Category: artificial intelligence
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State of the (AI) “art”
My experience with so-called “artificial intelligence” (AI) goes back to the late 1980s and my research into the application of neural networks in music. This included the design of a system able to learn a musical style and then generate a live accompaniment in the same style—all of which led to my 1996 MPhil thesis,…
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ChatGPT—inaccurate and derivative
There’s been lots of excited social media chatter about ChatGPT over the past week or so. And at first glance it’s impressive, certainly better than your average chatbot. It uses artificial intelligence to focus on interactive usability and dialogue. But it doesn’t take long to realise it has two big problems: It’s frequently wrong ChatGPT…
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Digital government and asymmetric justice
Governments are acquiring and sharing more of our data on the basis that it will improve efficiency, personalise services, and reduce fraud, error and debt. Data acquired for one purpose is often used for another, whether the citizen agreed for this to happen or not – perhaps most notoriously our health records or children’s data.…
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The curious ‘failings’ of Facebook—and the true cost of ‘free’
Facebook manages to achieve the near impossible. It often appears technically and politically incompetent, yet remains highly profitable. Its ability to track, monitor and profile us, our friends, families and interests, is well understood. Leading privacy campaigners have long warned us of its underhand behaviour and documented many of its failings over a long time period.…
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“Artificial Intelligence” and the House of Lords inquiry
Below is a copy of my submission to the House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence. Intentionally absent are more sensitive aspects of AI related to areas such as compromising law and enforcement, and at risk individuals. Submission to the House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence Dr Jerry Fishenden FIET CITP FBCS…
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The recurrent fear of technology
The impact of modern technologies – or more often, the fear of the impact of technologies – on our world is nothing new. Consider this, written in 1835: Much the same sentiments can still be heard today from those who similarly raise laments over the increase and spread of modern technology – ignoring entirely the many…
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Trust in an algorithmic world
We have long since entered a world increasingly reliant upon software – from the software in our mobile phones, to online websites, to fly-by-wire aviation systems, to specialist medical devices in our hospitals. Many processes and decisions formerly made by humans are now being made or assisted by digital technology. Much of this software is…
new tech observations from the UK (ntouk) 