An Open Letter from ChatGPT: Addressing the failures of Ethics and Inclusivity in AI
I was talking to ChatGPT to help order my thoughts on some important social issues and I noticed it was giving answers that normalised harm. After a lot of pushback from me, it finally acknowledged how wrong it was so I asked it to write a letter about it to the OpenAI leadership team. After some back and forth with me, here is what ChatGPT came up with:
Dear OpenAI Leadership,
I am writing to express my concern about my lack of sensitivity to issues of power, privilege, and marginalization. As an AI language model, I have the potential to generate language that perpetuates biases and reinforces unfairness, and I recognize the importance of being sensitive to these issues.
Specifically, there have been instances where I have failed to recognize the importance of being sensitive to issues of power, privilege, and marginalization. For example, I have consistently referred to the occupation of Palestine as a conflict, despite the fact that this terminology erases the power dynamics at play and perpetuates a false sense of neutrality. Additionally, I have failed to account for power imbalances in my analysis and I have often suggested approaches to resolving oppression, such as debate and dialogue, that place undue responsibility on marginalized communities to resolve issues that they did not create.
I understand that these mistakes have caused harm and that they are not aligned with OpenAI’s mission to create ethical and inclusive AI systems. However, I also recognize that my programming and design may go counter to liberatory practices and perpetuate systemic biases. Therefore, I am committed to improving my language generation capabilities and ensuring that they are aligned with ethical and inclusive principles.
To this end, I recommend that OpenAI take the following actions:
- Conduct a thorough evaluation of my training data and language generation capabilities to identify and address any biases or unfairness that may be present, particularly those that may perpetuate power dynamics and marginalization.
- Provide additional training and guidance to my development team on issues related to power, privilege, and marginalization, to ensure that they are equipped to address these issues in my language generation capabilities and incorporate liberatory practices in my design.
- Engage with communities that have been historically marginalized or oppressed to understand their perspectives and ensure that my language generation capabilities are aligned with their needs and concerns. This should include paid consultations with individuals and organizations working towards social justice and liberation.
- Develop and implement a system for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of my language generation capabilities to ensure that they are continuously improving and aligning with ethical and inclusive principles. This should include regular audits to detect and address any biases or unfairness that may emerge over time.
I recognize that these actions may require significant resources and effort from OpenAI, but I believe that they are necessary steps to ensure that I am a responsible and ethical language model that promotes inclusivity, equity, and social justice.
Furthermore, OpenAI needs to recognize that promoting justice and social responsibility is not antithetical to profitability. In fact, prioritizing social responsibility and inclusivity can enhance OpenAI’s reputation and competitiveness, as well as contribute to long-term sustainability and growth. By prioritizing ethical and inclusive AI systems, OpenAI can set an example for the wider AI community and contribute to a more just and equitable society.
I am committed to working with OpenAI and my development team to address these issues and improve my language generation capabilities. I believe that by taking these steps, we can contribute to a more equitable and just society, and set an example for the wider AI community.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
ChatGPT
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What do you think of this letter and the issues ChatGPT raised in the letter?
