9 Problems with Generative AI, in One Chart
The contents of this article were written with the help of ChatGPT (and extensively edited and fact-checked by the Visual Capitalist editorial team).
9 Problems with Generative AI
In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, generative AI tools are demonstrating incredible potential. However, their potential for harm is also becoming more and more apparent.
Together with our partner VERSES, we have visualized some concerns regarding generative AI tools using data from a variety of different sources. Many of them fall into one of the following categories: quality control & data accuracy, ethical considerations, or technical challenges—with, of course, a certain degree of overlap.
Let’s dive into it.
Bias In, Bias Out
Theme: Quality Control & Accuracy
One of the critical issues with generative AI lies in its tendency to reproduce biases present in the data it has been trained on. Rather than mitigating biases, these tools often magnify or perpetuate them, raising questions about the accuracy of their applications—which could lead to much bigger problems around ethics.
The Black Box Problem
Theme: Ethical & Legal Considerations
Another significant hurdle in embracing generative AI is the lack of transparency in its decision-making processes. With thought processes that are often uninterpretable, these AI systems face challenges in explaining their decisions, especially when errors occur on critical matters.
It’s worth noting that this is a broader problem with AI systems and not just generative tools.
High Cost to Train and Maintain
Theme: Complexity & Technical Challenges
Training generative AI models like large language model (LLM) ChatGPT is extremely expensive, with costs often reaching millions of dollars due to the computational power and infrastructure required. For instance, now Ex-CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman confirmed that ChatGPT-4 cost a whopping $100 million to train.
Mindless Parroting
Theme: Quality Control & Accuracy
Despite their advanced capabilities, generative AIs are constrained by the data and patterns they were trained on. This limitation results in outputs that may not encompass the breadth of human knowledge or address diverse scenarios.
Alignment with Human Values
Theme: Ethical & Legal Considerations
Unlike humans, generative AIs lack the capacity to consider the consequences of their actions in alignment with human values.
While instances like the AI-generated “Balenciaga Pope” may appear to be harmless, it’s important to recognize that deepfakes could be employed for more harmful purposes, such as spreading false information in the face of a public health crises.
This highlights the need for more frameworks that ensure these systems operate within ethical boundaries.
Power Hungry
Theme: Complexity & Technical Challenges
The environmental impact of generative AI cannot be overlooked. With processing units consuming substantial power, models like ChatGPT cost as much as powering 33,000 U.S. households, with just one inquiry being 10 to 100 times more power hungry than one email.
Hallucinations
Theme: Quality Control & Accuracy
Generative AI models have been known to create fabricated statements or images when faced with data gaps, raising concerns about the reliability of their output and potential consequences.
For example, in a Google Bard promotional video, the chatbot incorrectly asserted that the James Webb Space Telescope captured the first images of a planet beyond Earth’s solar system.
Copyright & IP infringement
Theme: Ethical & Legal Considerations
The ethical use of data becomes paramount when considering that several generative AI tools appropriate copyrighted work without consent, credit, or compensation, infringing upon the rights of artists and creators.
OpenAI recently introduced a compensation program called Copyright Shield that covers legal costs for copyright infringement suits for certain customer tiers, rather than removing copyrighted material from ChatGPT’s training dataset.
Static Information
Theme: Complexity & Technical Challenges
Keeping generative AI models up to date requires substantial computational resources and time, presenting a formidable technical challenge. Some models, however, are designed for incremental updates, offering a potential solution to this complex issue.
Meet VERSES
In the pursuit of harnessing the power of AI, a careful balance must be struck to ensure ethical, transparent, and impactful advancements in this transformative field.
VERSES is committed to creating intelligent software that wields transparent decision-making.
Learn more about how VERSES is building a smarter world.
-
Technology1 day ago
All of the Grants Given by the U.S. CHIPS Act
Intel, TSMC, and more have received billions in subsidies from the U.S. CHIPS Act in 2024.
-
Technology3 days ago
Visualizing AI Patents by Country
See which countries have been granted the most AI patents each year, from 2012 to 2022.
-
Brands5 days ago
How Tech Logos Have Evolved Over Time
From complete overhauls to more subtle tweaks, these tech logos have had quite a journey. Featuring: Google, Apple, and more.
-
Technology3 weeks ago
Ranked: Semiconductor Companies by Industry Revenue Share
Nvidia is coming for Intel’s crown. Samsung is losing ground. AI is transforming the space. We break down revenue for semiconductor companies.
-
AI3 weeks ago
The Stock Performance of U.S. Chipmakers So Far in 2024
The Nvidia rocket ship is refusing to slow down, leading the pack of strong stock performance for most major U.S. chipmakers.
-
Technology3 weeks ago
Ranked: The Most Popular Smartphone Brands in the U.S.
This graphic breaks down America’s most preferred smartphone brands, according to a December 2023 consumer survey.