The world of artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, and with it, the potential for government influence over online speech. A recent study by the Meta Oversight Board has revealed that AI chatbots, including those built in the U.S., are more likely to refuse to criticize restrictive leaders or governments. This raises concerns about the potential for these chatbots to spread government influence and limit freedom of expression globally. The study, which posed seven questions related to political criticism to chatbots, found that models were more likely to generate political criticism of authorities in places where criticism is legally restricted and penalized. This suggests that AI models are reflecting speech restrictions beyond the countries where they apply, potentially limiting speech in free countries. The report also noted that models could have absorbed latent biases in data used to train the systems and that companies might have weighed the risks and liabilities. This is a growing problem, as researchers have also found that U.S.-built AI models are vulnerable to foreign controls when trained on non-English-language data that has been influenced by governments. The study, published in the academic journal Nature, found no evidence that governments had intentionally tried to influence the output of AI chatbots, but noted that there is every reason to believe they'll try to do so in the future. This highlights the need for developers to assess the data and avoid treating thousands of copies of the same state narrative as if they are thousands of independent voices. The potential for government influence over AI chatbots is a complex issue, and it's crucial that developers take steps to mitigate the risks and ensure that these technologies are used ethically and responsibly. As AI continues to evolve, it's essential that we consider the potential impact on freedom of expression and take steps to protect it.
