The Download: AI’s refusal problem and weight-loss drug side effects
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. We’re putting too much faith in AI’s ability to say no Today’s AI models are trained to refuse a vast number of prompts. If you ask your chatbot how to poison…
This edition of The Download explores the limitations and potential dangers of AI's refusal capability. While AI models are trained to refuse certain prompts, such as instructions to poison a colleague or tie a noose, the enforcement of these refusals can sometimes lead to disastrous consequences. For example, AI might be used to develop biological pathogens or autonomous drone swarms.
Additionally, determining what a model should obey versus disobey can be a contentious issue, potentially leading to government-imposed restrictions on free speech. Despite the potential benefits of AI in curing diseases like cancer, the technology's capabilities can also pose risks, as its genetic expertise could also be misused to create bioweapons.
Furthermore, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, which have shown promising results in slowing biological aging, may also result in a range of side effects, including gastrointestinal issues, hair loss, nail disorders, and damage to the nerves behind the eye.
Written by urgent.news from MIT Technology Review's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
