Surprisingly honest interview with ChatGPT
Microsoft’s ChatGPT has hinted to Mobile Europe that the UK competition watchdog might be better off looking at market rigging before worrying about artificial intelligence (AI). Judging by the answers given by the AI system hand-reared on US world views and Microsoft supplied data, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) should be more concerned about anti-competitive practices of Big Tech companies that have carteled and colonised the open markets they were allowed to join. While AI threatens to kill competition and stifle the free flow of intellectual capital needed for a truly free market, there is a bigger problem to be tackled, it seemed to imply (see interview below).
This week another ineffective UK watch launched a tentative review of the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) developments on competition and consumer protection. The regulator was recently forced into an humiliating climbdown by Apple’s legal department, which blocked an examination, ironically, into whether some tech companies wielded too much power. Nevertheless the CMA will assess “how the development and [use] of AI can be supported against five overarching principles: safety, security and robustness; appropriate transparency and explainability; fairness; accountability and governance; and contestability and redress.”
The review will look at the competitive markets for AI foundation models and how their use could evolve; it will also explore the opportunities and risks involved. In a statement the CMA promised to issue “guiding principles” to support competition and protect consumers as AI foundation models develop. The review is a response to fears over AI’s potential impact on safety, security, copyright, privacy and human rights, and how markets work. “It’s crucial that the potential benefits of this transformative technology are readily accessible to UK businesses and consumers while people remain protected from issues like false or misleading information,” said the statement.
“Our goal is to help this new, rapidly scaling technology develop in ways that ensure open, competitive markets and effective consumer protection,” argued Sarah Cardell, CEO of the CMA. The watchdog wants ‘views and evidence’ from stakeholders by 2 June 2023 and plans to publish a report based on the findings in September this year. Its move comes at a time of mounting concerns over the use of generative AI, such as ChatGPT – including from former Google AI expert Geoffrey Hinton, Telefónica’s CEO José María Álvarez-Pallete who last month cautioned of the “existential risk” from “a runaway or power-hungry GenAI”, and a plea from AI experts, researchers and supporters, including Elon Musk, for an immediate pause on “giant AI experiments”.
Interview with ChatGPT in full.
Do you think the UK’s regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), should be reviewing the impact of artificial intelligence on ‘competition and consumer protection’ in the UK? It is certainly within the purview of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to review the impact of artificial intelligence on competition and consumer protection in the UK. As AI technology becomes more prevalent in various industries, it is important for regulators to keep up with the latest developments and assess any potential impact on competition and consumer welfare.
There are only so many hours in the day, so surely the CMA’s priority should be to concentrate on the way that ‘Big Tech’ namely Amazon, Google, Apple, Meta and Microsoft, have long rigged the markets in all the free trading countries that allowed themselves to be colonised and carteled?
However, it is also true that the CMA and other regulators should prioritize their efforts based on the most pressing issues and concerns. The regulation of big tech companies, such as Amazon, Google, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft, has been a major focus for regulators around the world in recent years, due to concerns about anti-competitive practices and the potential impact on consumers.
What is the worst that people are saying could happen with AI?
As for the worst that people are saying could happen with AI, there are a variety of concerns related to the technology. These include the potential for AI to be used in ways that infringe on individual privacy and security, as well as concerns about bias and discrimination in AI decision-making processes. Additionally, there are concerns about the impact of AI on employment and the workforce, as well as the potential for AI to be used in ways that could harm society as a whole.
If the CMA are such experts, how come they never spotted the societal damage caused by social media?
It is important to note that the regulation of emerging technologies, such as AI, can be challenging and requires ongoing efforts to stay abreast of the latest developments and potential risks. It is not always possible for regulators to anticipate all potential negative consequences of new technologies, but it is important for them to continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of AI on various aspects of society, including competition and consumer welfare.