Perspectives on AI

One topic, different perspectives: Experts from Plattform Lernende Systeme evaluate current developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence with their respective professional backgrounds.

Large language models: How disruptive are ChatGPT & Co.

The ChatGPT language model has catapulted Artificial Intelligence into the middle of society. The new generation of AI voice assistants answers complex questions in detail, writes essays and even poems, or programs codes. It is being hailed as a breakthrough in AI development. Whether in business, medicine, or the media world, the potential uses of large-scale language models are many. What's the hype all about? How will large language models like ChatGPT change our lives? And what ethical, legal and social challenges are associated with their use? Experts from Plattform Lernende Systeme put it in perspective.

Why a responsible design of language models is needed

Prof. Dr. Peter Dabrock, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and member of Plattform Lernende Systeme

Large language models like ChatGPT are celebrated as technical breakthroughs of AI - their impact on our society sometimes discussed with concern, sometimes demonized. Rarely does life paint black and white, but mostly gray on gray. The corridor of a responsible use of the new technology must be sounded out in a criteria-based and participatory manner.

How is AI changing society?

Prof. Dr. Jessica Heesen, Head of the Media Ethics, Philosophy of Technology and AI Research Group at the International Centre for Ethics in the Sciences and Humanities (IZEW) at the University of Tübingen.

Thanks to generative AI, it is easier than ever to create texts, images or videos according to individual specifications. This opens up enormous opportunities – and risks.

AI creative: Who owns the works of great language models?

Prof. Dr. Anne Lauber-Rönsberg, Professor of Law at the Technical University of Dresden and member of Plattform Lernende Systeme

Large language models like ChatGPT can now write texts that are indistinguishable from human texts. ChatGPT is even cited as a co-author in some scientific articles. Other AI systems such as Dall-E 2, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion generate images based on brief linguistic instructions. Artists, as well as image agency Getty Images, accuse the company behind popular image generator Stable Diffusion of using their works to train the AI without their consent, and have filed lawsuits against the company.

ELIZA, ChatGPT and Democracy: It all depends on the right measure

Prof. Dr. Christoph Neuberger, Freie University Berlin, Weizenbaum Institute and member of Plattform Lernende Systeme

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has long remained a promise, an unfulfilled promise. This seems to be about to change: With ChatGPT, Artificial Intelligence has arrived in everyday life. The chatbot's ability to answer openly formulated questions spontaneously, elaborately and, moreover, frequently correctly - even in the form of long texts - is extremely astounding and exceeds anything seen before. This is causing some excitement and giving AI development a whole new meaning in the public perception. In many areas, people are experimenting with ChatGPT, and business, science and politics are sounding out the positive and negative possibilities.

"A milestone in AI research"

Prof. Dr. Volker Tresp, Professor of Machine Learning at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich and member of the Technological Enablers and Data Science working group of Plattform Lernende Systeme

ChatGPT is currently moving the public. The text bot is one of the so-called big language models that are celebrated as a breakthrough in AI research. Do big language models promise real progress or are they just hype? How can voice assistants be used - and what conditions do we need to create in Europe so that business and society benefit from them? Volker Tresp answers these questions in an interview. He is a professor at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich with a research focus on machine learning in information networks and co-leader of the "Technological Enablers and Data Science" working group of Plattform Lernende Systeme.

AI research: Where is it headed?

Prof. Dr. Volker Tresp, Professor of Machine Learning at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich and working group leader at Plattform Lernende Systeme

Developments in the field of AI are currently progressing rapidly. Generative AI continues to cause a stir and fuel international competition, but it is also reaching its limits due to its hunger for data and resources and a lack of transparency.

Artificial intelligence: explain or not explain?

Prof. Dr. Wojciech Samek, Professor of Machine Learning and Communication at the Technical University of Berlin and Head of the Artificial Intelligence Department and Explainable AI Group at the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) and member of the Technological Enablers and Data Science working group in Plattform Lernende Systeme.

Modular systems designed by humans can be highly complex. Modern AI systems exceed this complexity many times over. However, the functions or qualities of individual neurons in the model remain largely unclear. As a result, results are often not comprehensible, which is problematic in many areas. How can explainable AI (XAI) methods and trends contribute to improving trust and quality?