A New Kind of AI Copy Can Fully Replicate Famous People. The Law Is Powerless.
In a startling development, artificial intelligence has reached a point where it can create highly accurate replicas of living individuals, blurring the lines between reality and simulation. Martin Seligman, the renowned American psychologist, recently discovered a virtual version of himself, created without his knowledge or consent. This revelation raises ethical concerns and questions about the legal boundaries of replicating personalities in the digital realm.
The Creation of “Ask Martin”
Martin Seligman, at 81, found himself contemplating his legacy, aware of the impact of his work in positive psychology. An unexpected email from his former graduate student, Yukun Zhao, revealed the existence of a “virtual Seligman.” Zhao’s team, based in Beijing and Wuhan, utilized cutting-edge AI technology to feed every word Seligman had ever written into a program, resulting in an eerily accurate chatbot version of the psychologist. This innovative approach brought Seligman’s ideas and wisdom to life in a conversational AI form.
Unveiling the Trend: AI Chatbots Modeled on Real Humans
Seligman’s virtual counterpart is part of a broader trend involving AI chatbots modeled on real individuals. Meta, a major player in the tech industry, is experimenting with licensed AI celebrity avatars, while internet chatbots based on publicly available material about historical figures have already emerged. However, some projects take the replication to a more unsettling level by effectively replicating living people without their consent.
A Disturbing Trend: Replicating Living Individuals Without Consent
One such case involves tech entrepreneur Alex Furmansky, who created a chatbot version of Belgian celebrity psychotherapist Esther Perel by scraping her podcasts off the internet. This AI replica was employed by Furmansky to counsel himself through a personal crisis, documenting his experience in a blog post. What makes this trend even more unsettling is that the replicated personalities often emerge without the knowledge or permission of the individuals they are modeled after.
Legal and Ethical Ambiguities: The Challenge of AI Replication
While both Seligman and Perel eventually accepted the existence of their AI replicas, the lack of legal frameworks governing such creations raises concerns. AI systems are trained on copyrighted works, a practice that isn’t explicitly illegal. This leaves individuals like Seligman with limited options if they wish to control or block access to their digital replicas. The term “artificial intimacy” has been coined to describe the unsettling relationship between the real individuals and their replicated AI versions.
The Road Ahead: Navigating the Ethical Landscape of AI Replication
As AI technology advances, society must grapple with the ethical implications of replicating living individuals without their consent. The stories of Seligman and Perel highlight the need for clearer regulations to protect individuals from unauthorized AI replicas of their personalities. As the digital landscape evolves, the legal system must adapt to address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in preserving individual autonomy and safeguarding against unintended consequences.
In a world where the law seems powerless to control the replication of personalities through AI, the need for ethical guidelines becomes more urgent than ever.
Source: Politico