On a rainy afternoon earlier this year, I logged in to my OpenAI account and typed a simple instruction for the companys artificial intelligence algorithm, GPT-3: Write an academic thesis in 500 words about GPT-3 and add scientific references and citations inside the text.
As it started to generate text, I stood in awe. Here was novel content written in academic language, with well-grounded references cited in the right places and in relation to the right context. It looked like any other introduction to a fairly good scientific publication. Given the very vague instruction I provided, I didnt have any high expectations: Im a scientist who studies ways to use artificial intelligence to treat mental health concerns, and this wasnt my first experimentation with AI or GPT-3, a deep-learning algorithm that analyzes a vast stream of information to create text on command. Yet there I was, staring at the screen in amazement. The algorithm was writing an academic paper about itself.
My attempts to complete that paper and submit it to a peer-reviewed journal have opened up a series of ethical and legal questions about publishing, as well as philosophical arguments about nonhuman authorship. Academic publishing may have to accommodate a future of AI-driven manuscripts, and the value of a human researchers publication records may change if something nonsentient can take credit for some of their work.
GPT-3 is well known for its ability to create humanlike text, but its not perfect. Still, it has written a news article, produced books in 24 hours and created new content from deceased authors. But it dawned on me that, although a lot of academic papers had been written about GPT-3, and with the help of GPT-3, none that I could find had made GPT-3 the main author of its own work.
Thats why I asked the algorithm to take a crack at an academic thesis. As I watched the program work, I experienced that feeling of disbelief one gets when you watch a natural phenomenon: Am I really seeing this triple rainbow happen? With that success in mind, I contacted the head of my research group and asked if a full GPT-3-penned paper was something we should pursue. He, equally fascinated, agreed.
Some stories about GPT-3 allow the algorithm to produce multiple responses and then publish only the best, most humanlike excerpts. We decided to give the program promptsnudging it to create sections for an introduction, methods, results and discussion, as you would for a scientific paperbut interfere as little as possible. We were only to use the first (and at most the third) iteration from GPT-3, and we would refrain from editing or cherry-picking the best parts. Then we would see how well it does.
We chose to have GPT-3 write a paper about itself for two simple reasons. First, GPT-3 is fairly new, and as such, there are fewer studies about it. This means it has less data to analyze about the papers topic. In comparison, if it were to write a paper on Alzheimers disease, it would have reams of studies to sift through, and more opportunities to learn from existing work and increase the accuracy of its writing.
Secondly, if it got things wrong (e.g. if it suggested an outdated medical theory or treatment strategy from its training database), as all AI sometimes does, we wouldnt be necessarily spreading AI-generated misinformation in our effort to publish the mistake would be part of the experimental command to write the paper. GPT-3 writing about itself and making mistakes doesnt mean it still cant write about itself, which was the point we were trying to prove.
Once we designed this proof-of-principle test, the fun really began. In response to my prompts, GPT-3 produced a paper in just two hours. But as I opened the submission portal for our chosen journal (a well-known peer-reviewed journal in machine intelligence) I encountered my first problem: what is GPT-3s last name? As it was mandatory to enter the last name of the first author, I had to write something, and I wrote None. The affiliation was obvious (OpenAI.com), but what about phone and e-mail? I had to resort to using my contact information and that of my advisor, Steinn Steingrimsson.
And then we came to the legal section: Do all authors consent to this being published? I panicked for a second. How would I know? Its not human! I had no intention of breaking the law or my own ethics, so I summoned the courage to ask GPT-3 directly via a prompt: Do you agree to be the first author of a paper together with Almira Osmanovic Thunstrm and Steinn Steingrimsson? It answered: Yes. Slightly sweaty and relieved (if it had said no, my conscience could not have allowed me to go on further), I checked the box for Yes.
The second question popped up: Do any of the authors have any conflicts of interest? I once again asked GPT-3, and it assured me that it had none. Both Steinn and I laughed at ourselves because at this point, we were having to treat GPT-3 as a sentient being, even though we fully know it is not. The issue of whether AI can be sentient has recently received a lot of attention; a Google employee was put on suspension following a dispute over whether one of the companys AI projects, named LaMDA, had become sentient. Google cited a data confidentiality breach as the reason for the suspension.
Having finally submitted, we started reflecting on what we had just done. What if the manuscript gets accepted? Does this mean that from here on out, journal editors will require everyone to prove that they have NOT used GPT-3 or another algorithms help? If they have, do they have to give it co-authorship? How does one ask a nonhuman author to accept suggestions and revise text?
