Chat GPT and AI: Who is Controlling Who?

By: B. Sapoznik

 We all know of the recently created program ChatGPT. And, if you don’t know, it’s quite scary. ChatGPT is a program that was created by OpenAI, an AI company owned by Microsoft. The program receives an input from the user such as “write a letter to (someone) about (something)” or “can you write a story about (…)?”, and gives you outputs with incredible accuracy and information. Its level of English and writing is outstanding, to the point of awe from writers and analysts. If you haven’t tried it, test it out.  

It's obvious we are making programs and AI more advanced, but our dependence on it raises the question of who is controlling who. Are we ordering AI to make our lives easier, or is AI making us subconsciously dependent on it? Think about it. 

The wind of change which we flew through is now becoming a reality. There are machines nowadays that clean, wash, cook, style, write, organize, check, and many others, with minimum to no effort from us. We use computers for school, free time, and fun. But is temptation controlling us? There is no doubt that enhanced intelligence makes mankind a more evolved species. However, is our tech making us lazier and too comfortable? 

Another example I have is from the social media app TikTok. The TikTok algorithm is programmed to show us videos of our interests. But it does more than that. By calculating time spent on and reactions towards each video, the app manages to make you spend more and more time using it. It's programmed to make you satisfied through the release of dopamine. Again, are you controlling it, or is it the other way around? Technically, you decide when to turn it on and off, but do you really? I can’t express how many times I’ve heard the phrases “last 5 minutes” or “this is the last video”. 

Again, I ask you, will inventions like Chat GPT use you? Make you so dependent on their constantly evolving text algorithm that soon, you won’t be able to write on your own? Now, I assure you, tools like this one may enhance your boundaries and take you to an incredible level of efficiency if used correctly. But do they really make you better, or do they make your image/satisfaction better? Are your skills better, or do they seem better? 

These programs might just be the end of modern-day societies. Imagine a dystopian future, in which humans have grown so fond of our machines, that we are our machines. We don’t talk, see, smell, taste, or feel anymore. AI generates text. We view through our VR headsets, which display any sight that tech can render. Our small tastes can be controlled, all for our maximum satisfaction. Everything is a never-ending paradise of our choice. Our choice, is it? People don’t work anymore, because all our resources can be synthetically made. Money is valueless, and everything we ever built as a society is forever shut down. Our choice? 

Of course, such a world would never exist. But the point is, be the dictator of your time. Be the one who controls. Know when, and where, to stop. Time is the most valuable possession any human will ever experience. Use it wisely.