The latest art and text-making artificial intelligence (A.I.) programmes can do astonishing things. Programmes like DALL-E and Midjourney can generate complex images based on simple textual descriptions. Simply describe the image you want to see, and the program will create it. You can also choose the style of your image: watercolour, digital, realistic, minimalist, art nouveau… you name it. Similarly, chatbots like ChatGPT and LaMDA can answer your written prompts and generate human-like text. They are capable of writing descriptions, stories, jokes, poetry, dialogues and computer code, as well as essays on almost any subject. Once more, you have a choice of response styles: formal, simple, old English, pirate slang… the possibilities are endless.
Ethical limitations and dangers
However, there are some limitations. The creators of these tools have programmed them to operate within certain ethical boundaries. When we asked ChatGPT if there was anything it could not write about, it answered: “I cannot generate content that violates ethical or legal guidelines, such as hate speech, violence, or promotion of illegal activities.” You cannot, for example, ask it to be racist or praise fascism. Equally, DALL-E has been programmed not to generate explicitly offensive images. This is crucial, even if these limitations are not foolproof. A.I. tools have been inappropriately used to promote email scams, create fake and biased news, and present falsehoods as facts.
The potential of A.I.
Despite these loopholes and problems, many users are euphoric. People with no artistic skills can create beautiful, detailed works of art. Established artists can easily brainstorm ideas and visualize their visions. People who work in the writing industry can use A.I.s to automate certain tedious writing chores. According to the ChatGPT website, educators have used it profitably for, among other things, “drafting and brainstorming for lesson plans and other activities” and “helping with the design of quiz questions or other exercises.” When questioned, ChatGPT assured us that it can “assist writers in a number of ways, such as generating ideas, providing inspiration, helping with research, and even assisting in the writing process itself.”
The dangers of A.I.
But can this assistance go too far? Many artists are concerned that these tools will reduce demand for human-made art. Some were outraged when Jason Allen’s Midjourney-created artwork won first prize at the Colorado State Fair. The competition was for “digitally manipulated photography”, but Allen’s work was done entirely with the AI programme. Allen, who doesn’t consider himself an artist, later stated in an interview: “Art is dead. It’s over. A.I. won. Humans lost.” However, these image-generating programmes tend to mimic or copy the style and artwork of actual, live artists. This raises the question of whether these programmes violate copyright laws. Chatbots, on the other hand, have the potential to cause havoc in schools and universities. In his article ‘The College Essay Is Dead,’ writer Stephen Marche recalls how the essay has long been at the heart of the humanities, serving as a tool to “teach children how to research, think and write.” What happens now that students could easily get away with having an A.I. write their essays for them?
The unknown future impact of A.I.
The future impact of these new tools is highly uncertain. When we asked ChatGPT whether artists and writers will lose their jobs because of art and text-making A.I. tools, it gave us an optimistic answer. A.I. tools, it said, “cannot fully replicate the creativity, imagination, and artistic vision of human artists and writers [who] bring a unique perspective, emotional depth, and personal experiences to their work.” Is this just flattery, or is it really so? The debate is still open, and it’s best if we humans, rather than machines, consider how to resolve it.
1) Have a look at the artwork produced by the users of DALL-E and Midjourney:
https://www.midjourney.com/showcase/recent/
2) Have a look at some weird conversations one can have with ChatGPT, like asking it to ‘write a biblical verse in the style of the King James Bible explaining how to remove a peanut butter sandwich from a VCR’)
https://www.springboard.com/blog/news/chatgpt-revolution/
3) Here’s an overview of A.I. tools that create art:
https://newsforkids.net/articles/2022/10/12/ai-art-programs-amaze-and-upset/
4) Read this article by writer ‘Walter Kirn’ that explains why A.I. art is not art at all:
https://www.thefp.com/p/there-is-no-such-thing-as-ai-art
5) Read this article on some of the dangers of A.I. tools:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/03/fake-news-chatgpt-truth-journalism-disinformation?ref=upstract.com
1) Read the article and complete the sentences with the correct alternative.
1. If you give Midjourney a textual prompt, it will
a. generate a human-like text.
b. produce a detailed image.
c. produce a very simple, basic image.
