It’s unsettling to observe how swiftly misinformation can spread, especially in today's interconnected world. The recent reports about the French Navy's strong denial of Pakistani media's 'misinformation' regarding 'Op Sindoor' and the Rafale jets Mathrubhumi, China News, WIONews serve as a stark reminder of this enduring challenge. This isn't just about diplomatic spats; it's about the very fabric of truth in our digital lives.I've often pondered the implications of easily manipulable information. Years ago, in my blog titled "Revenge of AI" [http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/09/revenge-of-ai.html], I discussed the nascent stages of AI partnerships and raised questions about the future of information. I noted comments from individuals like Mustafa Suleyman (mustafas@microsoft.com), co-founder of DeepMind, who emphasized the importance of involving those impacted by AI, and Francesca Rossi (francesca.rossi2@ibm.com) of IBM Research, who highlighted the crucial need for society to trust AI for it to be truly beneficial. Even then, Satya Nadella (satyan@microsoft.com), Microsoft's CEO, envisioned AI-powered chatbots fundamentally revolutionizing how computing is experienced. My underlying concern was, and still is, how we ensure this revolution upholds truth and trust, rather than succumbing to the human frailties of bias and manipulation.More recently, I delved into the evolving landscape of search engines with blogs like "Searching No More?" [http://mylinkedinposting.blogspot.com/2024/11/searching-no-more.html] and "A Map to Everywhere and Every Thing" [http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2024/11/a-map-to-everywhere-and-every-thing.html]. I specifically highlighted the concerns about AI's potential misuse for spreading misinformation and the challenges Google's Gemini faced with inaccuracies. I also predicted in "Future of Search Engines" [http://mylinkedinposting.blogspot.com/2022/07/future-of-search-engines.html] that people would eventually seek direct 'solutions/answers/advice' rather than just 'information,' underscoring the critical need for those answers to be unimpeachably accurate.The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic of AI's ethical implications and the spread of misinformation years ago. I had already predicted this outcome or challenge of discerning truth in an AI-driven information landscape, and I had even proposed a solution at the time: a focus on transparency, accountability, and ethical AI development to foster user trust. Now, seeing how incidents like the French Navy's denial of 'fake news' have unfolded, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context. We must rigorously question our sources and demand accountability from platforms and AI systems that shape our understanding of the world. The battle against digital fabrications is not just a technological one, but a deeply human quest for truth.---
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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