fixed role for most of the characters. Everyone blends in or, at times, stands out. The comedy seems today as fresh as anything, and yet there's the sense that much of it was improv as was the bickering banter between the leads.

Some episodes are better than others though, and there's that lack of consistency again.

The unique format where the characters sometimes talk about the episodes they are in, addressing the audience directly, has never been done before (or after) as far as I know. This does not cut into the experience in any way. One of the problems that writers and authors face is this thing where fictional characters sneak into reality and become larger than life. They come to haunt the writers, even years after, and from unexpected places inexplicably navigating vast expanses. This gimmick of addressing the audience was, I bet, an experiment to contain that ado.

I hope it worked.

As always (?), exercise caution when picking a TV Show to watch. Not all shows are for everyone.

Happy streaming!

AI REGULATION SERIES - III

YOU COMMUNICATE YOUR CONCERNS AND YOU GET WHAT YOU ASK FOR?

Well, this is new.

Am going to take a breather from elucidation this week while I put together a catalog of sorts of the happenings in the area of AI Regulation between my most recent relevant post and now. For starters, an A.I. event in the U.K. Held the week ending November 5th, at Bletchley Park, it was the world's first Global A.I. Summit ever - A.I. SAFETY SUMMIT.

What Happened?

Here is a nice summary - A.I. Safety Summit Summed Up The discussion is on!

First, the rush of articles covering this event were all quick to surmise that this was an AI “Safety” Summit. This article from Nasdaq by Reuters AI Summit a Start But Global Agreement a Distant Hope   spares no punches and dismisses most of it as hoopla and drama while doubting everybody's intentions. Here's an excerpt - “While projecting an image of unity, attendees said the three main power blocs in attendance - the U.S., the EU, and China - tried to assert their dominance.” Does that say it all? Keep an open mind. Everybody is new to this, and we are all learning. Right?

There's a lovely interview floating around on X, a conversation between P.M. Rishi Sunak and X's Elon Musk. The PM discusses the potential of AI in education, and Musk throws around ideas for the underdiscussed topic of “basic minimum income” (among other things). “It will be basic maximum…”(?) whatever that means… (let me see if I can link that here. X is like a planet of its own right now.)

When it comes to safety the focus hovers on developers in the domain. Open A.I. as it turns out is not as open as anyone would like. Closed door discussions on that make that all that more mysterious. This is the chief area of concern. I wouldn't put a rush on that. First comes regulation. Opening it up should be the second item on the agenda. You don't build a theme park and immediately let everyone in. You print tickets and you print the rules on the back!

Well. Some part of my brain has been working overtime on this issue, like screaming like over a deep unfathomable fear that has taken hold, like it is all up to me! Just doing my bit. As is the Biden-Harris administration, I think. Close on the heels of the U.K. A.I. “Safety” Summit, the Biden-Harris Admin announced extra stringent measures to ensure “A.I. Safety”. Biden-Harris A.I. Fact Sheet

Are we sure this attention is enough? Or maybe there's too much attention right now? I don't know. I will keep posting here about the human aspects of dealing with the advent of A.I. and the psychological journey ahead and what that feels like. Thank you for reading.

Before you go, here's a little treat - “The Best Chat GPT Plugins for Content Developers” (Had to sort through 75 emails in my inbox to unearth this little gem, so don't assume I didn't contribute.)

On Imagination

As a fan of bedtime stories, I used to make up many. One that stuck with my son and became his favorite was titled, “Umbrella Man”. I created “Umbrella Man” as a magical being who appeared out of nowhere with an umbrella for whoever needed one.

It's suddenly pouring and you've forgotten your umbrella? Here's umbrella man. You've wandered around and ended up in a desert? Here's umbrella man. Night after night I crafted a new tale making Umbrella Man seem essential for the smooth functioning of the universe. Children eventually get curious about how "that story got made". I knew exactly how.

I wanted him to take off that spiderman costume. I had to make up a story about a cooler, more functional, superhero who would fit into the comic book fabric just as easily…even if only clothed like a normal adult. Telling him the truth would have been contradictory to this goal, which by the way I did manage to attain, so I made up yet another tale. That's, believe it or not, out of scope for this article.

Over the years, about writing fiction in general, many have asked me this question. Where did you get that idea from? How did this even occur to you? This was to be expected. Star Wars - No one is ever satisfied with the answer to, "How did he come up with that?". That's when I learnt that there are, incredible as it seems, people who doubt the very existence of "imagination".

Look at the answer above. That answer isn't complete for the person seeking the concept of imagination. The next question would be, “Okay, so you wanted to divert his attention away from Spiderman, but why this one? Umbrella Man?”

“Isn't it funny? Does it not make you want to know more?”

“That's not what I asked.”

