Bots, Soft Machines
According to a recent survey by Deloitte, over a quarter of UK adults have already used generative AI tools like chatbots. That’s about 13 million people, with a tenth of them using it daily. And here’s the kicker – this adoption rate is even faster than voice-assisted speakers like Amazon’s Alexa.
The Chatbot Sensation
ChatGPT, the poster child of generative AI, has been a sensation for its ability to generate responses that are eerily human-like. It’s not just about answering your queries – it can churn out articles, essays, jokes, and even job applications. And it’s not alone. We’ve got Microsoft’s Bing chatbot, Google’s Bard, and the new kid on the block, Claude 2 from Anthropic.
The Dark Side of AI
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. With great power comes great responsibility, and the ability of these systems to mass produce convincing text, images, and even voices has raised some serious concerns. We’re talking about the potential for large-scale disinformation campaigns.
The Perception Gap
Interestingly, the Deloitte survey found that over 40% of those who had used generative AI believe it always produces factually correct answers. But here’s the reality check – these systems are prone to producing glaring factual errors.
The Road Ahead
Generative AI technology is still in its early days. There’s a lot to figure out – user interfaces, regulatory environment, legal status, and accuracy. But one thing’s for sure – it’s here to stay, and it’s going to change the way we interact with technology.
