Connected Consumers

You've probably read about the "existential threat" posed by Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). It's a dark future where super-intelligent machines outsmart us and cause humanity to go extinct. We may be mesmerized by this high-stakes narrative, but we’re also being misled. The real threats of AI are already here, lurking in our everyday digital experiences. While tech titans and the media tout a dystopian AI future, they’re drawing our attention away from the AI and related data privacy issues we need to solve right now. Continue Reading →

The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is asking for your help. The Biden-Harris Administration is developing a National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy that will chart a path for the United States to harness the benefits and mitigate the risks of AI. To inform this strategy, OSTP requests public comments to help update U.S. national priorities and future actions on AI. Continue Reading →

Shelly Palmer talks about the "Alignment Problem" - one of the scariest and most dangerous issues posed by AI. When you set a goal for an autonomous agent (such as AutoGPT, AgentGPT or BabyAGI) will the output be aligned with your goal and human values? The answer today is, "no so much." What will this look like as more and more people start to rely on generative AI, LLMs, and Autonomous Agents? Continue Reading →

A machine learning algorithm called CEBRA is unlocking the hidden structure in neural code, with the potential to revolutionize brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). The algorithm can be used to decode what a mouse sees while watching a movie, predict primate arm movements, and reconstruct the positions of rats as they roam. The research, led by Mackenzie Mathis, EPFL’s Bertarelli Chair of Integrative Neuroscience, was published in Nature. Continue Reading →

For reasons that are theorized – but not fully understood – human beings "default-to-trust." This strategy has stood the test of time. We generally trust others until given a reason to do otherwise. However, as the output from large language models and generative AI becomes increasingly indistinguishable from that produced by humans, it's time to consider a new paradigm: "default to distrust." Continue Reading →

Chat interfaces for GPT-4 may soon take a backseat to a new approach: autonomous agents. Emerging versions such as AutoGPT, BabyAGI, and the no-code GodMode promise a simplified user experience by focusing on achieving user goals with minimal input. Although it's still early days, autonomous agents are poised to revolutionize how we interact with technology and each other. Continue Reading →

This essay was originally published on November 16, 2019. It was updated and republished on November 11, 2022. Adobe announced Firefly, its generative AI assistant, on March 21, 2023. If you want a clear example of the exponential pace of technological change, most of the capabilities I hypothesized (and many I did not think of) are features of Firefly. Continue Reading →

The next generation of the World Wide Web (web3) is being built on blockchains using tools and technologies similar to the ones that empower cryptocurrency, NFTs, smart contracts, and the world of DeFi. While there is no agreed-upon technical definition for web3, my favorite philosophical definition is: "A decentralized platform that empowers both users and creators to share in the value they create." It's a nice idea, but how would it actually work? Continue Reading →

There have been several reports that the ChatGPT-enhanced Bing search engine has become "unhinged" or that it has fallen in love with a user (or two). This is understandable. After all, AI models are people too. Actually, no. That's total nonsense. That said, your anxiety is real. So, here – for your amusement and edification, I asked ChatGPT about our relationship and if we needed couples counseling. Continue Reading →

Is artificial intelligence here to help me... or take my job? Shelly Palmer speaks with Vanessa Yurkevich on CNN about whether you should be worried, where artificial intelligence is already being used in the workforce, and lessons we can learn from I, Robot. Continue Reading →