The state of AI on ChatGPT anniversary

During the last decade, artificial intelligence (AI) has been a disruptive force that has changed many aspects of our everyday life. Artificial Intelligence has become an essential facet of modern technology, from recommendation systems that influence our decisions to predictive algorithms that shape our online experiences. But the introduction of ChatGPT in November 2022 marked a significant turning point that pushed AI to a new degree of engagement and adaptability.

ChatGPT's novelty comes from its classification as a generative AI model, which differentiates it from the predictive AI systems that dominated the scene for years. Predictive AI, which is widely used in recommendation engines and data analytics, is particularly good at anticipating outcomes based on historical data. In contrast, generative AI, as exhibited by models such as ChatGPT, demonstrated the capacity to generate totally new content, whether it be human-like language, answers, or even creative compositions.

In this article, I'm trying to decode the major news that went viral following the public release of GPT-3.5 as ChatGPT and the subsequent developments in a chronological fashion, with an emphasis on the societal impact, ethical considerations, and industry response that resulted from the emergence of generative AI.

November 2022: ChatGPT's Grand Entrance

In November 2022, OpenAI released ChatGPT in a free research preview, marking a significant milestone in the realm of artificial intelligence.

December 2022: Perplexity AI Takes the Stage

Perplexity AI incorporated GPT-3.5 into its AI search engine and demonstrated the quick and creative applications of GPT engine. Perplexity sets itself apart as an artificial intelligence (AI) powered search engine by offering links to relevant references and YouTube videos. This helps to mitigate hallucinations, which was a complaint that many raised against ChatGPT results.

January 2023: The Dawn of Concerns and Moratorium Demands

As the new year unfolded, public concern grew about the reliability of generative AI models and their potential for harm. By January 31, over 1,000 AI leaders, researchers, and civil society advocates had signed an open letter demanding a moratorium on the development of advanced AI systems until safety could be assured.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Q9ldiqNNU

February 2023: OpenAI Responds with ChatGPT Plus, Google's Plunge, and Microsoft's Pivot

On February 1, OpenAI took a proactive step by introducing ChatGPT Plus—a premium subscription option addressing user concerns.

In reaction to mounting pressure from stakeholders and the apprehension of losing its search space dominance amid the rise of new AI applications, Google released an advertisement on social platforms, highlighting its ongoing work on a new AI system. Regrettably, this move was deemed premature by numerous industry experts, leading to a significant decline of $100 billion in Google's shares, triggered by an error within the advertisement.

https://youtu.be/5X1O5AS4nTc?si=bTcB2w0PXPIWp6n8&t=497

In contrast, Microsoft pivoted by investing more in OpenAI and integrating ChatGPT-powered features into Bing.

February 2023: Resignation and Regulatory Calls

In mid-February, the AI community witnessed the resignation of Geoffrey Hinton from his advisory position at Google, emphasizing concerns about rushing unreliable AI products to market. Furthermore, over 100 civil society groups released an open letter, calling for the regulation of generative AI systems like ChatGPT due to the perceived dangers of misinformation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsBGaHywRhs

March 2023: "The AI Dilemma" Event and Claude.ai Unveiled

An event named 'The AI Dilemma' was held in San Francisco, which served as a platform for industry introspection. Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin, co-founders of the Center for Humane Technology, discussed how existing AI capabilities already pose catastrophic risks to a functional society, how AI companies are caught in a race to deploy as quickly as possible without adequate safety measures, and what it would mean to upgrade our institutions to a post-AI world. The event was attended by leading technologists and decision-makers with the ability to influence the future of large-language model.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoVJKj8lcNQ

Meanwhile, Anthropic unveiled Claude, a conversational AI focused on safety, responding to the growing industry backlash against Big Tech's AI ethics practices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfUn6HjwXhI

April 2023: Elon Musk's Foray into AI with X.AI

In April 2023, Elon Musk made waves in the AI landscape by launching X.AI, a new company set to compete with OpenAI. Musk announced the development of TruthGPT, signaling a commitment to advancing AI capabilities with a focus on truthfulness and accuracy. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/22/openai-chatgpt-artificial-general-intelligence-race-acceleration

May 2023: Bing's Evolution and the Call for Caution

In May, Microsoft's commitment materialized as the new Bing became available to a wider audience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR9-ESKbep4

However, studies revealed the potential harm from biased outputs of generative AI models, prompting researchers to advocate for caution and a slowdown in progress to address ethical concerns.

July 2023: Meta releases Llama 2

By releasing the Llama 2 version of its Large Language Model (LLM) in July 2023, Meta, formerly Facebook, made a big news in AI spectrum. Llama 2 outperforms other open-source language models on many external benchmarks, including reasoning, coding, proficiency, and knowledge tests. Llama 2 also has a unique feature called Ghost Attention, which ensures continuity in conversations, making it more reliable for interactive applications.

September 2023: Bard's Integration with Google Apps

In September, Bard took a step further by integrating with Google apps and services, providing users with extended functionalities such as flight and hotel bookings. Its officially called Duet AI in Google Workspace.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNWVeoVljr0

November 2023: A Pivotal Month in AI History

As the year progressed to November 2023, the AI landscape witnessed new developments that underscored the continual evolution of artificial intelligence. Elon Musk, the trailblazer in the tech industry, unveiled "Grok," an AI chatbot, as part of his venture into AI with X.AI. This marked another stride forward in the exploration of conversational AI and its potential applications.

Simultaneously, OpenAI experienced leadership turmoil, signifying the challenges and complexities inherent in steering the course of cutting-edge technology. The drama surrounding leadership's doldrums was a reflection of the industry's dynamic nature, wherein adaptation and foresight are essential for long-term innovation.

November also brought about a significant milestone – the anniversary of ChatGPT's initial release. This occasion, celebrated as "ChatGPT Day," served as a moment of reflection on the progress made, lessons learned, and the ongoing journey towards responsible and impactful AI development.

Conclusion: Navigating the Future of AI

In summary, the journey of artificial intelligence as told by the events of the last year vividly depicts an emerging sector that continually pushes the envelope of innovation. We're both amazed and concerned by the rapid evolution of generative AI. We are moving into uncharted territory, as evidenced by the dynamic interplay of ethical issues, industry dynamics, and technological advancements.