From science fiction to reality: The dawn of emotionally intelligent AI

Sometimes it feels like the world is suddenly jumping forward. Indeed, that was the case 18 months ago when OpenAI first released ChatGPT. According to Study at UBS, ChatGPT reached over 100 million users in its first two months of release, making it the fastest growing consumer application in history. At that moment, there was a distinct feeling that something dramatic was happening.

The world then went from fascination and excitement to fear and anxiety over the possibility of impending extinction by rogue AI. Remember the “pause” that Elon Musk and hundreds of others proposed, arguing that AI development should be halted for six months? But this didn’t happen, ironic. Notably, Musk began building his own ChatGPT-like alternatives around this time.

AI researcher Eliezer Yudkowsky and others Worried ChatGPT pointed to a near future in which AI “gains intelligence smarter than humans” and kills everyone.It became even more Snazzy It is for people to rate their beliefs about the likelihood of this outcome and is called the “probability of ruin” or “P”. The theme was “What is your P (destiny)?” dinner conversationat least in Silicon Valley and other tech hangouts.

People who claim to have high P (doom) have been labeled as “doomers.” includedEdited Jeffrey Hinton, one of the “godfathers of AI” I decided a year ago He learned that the AI ​​technology he helped advance was progressing much faster than he expected. His concerns about the potential existential risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems prompted the change in his position.

paradigm shift

Nevertheless, we are still here. Perhaps the risks still exist here, and only sometime in the future.But instead terminatorwe got a friendly virtual assistant like Summernthat. This new assistant feature is based on GPT-4o (the “o” in omni), released this week by OpenAI.Understand audio, vision, and text in real time” It can speak naturally without noticeable lag, read emotional cues (and respond kindly), and process visual input. In line with these new features, senior writer Mark Sullivan said: fast company concluded ChatGPT is “more emotionally intelligent.”

AI Editor Ryan Morrison tom’s guide assumed: “What we are witnessing, and I think other companies will be catching up, is the beginning of a new era in human-computer interface technology.” Prime Minister Scott Morrison added that this was “the first “This is a paradigm shift in access to information on par with printing presses, typewriters, personal computers, the Internet, and even smartphones.” After seeing a live demo of GPT-4o, I had to agree with this statement. It certainly felt like an even bigger leap forward.

AGI or narrow AI?

But this shouldn’t happen, at least not now. Just a few months ago, believed it Achieving this level requires artificial general intelligence (AGI) and requires significant scientific advances in areas such as natural language processing, emotional intelligence, and creativity.

No one would argue that this new level of virtual assistants is AGI, a general intelligence that matches or exceeds human-level performance across a wide range of cognitive tasks. He asked ChatGPT about this and was agreed that GPT-4o is not yet AGI. “GPT-4o should be described as a weaker evolution.” [or narrow] love. It is a sophisticated tool that blends multiple types of data processing in innovative ways, pushing the boundaries of what AI can do within specified parameters, but not with fully autonomous general intelligence. rather than operating under the limitations of the machine designed for the specific application. ”

Useful parlor tricks and applications?

of GPT-4o demo It felt like magic, but could it be useful in the real world? Adding human-like interactions can make AI technology more natural and engaging for users, enabling applications such as customer service, virtual assistance, education, and more. This has the potential to clearly improve the user experience across a variety of applications, including entertainment.

Kevin Ruth, Technology Columnist new york timeswhich has recently become a hot topic due to hard forks. podcast and in that times He talks about the “AI friends” he has created on multiple platforms such as Nomi, Kindroid, and Replika. All of these companies use large language model (LLM) technology similar to the one that powered his ChatGPT before GPT-4o. Roos allowed him to create 18 personalized companions, give each one a backstory, and chat through text messages. He was able to speak to some of them, but there was a considerable time lag. Even before the news of GPT-4o and its ability to “see” and communicate emotions and near real-time voice response was announced, he concluded: “The technology needed for a realistic AI companion already exists.”

Other companies are already building on GPT-4o, including some that add faces to audio. With synchronized facial expressions and lip movements, this feature not only enhances the already remarkable AI friend, but also has applications in medicine, nursing, coaching, and education, where a friendly face can make a difference. Adding a human-like face makes it easier to imagine virtual teachers, healthcare advisors, brand representatives, and more.

Improved ability to integrate audio, visual, and textual data opens up potentially transformative opportunities in areas such as healthcare, potentially leading to more nuanced patient interactions and personalized care plans. .

doctors have already explore Possible implications of this advancement include virtual health that “acts as a 24/7 health advisor, providing instant medical advice, reminding patients about medications, and even offering mental health support.” Includes assistant. This could include empathic support for mental health issues, which supplements traditional treatments by recognizing and responding to subtle cues in patients’ behavior.

In education, this technology can accommodate different learning styles with adaptive content that responds to each student’s needs in real time.For example, in this videoSal Khan and his son Imran, founders of Khan Academy, whose mission is to provide free education, use GPT-4o to solve math problems.

As GPT-4o and similar products continue to evolve, we can expect more sophisticated forms of natural language understanding and emotional intelligence. This could lead to AI that not only understands complex human emotions, but also responds in increasingly appropriate and helpful ways. In the future, AI may become an integral part of emotional support networks, providing companionship and assistance that feels genuinely empathetic and informative.

The journey of AI from niche technology to a fundamental part of everyday interactions has been both exhilarating and daunting. To navigate this AI revolution responsibly, it is essential that developers, users, and policymakers engage in rigorous and ongoing dialogue about the ethical use of these technologies. As GPT-4o and similar AI tools become more integrated into our daily lives, we must navigate this transformational journey with wisdom and foresight and learn how to avoid AI from dehumanizing us. We need to ensure that it continues to be an empowering tool.

Gary Grossman is Vice President of Technology Practice. edelman He is also the global leader of the Edelman AI Center of Excellence.