2. Chatbots like ChatGPT and LaMDA can generate
a. human-like text on a limited number of subjects.
b. only formal text.
c. text on a wide range of topics.
3. The creators of A.I. tools programmed them to produce content
a. that can violate ethical guidelines.
b. limited by ethical or legal guidelines.
c. of any kind.
4. ChatGPT
a. cannot write a racist piece.
b. can praise violence.
c. can produce fake news.
5. The ethical boundaries of ChatGPT
a. have been bypassed by some users.
b. are infallible.
c. are biased.
6. Non-artists can use programmes like DALL-E
a. to produce pictures and paintings.
b. to brainstorm and design exercises.
c. to automate tedious writing chores.
7. Teachers have used ChatGPT successfully
a. to generate complex images based on simple textual descriptions.
b. to answer written prompts and generate human-like text.
c. to brainstorm for lesson plans and design exercises.
8. Many artists were outraged with Jason Allen because
a. he stated that human art is dead.
b. he won an art competition using Midjourney.
c. he copied the work of some of his colleagues.
9. One of the risks of using ChatGPT in schools is that it could
a. help students research, think and write.
b. disrupt the learning process.
c. prevent students from cheating.
10. ChatGPT believes that A.I. tools
a. will one day completely replace human artists and writers.
b. can imitate human creativity and imagination.
c. cannot fully replicate the artistic vision of human artists and writers.
VOCABULARY
2) Complete the sentences with the following words. Put the verbs and nouns in the right form, if necessary.
astonishing * prompt * slang * foolproof * scam * chore * to draft * outraged * havoc * flattery
1. Watch out for emails from untrusted sources! They may be ……………………………………... aiming to deceive you into giving up money.
2. The bank’s security system is meant to be ……………………………………..., making it impossible for robbers to break in and steal money.
3. The students caused ……………………………………... in the classroom, running, screaming and throwing books and pens around.
4. ……………………………………... is a form of insincere praise.
5. I find some of the artwork produced by Midjourney ……………………………………...; it literally leaves me speechless.
6. A ……………………………………... is an indication that is meant to stimulate a specific action or response.
7. Younger generations have their own ……………………………………..., which is a set of non-standard words and phrases.
8. First, use all the information you gathered to ……………………………………... an outline of your essay, then write it.
9. Cleaning the bathroom and vacuuming are examples of ……………………………………....
10. The teacher scolded me. He was ……………………………………... when he found out I had used ChatGPT to write my essay.
GRAMMAR – Reported speech
3) Rewrite the following sentences using reported speech.
Ex. A professor asked: “will A.I. tools revolutionize society more than social media did?”
A professor asked whether A.I. tools will revolutionize society more than social media did.
1. ChatGPT wrote: “I can assist writers in a number of ways, such as generating ideas and helping with research.”
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2. I asked ChatGPT: “Should artists be worried about you replacing them?”
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3. ChatGPT answered: “I cannot fully replicate the imagination and artistic vision of human artists.”
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4. “Like any technology,” said the creators of ChatGPT, “it should be introduced into the classroom under the supervision of educators.”
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5. ChatGPT declared: “I cannot generate content that violates ethical or legal guidelines.”
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6. Journalist Emily Bell warns us when she states: “ChatGPT has no commitment to the truth.”
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7. Artist Jason Allen dramatically stated: “Art is dead. It’s over. A.I. won. Humans lost.”
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8. “They could help students cheat,” said the professor talking about chatbots, “or they could become a powerful teaching assistant.”
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9. Journalist Stephen Marche asked: “What happens when writing essays can be significantly automated by chatbots?”
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10. At the end of the day, we should ask ourselves: “Is this new technology changing society for the better or not?”
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SHORT ESSAY
4) What do you think are the potential benefits and risks of students using ChatGPT? (60-80 words)
5) Assume you're in charge of developing the ethical guidelines for a program like ChatGPT. What would they be? (60-80 words)
DEBATE
6) Pair up with one of your classmates and look at the proposition below; one of you will argue in favour of it and one of you against it.
Proposition: A.I. will never be able to fully replicate human art since human art is, in some special way, unique.
(Carlo Dellonte)
(Image: Pixabay)