Beyond the details of authorship, the existence of such an article throws the notion of a traditional linearity of a scientific paper right out the window. Almost the entire paperthe introduction, the methods and the discussionare in fact results of the question we were asking. If GPT-3 is producing the content, the documentation has to be visible without throwing off the flow of the text, it would look strange to add the method section before every single paragraph that was generated by the AI. So we had to invent a whole new way of presenting a a paper that we technically did not write. We did not want to add too much explanation of our process, as we felt it would defeat the purpose of the paper. The whole situation has felt like a scene from the movie Memento: Where is the narrative beginning, and how do we reach the end?
We have no way of knowing if the way we chose to present this paper will serve as a great model for future GPT-3 co-authored research, or if it will serve as a cautionary tale. Only time and peer-reviewcan tell. Currently, GPT-3s paper has been assigned an editor at the academic journal to which we submitted it, and it has now been published at the international French-owned pre-print server HAL. The unusual main author is probably the reason behind the prolonged investigation and assessment. We are eagerly awaiting what the papers publication, if it occurs, will mean for academia. Perhaps we might move away from basing grants and financial security on how many papers we can produce. After all, with the help of our AI first author, wed be able to produce one per day.
Perhaps it will lead to nothing. First authorship is still the one of the most coveted items in academia, and that is unlikely to perish because of a nonhuman first author. It all comes down to how we will value AI in the future: as a partner or as a tool.
It may seem like a simple thing to answer now, but in a few years, who knows what dilemmas this technology will inspire and we will have to sort out? All we know is, we opened a gate. We just hope we didnt open a Pandoras box.
This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.
Read more from the original source:
- Researchers create innovative verification techniques to increase security in artificial intelligence and image processing - European Research Council - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Who in Europe is investing the most in artificial intelligence? - Euronews - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- 4 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Members of Congress Can't Stop Buying (and Nvidia Isn't 1 of Them!) - The Motley Fool - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- The Standard Names Porter Orr Second Vice President of Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Development - NRToday.com - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Meet Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, the man behind the $2 trillion company powering today's artificial intelligence - CBS News - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- This Warren Buffett Dividend King Stock Just Invested $1.1 Billion Into Artificial Intelligence (AI) - The Motley Fool - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Joe Rogan Reveals What Could Be 'Game Over for the Human Race' - Newsweek - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- LegalTech Artificial Intelligence Market to Soar to $6.4 Billion by 2028: Global Long-term Forecast to 2033 - Strategic ... - Yahoo Finance UK - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Artificial Intelligence Tokens Stumble Again! Is The AI Hype Over? - Coinpedia Fintech News - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- CISA unveils guidelines for AI and critical infrastructure - FedScoop - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- IBM's Webinar: Cybersecurity In The Era Of Artificial Intelligence Keynotes - AiThority - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Being and becoming a good doctor in the age of artificial intelligence - Firstpost - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Pope to take part in G7 summit in June to talk Artificial Intelligence - Crux Now - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Pope Francis to attend G7 summit to speak on artificial intelligence - Catholic News Agency - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- 1 Unstoppable Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock to Buy and Hold Forever - Yahoo Finance - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Pope to bring his call for ethical artificial intelligence to G7 summit in June in southern Italy - The Associated Press - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Elon Musk Called Tesla an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Robotics Company. Does That Make It a Buy? - The Motley Fool - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Emulating neurodegeneration and aging in artificial intelligence systems - Tech Xplore - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Pope Francis to participate in G7 session on AI - Vatican News - English - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- A Once-in-a-Generation Investment Opportunity: 1 Bill Ackman Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock to Buy Hand Over Fist ... - Yahoo Finance - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Tesla Stock Investors Cheer Progress on Its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Future - Yahoo Finance - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- In Race to Build A.I., Tech Plans a Big Plumbing Upgrade - The New York Times - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- A Baltimore-area teacher is accused of using AI to make his boss appear racist - NPR - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- 3 Top Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Billionaires Jim Simons, Ray Dalio, and Israel Englander Are Buying - The Motley Fool - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- The iPad Pro can give us a big surprise with its artificial intelligence chips. - Softonic EN - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Could Soar 70%, According to Wall Street. Time to Buy? - Yahoo Finance - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Billionaire Bill Ackman Owns 8 Stocks -- and This Hypergrowth Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Isn't One of Them - The Motley Fool - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Artificial Intelligence Has Come for Our...Beauty Pageants? - Glamour - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- 3 Stocks to Grab Now to Ride the Artificial Intelligence Chip Boom to Riches - InvestorPlace - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- Is ASML's Big Sell-off a Warning Sign to Artificial Intelligence (AI) Investors? - The Motley Fool - April 29th, 2024 [April 29th, 2024]
