Using ChatGPT to understand “International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI”

Ray Poynter, 18 May 2024

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An international group has just published a new report on the safety of AI. You can download it from here. The report comprises more than 75,000 words, so I decided to use ChatGPT 4o to speed up my review of the documents. Below, I set out my process and what I found out about the report.

My first step was to download the Report as a PDF file. I then uploaded it to ChatGPT, using the paperclip.

Below I have set our my questions/prompts and the answers from ChatGPT. My questions are in a large/bold font.

Please summarise the report

This was my first question, to get a sense of what is in the report.

Summary of the ‘International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI: Interim Report’
Forewords:
The report aims to drive a shared, science-based understanding of the safety of advanced AI.
It highlights areas of consensus and disagreement among experts on AI capabilities and risks.
The report is an interim publication and will be updated with additional evidence and viewpoints.

Executive Summary:
The report focuses on general-purpose AI, which has advanced rapidly in recent years.
It identifies risks and evaluates methods for assessing and mitigating them.
The report is a collaborative effort by 75 AI experts from 30 countries, the EU, and the UN.
Proper governance of AI can lead to significant benefits, but risks need to be managed appropriately.

1. Introduction:
AI is rapidly transforming society, with significant advancements in capabilities over the last five years.
The report aims to contribute to a shared understanding of AI safety.
The focus is on general-purpose AI, which can perform a wide range of tasks, unlike narrow AI, which is specialized.

2. Capabilities:
General-purpose AI models are developed through stages including pre-training, fine-tuning, system integration, deployment, and post-deployment updates.
These models have capabilities in text, images, video, robotic actions, and molecular biology.
Current AI models show partial proficiency in skills like knowledge, creativity, and reasoning, but have limitations such as inconsistency and hallucination.

3. Methodology to Assess and Understand General-Purpose AI Systems:
Various methods are used to assess AI capabilities and impacts, including case studies, benchmarks, and red-teaming.
Challenges include understanding the inner workings of AI models, ensuring transparency, and dealing with biases.

4. Risks:
Risks are classified into malicious use, malfunctions, and systemic risks.
Malicious use includes scams, disinformation, and cyber offenses.
Malfunctions can result from poor functionality, bias, and loss of control.
Systemic risks involve labor market impacts, AI divide, market concentration, environmental impacts, and privacy concerns.

5. Technical Approaches to Mitigate Risks:
Approaches include risk management, training more trustworthy models, monitoring and intervention, fairness, and privacy methods.
Despite progress, current methods do not provide strong assurances against harm.

6. Conclusion:
The future of general-purpose AI is uncertain, with both positive and negative outcomes possible.
The development and impact of AI will depend on societal and governmental decisions.
The report aims to facilitate constructive discussion and improve understanding of AI risks and safety.

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Who and what does the report represent?

My second question enables me to get a sense of who is creating this report.

The report represents a global collaborative effort involving 75 AI experts from 30 countries, the EU, and the UN, chaired by Prof. Yoshua Bengio. Contributors include an Expert Advisory Panel and a Writing Group, supported by senior advisers and the UK Government’s AI Safety Institute. The report synthesizes scientific research on AI capabilities and risks, providing a foundation for informed policy-making. It highlights areas of consensus and disagreement among experts and underscores the importance of ongoing research and international cooperation. The report aims to inform global discussions on AI safety and promote responsible AI development.

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What are the key things that the public should know from this report?

My third question seeks to get a clearer idea of the key points in the report from a more general perspective.

Key Takeaways for the Public from the ‘International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI: Interim Report’

1. Rapid Advancements and Capabilities:
General-purpose AI has progressed rapidly, achieving significant advancements in various tasks, but still has limitations.

2. Potential Benefits:
Properly governed AI can greatly benefit society, improving efficiency, productivity, and innovation in various fields.

3. Associated Risks:
The report identifies several risks, including malicious use, malfunctions, and systemic impacts on labor markets and privacy.

4. Uncertainty and Debate:
Experts are divided on the future trajectory of AI development, highlighting the need for ongoing research and dialogue.

5. Importance of Governance and Regulation:
Effective governance and regulation are essential to manage AI risks and ensure responsible development.

6. Technical and Ethical Challenges:
There are limitations in current risk assessment methods, and ethical considerations are crucial in AI development.

7. Global Collaboration:
International cooperation is vital to address global challenges and ensure the benefits of AI are widely shared.

8. Ongoing Effort:
The report is an ongoing process, with future updates incorporating additional evidence and viewpoints.
Public engagement is important for shaping AI development and ensuring its benefits while minimizing risks.

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What is the background to this report, what project is it part of?

My fourth question digs a bit more deeply into the context for this report.

Background to the ‘International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI: Interim Report’

1. Inception and Purpose:
Initiated at the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in November 2023, the report aims to drive a shared, science-based understanding of AI safety.

2. AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park:
Commissioned during the summit, which brought together global leaders to discuss AI safety.

3. International Collaboration:
Involves 75 AI experts from 30 countries, the EU, and the UN, reflecting diverse perspectives.

4. Independent Scientific Effort:
Developed independently by experts, with Prof. Yoshua Bengio as Chair, ensuring scientific integrity.

5. Support from UK Government:
Supported by the UK Government’s AI Safety Institute and various UK-based organizations.

Project Affiliation and Future Plans

1. Part of a Broader Initiative:
Aimed at creating an International Scientific Report on Advanced AI Safety to inform policy-making.

2. Interim Nature and Future Updates:
The interim report is the first step, with future updates incorporating new evidence and viewpoints.

3. Continuous Engagement:
Emphasizes ongoing research and international cooperation to address AI risks and benefits.

Conclusion:
The report is foundational for building a shared understanding of AI risks and guiding responsible AI development.

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Can you summarise your answers to my questions in about 200 words?

My final question seeks to get a single, short summary of what I need to know from the document.

Summary

The “International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI: Interim Report” is a collaborative effort initiated at the AI Safety Summit held at Bletchley Park in November 2023. The report involves 75 AI experts from 30 countries, the EU, and the UN, aiming to drive a science-based understanding of AI safety. Chaired by Prof. Yoshua Bengio, it addresses rapid advancements in general-purpose AI and identifies associated risks such as bias, malicious use, and systemic impacts on labor markets and privacy.

The report emphasizes the importance of effective governance and regulation to manage these risks and highlights the need for ongoing research and international cooperation. It represents the first step in a broader initiative to create a comprehensive understanding of AI risks, with future updates incorporating additional evidence and viewpoints. The report underscores the necessity of ethical considerations and technical improvements in assessing and mitigating AI risks.

Overall, the report serves as a foundational document to inform policy-making and promote responsible AI development, with a focus on ensuring the safe deployment of AI technologies for the benefit of humanity.

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Please format my questions and your answers as a Word document that I can download

My final prompt was not a question, it was an instruction to ChatGPT to give me a tidy version my questions and answers.

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My Take?
My feeling is that the report lists technological changes and a range of risks and states that regulation and legislation are crucial. However, I see no indication in the report that these actions are likely, which is worrying.

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