A question to consider with new technology is: What cost is too high? What is a deal breaker for a given technology? This question is considered in medicine, for example, and is regulated by governments. If a drug results in too many adverse reactions, it is withdrawn (or never released to the public in the first place), even if it is otherwise beneficial. In an age of climate crisis, of increasing social and economic inequality and insecurity, of increasing threats to truth and democracy, what level of harm from generative AI outweighs its benefits? This is a question to seriously consider. When creators of AI themselves are sounding the alarm that AI has the potential to threaten humanity’s continued existence, however small that potential is, is it wise to hastily adopt the use of AI to “keep from falling behind”?
To encourage reflection and caution, this guide begins with an examination of the costs of AI. In reviewing the existing and potential harms of generative AI, you may decide that these harms are a deal breaker for using these tools, as they exist in their current, mostly unregulated, state. Or, you may decide to advocate for stronger regulation of AI development and deployment. Or, you may to decide to still make use of generative AI, but with restraint and careful consideration of the costs.
