What caused the godfather of artificial intelligence, Geoffrey Hinton – or “the Gandalf of AI” as he is affectionately known to some – to leave Google and warn us mere mortals of the dangers ahead via his Harry Potter fanfiction? A pioneer within the field, he saw the future and, at least for him, it looks like a nightmare scenario, where artificial intelligence begins to seek power – eventually taking over. Strictly speaking, we’ll never truly know what he saw and with the pace of AI development, Hinton himself may even be compelled to rewrite his AI ending in years to come.
While the world of Harry Potter may be new terrain for such apocalyptic visions, we have explored what an AI-generated future might look like for decades, in books, films, art and fashion. Whether it’s because of Hinton’s headline warning or the Hollywood writers’ strike, of late the sci-fi fantasy (a nightmare to many) has started to feel all too real.
To accelerationists (who believe that technology and capitalism should be sped up and intensified to move humanity forward), tech enthusiasts and those simply looking to outsource labour tasks via time-saving programs such as ChatGTP, Midjourney and Runway, this marks an exciting shift into the mainstream for AI. But to other more cautious parts of the AI community and beyond, its rapid and fairly unregulated advance makes the technology a threat to life as we know it. Be it the larger ethical implications (such as destabilising democracy or taking away our autonomy as humans) or the more immediate threat to our jobs, generative AI has infiltrated our existence, arguably, without invitation and for many people – creatives in particular – this latest revolution requires careful consideration.
For fashion, this has meant positioning AI as a tool to use in collaboration with the human creativity, craft and skill at the heart of the industry. It has recognised that technology has the potential to push fashion forward, in terms not only of productivity but also of creativity and sustainability. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, “in the next three to five years, generative AI could add $150bn, conservatively, and up to $275bn to the apparel, fashion and luxury sectors’ operating profits… From co-designing to speeding content development processes, generative AI creates new space for creativity.” This means, with the right application, AI can be used within fashion to better serve businesses, designers, customers and most importantly, the planet. AI-generated designs offer creative innovation and less production, while AI algorithms are able to predict fashion trends and demand for products based on vast amounts of data. From sample-less collections to improved inventory management, the technology can help reduce fashion’s waste problem by enabling it to work smarter.
Such AI-driven advancements mean jobs within this industry, like most, will inevitably evolve, but crucially here the value of human creativity and physical craft is already being established as fashion sets out its terms for embracing the technology.
Elsewhere, the integration of AI hasn’t been approached with such respect for human skill, resulting in workers in many sectors striking. In Hollywood, technologically driven change within the industry is seen as not only unfair to employees but as a threat to creativity, intellectual property and crucially jobs. Heads of major studios and streamers find themselves at the negotiating table with their creative workforce. Writers’ unions have been joined by SAG-AFTRA – a union representing more than 160,000 television and film actors, voice artists and other entertainment professionals – meaning that Hollywood actors and writers have stopped work simultaneously for the first time since 1960. While it appears too late to halt the application of AI within Hollywood, setting parameters for its use and ensuring workers’ rights have become paramount. Just as people have been empowered by coming together in previous revolutions, unions will be on the frontline of the fight for the fair and ethical employment of AI in our professional lives. If you aren’t in a union, now is the time to join one.
The speed at which AI is advancing is what makes it simultaneously exciting and terrifying. According to those working within the community, in the last few years a race to release a mass-market product propelled by the likes of Microsoft (co-owners of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGTP) and Google (Google AI, DeepMind and Bard, its answer to ChatGTP) has created what is being quietly described by insiders as a cold war atmosphere, an Oppenheimer-esque race to the forefront of AI with the ethical implications of the technology taking a backseat. There are some safety rails within the industry. The AI alignment community focuses on ensuring that AI systems are developed and deployed in a way that lines up with human values and goals. Essentially, the alignment problem is how do you get a superintelligent AI to do what you want and not do dangerous or unethical things; how do you make sure it doesn’t disempower people or disenfranchise people?
In July 2023 Bill Gates wrote, “In the next few years, the main impact of AI on work will be to help people do their jobs more efficiently. That will be true whether they work in a factory or in an office handling sales calls and accounts payable. Eventually, AI will be good enough at expressing ideas that it will be able to write your emails and manage your inbox for you.”
Alternatively, there is this unofficial answer to what the future use of AI looks like from my anonymous source from within the community: “AI is most probably just going to take corporate capitalism and supercharge it.” As we try to align with generative AI and all it offers, setting boundaries for its use and harnessing it as a tool for improving the wider world as well as our everyday lives is all we can hope for this unstoppable set of algorithms.
Ask ChatGTP
(ChatGTP responds to prompts rather than questions, but the human urge to converse is far too strong.)
What is AI?
AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. In other words, AI involves creating computer programs or systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, understanding natural language and even making decisions.
What is a deepfake?
A deepfake is a manipulated video or audio created using AI, where one person’s likeness or voice is realistically superimposed onto another person’s, often for deceptive or entertainment purposes.
Is AI bad for creativity?
AI can both aid and challenge creativity. It can inspire, automate tasks, and offer fresh ideas, but there’s a risk of replication and dependency on AI-generated content. The impact depends on how it’s used and balanced with human ingenuity.
Is it too late to stop AI?
It’s not a matter of stopping AI, but rather a question of managing its development, deployment and impact. AI is already deeply integrated into various aspects of our lives, and its potential benefits are vast. However, there are concerns related to ethical, societal and safety issues that need to be addressed.
How can I tell if something is created by AI?
Detecting human vs AI creation can be tricky, but look for signs of unnatural perfection, unusual patterns, logical inconsistencies, lacking emotional nuance, or attribution to known AI tools. However, as AI improves, these distinctions may become less clear.
What is the fourth industrial revolution?
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is a term used to describe the current technological era characterised by the convergence of digital, physical and biological technologies. It involves advancements in areas like artificial intelligence, automation, biotechnology and 3D printing, leading to significant changes in industries, economies and societies. This revolution is transforming the way we live and work, with a focus on connectivity, automation, sustainability and innovation.
More or Less...AI?
I’m sorry, but your question is a bit unclear. Could you please provide more context or clarify what you’re asking about “more or less AI”? Are you referring to a specific aspect of artificial intelligence, its development, capabilities, or something else? I’ll be happy to help once I understand your question better.