I'll admit I used to find these questions annoying. I just couldn't understand where this poser was coming from. “What do you mean? What is it you want to know? It's called imagination.”

“Yes, but what is this thing called imagination?”

Frankly, I would just walk away or say something like, “Check the dictionary”, or worse - “When someone gets angry with someone else, they get ideas for what to do to that someone else, and that's how it works. Imagination.” Flippant answers make men sad, especially when it comes from women.

One can get increasingly philosophical on this topic of the boundaries of the human mind. The brain is unlimited in its capacity, blah, blah. Any human has about 98% of untapped brain cells, blah blah…but only a few can answer perhaps exactly what brain cells are used and where those untapped cells reside within the cranium.

The concept of Umbrella Man, like all other ideas for fiction, just popped in.

“Groan. I don't get that. How did it just pop in?” (Yeah, he was groaning. I was having a gala time.)

I keep learning. I learnt that humans are all wired differently, and that it is often impossible for one to glean the other's internal circuit system.

“So I was focusing on how so many of us complain about the same thing. We disvover that we aren't carrying an umbrella especially when we need one. Furthermore, we all even seem to carry one around only when we don't need one. This seems like some kind of collective punishment on the human race by a higher power, don't you think? I figured, if we need a Superman to tackle the other world baddies that show up here, and a Spiderman for similar reasons, we could use “Umbrella Man”. “

This is closer to what the answer is. This satisfies that person wondering about how the idea came about. Once I got there, I got all excited. I went on and on until he actually asked me to stop talking.

“Ah, so it didn't in fact pop in. You were nursing a grouse about a very valid thing that much of the populace is plagued by. And you figured this out.”

“That's imagination. That is it.”

“That's a kind of problem solving. But okay.”

I really had to figure this out! It bothered me that I couldn't describe a thing to a person who was keen and eager to learn from the only person he assumed could help - a writer. Writers throw that word around a lot. Imagination. But seriously describing the whole process for someone, maybe like A.I. or no wait, okay, there are real humans who need that answer…is not easy. OR is it?

I haven't come across any writing on this concept yet, an essay, a poem, a monologue, nothing.

Then, came this one from a persistent gnat - “About problem solving. I used to work in pairs with a colleague. You see with hypotheticals we have the null and the other one. So we'd each take one…then meet at the end with…”

“Hell…O…let me stop you right there. Imagination is not like solving a statistical problem. In fact, never ever make that empirical and precise, even within a range, no matter how wide a range!”

“What I mean is. Whatever thought occurs to you, that's yours. How does it also occur to another sometimes? Is imagination a shared kitty with limited resources?”

“That's a whole other topic. But you know what, I finally understand how you think. You poor thing. You have no idea how some of us wander about across the expanse with just our minds do you? You look at what is right in front of you, and you never budge. That is enough. And that is why, you cannot understand how we exist like we do.”

“Wander about? With your mind? What if you get lost?”

So there it was. The whole problem. At least that is what I assume. To make sure no one does a hypothetical as a single idea as opposed to the other one that is the opposite like with a statistical problem, or the one or the zero like with machine language, especially when brainstorming fiction…there is just one thing I could come up with as advice - “Don't overthink this.” Ouch!! I had to bite my tongue. Didn't I just say wander about the expanse. Wander away with your mind? Okay rephrasing…

“Clear your mind. Not a single thought. Are we there?” Of course not. While it is impossible to get lost wandering, yeah, it is easier to get lost browsing the internet, it is also impossible to clear your mind of all thought. I am not an expert on this, but the reason I came up with is this - We are all aways tethered to something. There's that metaphorical gravity that matches the real-world concept of gravity. If we come untethered, we court insanity. (Writer acknowledges that other possibilities exist based on the belief that humans are eternally dynamic. Also, insanity may also result from staying tethered to an entity, alive or dead, long after its own dispersion.)

“No. That's like really hard.”

“I knew you'd say that. What are you thinking about?” You see, when we try to clear our minds, we focus more on every single thought in there. One time, during this meditation exercise I realized I had a persistent thought buried deep in my memory about an obscure thing that happened ages ago. I had no idea I was lingering there, or why. It's like finding that shirt in your closet that you never wear, and yet never throw away. Sometimes that comes into focus and surprises you. “Why is it here? It has been ages since I wore that one. I don't even like it. Well, anyway. Forget about that.” But it is still there. Picture this from the POV of a mind reader say, or something like A.I. just figuring you out from the things in your closet. What would it imagine you are? But this is a discussion for another time.

“I don't know. Maybe a new boat. Fancy.”

“Chuck that thought away. No wandering. Stick to what you know.”

“I know how to sail.”

“Are you not going to clear your mind?”

“Sailing is fun. One time…I caught a fish. This big…”

“Did you?”

“No, yes. This big…”

“And then what happened?”

And thus a story is born.