Distroid Issue 31
The pitfalls of big data for decision-making in society, why chatbots are not a good interface for LLMs, democratizing GPT4, and how privacy enhancing tech can revolutionize AI
Introduction
Welcome to this month’s edition of Distroid, a newsletter for curated findings, actionable knowledge, and noteworthy developments from the forefront of tech, governance, research, and technology (i.e., the frontier).
In this newsletter:
Digest
The data that is and that data the isn’t: the pitfalls of using big data: In conversation with Diane Coyle
Sociocracy Conference 2023
Why Chatbots Are Not the Future
GPT4All
Five ways privacy tech can revolutionise AI
Tweets
Toots
Digest
The data that is and that data the isn’t: the pitfalls of using big data: In conversation with Diane Coyle
Videos & Podcasts
Mark Pennington
The Governance Podcast
2023-04-19
On this week’s episode of the Governance Podcast, Mark Pennington, the Director at the Study of Governance and Society here at King College London, interviews Professor Diane Coyle. This episode is titled ""The data that is and that data the isn't: the pitfalls of using big data"", and discusses the various uses and implications of big data in society, and the many pitfalls that may arise.
The Conversation
‘Big Data’ fuels AI models like ChatGPT and the machine learning systems that are generating much debate about their promise – and peril – for decision-making. The impact of the technology will depend on the character of the data used. While the issue of data bias is well-understood (although not solved), less attention has been paid to other aspects such as data quality (is the data an accurate measure of the underlying object?), missing data (do we have only part of the picture?), and the meaning of data (how are the underlying concepts represented by the data constructed and interpreted)? As AI models are advancing fast enough to be deployed increasingly widely in society, there is a pressing need to reflect on the perspective on our social world created for them through the data on which they are trained and updated.
The Guest
Sociocracy Conference 2023
Events
Sociocracy For All
2023-05-04
When we learn how to organize ourselves and work together towards a common goal, we can achieve more than we ever could on our own.
Those organizing with sociocracy know how to align their actions while owning our power.
THE CHALLENGES ARE IMMENSE, BUT WE, THE CHAMPIONS OF COLLABORATION AND SOCIOCRACY, MUST NOT BE DETERRED. OUR WORK IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER BEFORE.
AS THIS PERIOD OF TRANSFORMATION UNFOLDS, WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE PROGRESS AND LEARNING OF THE COLLABORATION AND SOCIOCRACY MOVEMENT.
ON MAY 4TH AND 5TH, WE GATHER TO SHARE OUR SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES, AND VISIONS FOR A GALAXY BUILT ON PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY, JUSTICE, AND EMPOWERMENT.
JOIN US IN BUILDING A PLANET THAT WORKS FOR ALL…
Why Chatbots Are Not the Future
News
Amelia Wattenberger
Amelia Wattenberger
Unfortunately for the countless hapless people I've talked to in the past few months, this was inexorable. Ever since ChatGPT exploded in popularity, my inner designer has been bursting at the seams.
To save future acquaintances, I come to you today: because you've volunteered to be here with me, can we please discuss a few reasons chatbots are not the future of interfaces.
GPT4All
Tools
Nomic AI
A free-to-use, locally running, privacy-aware chatbot. No GPU or internet required.
Five ways privacy tech can revolutionise AI
News
Jaya Klara Brekke
nymtech
2023-04-08
AI algorithms are built on the past two decades of intensive mass-surveillance. And yet, when trying out the latest new models like stable diffusion and GPT-4 many of us nevertheless find them to be awesome. So where do we go from here?
AI is everywhere lately, but has a less famous sibling in the world of digital technology namely cryptography, that can unlock more socially embedded forms of artificial intelligences (yes, in plural) by placing the power to decide in the hands of people. Strong privacy protections holds the keys to truly revolutionising AI from a societal perspective.
It is time to privacy-pill the AI debate. And it goes a little something like this…