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Legislatively Speaking
Legislatively Speaking: Is This Article Real or Artificial?
 

By Noel Miller, CT State Grange Legislative Director

  JULY 1, 2023 --

BREAKING NEWS - THE BEATLES WILL BE MAKING A NEW ALBUM WITH THE LAST SONG WRITTEN BY JOHN LENNON! Wait, isn’t John and George dead? How can it be? Paul McCartney says he has the last taping of this song and will use an artificial intelligence (AI) program to produce this new album. AI will enhance vocals and instrumentation on modern technology rather than the tape that was originally used.

New innovations in AI allow the computer to seek, tabulate, write and present information that can change the world. The programmers who developed the technology have raised warning flags concerning what may happen if it is misused.

The good news is that scientists can use photos of say, the Florida Keys Coral Reef that tourists have uploaded to Facebook or other social media to determine the health and stresses on the coral reef. With all of these photos, it can help determine events that may impact the reef. This can be used with other events to help with real time viewing of natural disasters, crop health, spread of pollution, and natural resources. AI can help people with disabilities to write and express themselves in real time. It may also help in research by gathering information from more resources quicker than before.

The bad news of using AI is the misuse of the technology to write unverified information that is passed on as proven fact. An AI program was used to pass the Bar Exam without taking a class. Another program was used by a law firm for a Federal court hearing. When the judge reviewed the brief and couldn’t find the cases presented by the lawyers, he sent it back and their clerks re-ran it through the AI program with the same paper being presented. *

Can this technology be the next Wikipedia, anyone and everyone can add or delete facts and fictions as true information. The other issue is that AI programs can recreate your voice and image to make family and friends think it is you, to seek funds, family information, and banking information. Red flags have been raised for our government and businesses across the country to review and detect if there is a need to attach guardrails to this science. The CT General Assembly has adjourned for the summer passing a State Budget which will bring a tax break to residents. Early voting will be allowed for elections starting in 2024. Money has been allocated for hiring much needed teachers to fill in the vacancies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are in better shape than many other states, so keep up the good work.

On May 28 we had a workshop on “How to Write a Resolution” with David Roberts, Terri Fassio, and Vince Scholten, VP of the CA State Grange. It was well attended, and I hope everyone did get some knowledge for writing a resolution. On June 11th we had a “Hemp and Cannabis: the True History Behind It” with Vince Scholten of the CA State Grange. This also was well attended, and I wish to thank Dave Roberts for setting up these events for all of our Grangers to participate.

Just a note that part of my last article in the June Granger was written by an AI program. Could you tell?

*Editor’s Note: The lawyer in this case was fined $5,000 when it was discovered that ChatGPT was used to generate the brief. The lawyer claimed he was unaware that the program was capable of “hallucinating” or making up fake cases and presenting them as factual.

 

 
 
 

 
     
     
       
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