Human Integrity and AI

As AI tools advance and access to them expands, integrity feels like an important topic. For example, how will we determine:

  1. If a person is real
  2. If the things a person writes, says, and shares are created by them or by AI?
  3. Does it matter if something is AI-generated?

Here are a few of my thoughts, written by me and proofread by AI. 😉

How will we know if a person is real?

I think we’ll be driven back to a focus on personal interactions. I’ll know a person is real because I’ve met them. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see even more networking events and conferences pop up in the future as a primary way of verifying someone’s identity. Honestly, I think this will benefit humanity.

How will we know if something is created by AI or a person?

This will be trickier. I think many platforms are already trying to mitigate this by asking users to self-report; for example, “check this box if the content contains AI-generated content.” This sounds like a good idea for those with integrity, but as with many things in the past, there will be bad actors.

Embedded metadata will likely become a requirement, if not by law, then by social contract. But again, like basically anything in the world, there will be loopholes or ways around it. I believe part of this “problem” will be solved by human interaction, like watching someone create something in real time. Ultimately, I think this will be impossible to enforce universally.

I have a feeling the blockchain will be used more frequently for this kind of thing in the future. While that seems like a better version of the metadata idea, I’m sure it will be gamified or cracked in some way.

Does it matter if something is AI-generated?

I think this is probably the most interesting and important question. I don’t believe it will really matter 90% of the time, although the context will likely dictate that. Do I care if an ad is made by AI? As long as it’s truthful, no. Do I care if my significant other is using AI to write me a love note? Yes, as I care if it came from them or not. The message may even encapsulate their true feelings, but in this context, the “how” matters to me. I believe human interactions gain some of their value from the mistakes or nuances within them.

As we step into a future shaped by AI, I believe context will determine which of these truly matters and therefore dictate at least in part how one uses AI with integrity. I think we’ll gravitate toward our God-given desire for human connection. For my part, I’ll do my best.