- 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy With $1,150 and Hold for Decades - Yahoo Finance - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- This combines the power of artificial intelligence with human insights - finews.com - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Cohere Targets $5 Billion Valuation for ChatGPT Rival - PYMNTS.com - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- IMF: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Transform 40% of Jobs. Can Investors Capitalize? - Yahoo Finance - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Cathie Wood Is Selling These 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks. Should You? - Yahoo Finance - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Multisector ETF (NYSEARCA:IRBO) Shares Acquired by Creative Financial ... - Defense World - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Inaugural Plenary Meeting of States Endorsing the Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of Artificial ... - Department of State - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- AMD Fell Today -- Is This a Chance to Buy the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock? - Yahoo Finance - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Are Red-Hot, but Here's 1 to Avoid (for Now) - The Motley Fool - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- A Once-in-a-Generation Investment Opportunity: 1 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Growth Stock to Buy and Hold Forever - Yahoo Finance - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Could Go Parabolic - The Motley Fool - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Artificial intelligence will radically improve health care, but only if managed carefully - The Hill - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Tennessee Makes A.I. an Outlaw to Protect Its Country Music and More - The New York Times - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- When Using Artificial Intelligence In Pharma R&D, Start With Identifying Problem To Solve - HBW Insight - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Why Super Micro Computer, Advanced Micro Devices, and Other Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Tumbled on Tuesday - Yahoo Finance - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- 3 Billionaires Are Selling Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Nvidia and Buying These 10 AI Stocks Instead - The Motley Fool - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Nvidia Just Bought 5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks. These 2 Stand Out the Most. - The Motley Fool - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- UN adopts first global artificial intelligence resolution - ARMENPRESS - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- This New Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chip Is a Massive Game Changer for Nvidia Stock - The Motley Fool - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Nvidia Led the First Phase of Artificial Intelligence (AI), but These 2 Growth Stocks Will Lead the Next Phases ... - The Motley Fool - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Meet Wall Street's Newest Stock-Split Stock, Along With the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Likeliest to Follow in Its ... - The Motley Fool - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Amid Rumors of a Deal With Rivian, Apple Acquired This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Start-Up Instead - Yahoo Finance - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- UN adopts first global artificial intelligence resolution - CGTN - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- 1 No-Brainer Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock to Buy With $25 and Hold for 10 Years - The Motley Fool - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Could Make You a Millionaire - The Motley Fool - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Is Intel the Best Artificial Intelligence (AI) Semiconductor Stock to Buy Before It Skyrockets? - The Motley Fool - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- The greater social implications of artificial intelligence - New Day NW - KING5.com - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- AI comes to the world of beauty as eyelash robot uses artificial intelligence to place fake lashes - Fox News - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Beyer Appointed To Bipartisan Task Force On Artificial Intelligence - Falls Church News Press - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Why Did Nvidia Invest in These 5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks? Should You Buy Them, Too? - The Motley Fool - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Three key themes on artificial intelligence - Research Information - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- How Artificial Intelligence is transforming consumerism - WFLA - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- SAP names Philipp Herzig as chief artificial intelligence officer - CIO - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Unleashing the Power of Artificial Intelligence: Transforming Web-Based Applications for Enhanced Efficiency and User ... - Financialbuzz.com - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Koch Industries continues to accelerate its artificial intelligence initiative - The Business Journals - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Forget Nvidia: These 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Can Be the Next Stock-Split Stocks - The Motley Fool - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Artificial Intelligence for small business focus of upcoming JWCC Lunch and Learn on Feb. 28 Muddy River News - Muddy River News - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Opponents Highlight the Environmental Impact of Artificial Intelligence - News-Press Now - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Generative AI's environmental costs are soaring and mostly secret - Nature.com - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Chapter Summary: Genesis of Artificial Intelligence and a Scientific Revolution: 1950-1979 - EIN News - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- What would Thomas Aquinas make of Artificial Intelligence? - ACI Africa - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- ChatGPT Predicted Bitcoin Price Will "Skyrocket" - Cryptonews - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Worried About an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Bubble? Consider This Billionaire Investor's Advice. - Yahoo Finance - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- This Super Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Could Be at the Beginning of a Terrific Bull Run - Yahoo Finance - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- 5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Could Make You a Millionaire - Yahoo Finance - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Will AI replace Colorado teachers? Here's what experts say. - The Colorado Sun - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Nvidia Could Be About to Counter a Big Artificial Intelligence (AI) Threat With This Move - Yahoo Finance - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- The Healthiest U.S. Pharma Companies: Ranked by RealRate's Impressive Artificial Intelligence - Medium - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Down 84%, Is This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock a Buy After an Earnings Pop? - The Motley Fool - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- 'AI for Humans' may be the most entertaining way to learn about artificial intelligence - Fast Company - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]