AI politicians, the voice of Her and animal communications

Introduction

Too long didn’t read brought to you by the Alan Turing Institute, the National Institute for Data Science and AI. Welcome to Too Long Didn’t Read (TL;DR), a choice selection of AI and data science morsels. I’m Jonah, a digital content producer here at the Turing, and I’m Smara, a researcher in Data Justice in Global Ethical Futures. Another busy month, Jonah. I know Taylor Swift is in the UK, but I was thinking more in terms of the snap election creeping up on us.

So this week, we will talk about the UK's first AI candidate for Parliament, AI Steve, and see how real life begins to mirror art as Scarlette Johansson, the star of AI blockbuster "Her," sues OpenAI. We also explore how AI helps us communicate with animals, bringing Dr. Doolittle to life.

Celebrating Alan Turing’s Legacy

This month marks the 112th anniversary of the birth of Alan Turing, the Institute’s namesake. I recently visited Bletchley Park with my daughter, an experience that got me thinking about what Turing would think of the AI-centric world we live in now.

AI in Parliament: Introducing AI Steve

AI Steve is the moniker of Steve Endicott, a Brighton-based businessman running for Parliament as an independent candidate. Endicott's party, Smarter UK, will record all public conversations with the chatbot and create policy drafts based on public input. These drafts will be sent out weekly to local validators who will score the policies. Validators will control all of AI Steve’s parliamentary votes.

Notably, the tech behind AI Steve is Neural Voice, an AI voice company of which Endicott is the chair. While AI Steve might be the UK's first AI politician, it isn’t the world's first. That honor goes to SAM (Semantic Analysis Machine), launched in 2022 by New Zealand entrepreneur Nick Garrettson in partnership with Victoria University in Wellington.

AI Steve's technocratic approach focuses on statistical politics—gathering enough impressions from the public, adding them up, and translating them into policy. But does this remove the human ego from politics?

Expert Opinions: A Conversation with Dr. Mike Cattell

This month’s guest is Dr. Mike Cattell, an Ethics Fellow in the Turing’s Public Policy Program. He explains that while AI Steve is a fascinating gimmick, its approach to politics might be too technocratic. The project is more about statistical politics than genuine governance.

Cattell raises concerns about how these technologies might alienate people further from the political process. Additionally, there's the question of liability and how we can hold someone accountable for errors made by AI.

The Voice of "Her": Scarlett Johansson vs. OpenAI

Scarlet Johansson, who voiced the AI in the movie "Her," is suing OpenAI because she believes their voice assistant named Sky sounds eerily similar to her. This case raises questions about current regulations and the applicability of existing laws to generative AI.

Using female voices for AI assistants is another topic open for discussion. It's suggested that female voices are seen as more human and nurturing, but this could perpetuate sexist views about women.

The Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act

Johansson’s case supports the ongoing bill called the NO FAKES Act, focused on protecting artists, actors, and authors from any kind of copyright infringement. The bill’s success could significantly shape the future relationship between generative AI and the entertainment industry.

Understanding Animals with AI

This month, several stories emerged about using AI to decode animal communications. Researchers are decoding dogs' barks and have discovered that elephants call each other by individual-specific names. This could help us understand animals better and potentially help their conservation.

The Earth Species Project

ASA Raskin, co-founder of the Earth Species Project, highlights how AI can help us understand nonhuman communication. This could provide deeper wisdom and solutions for many of humanity's problems.

Practical Applications

For instance, decoding elephants' calls could help warn them not to eat crops, thus protecting them from human harm. AI is also helping to reduce the need for animal testing by using vast datasets and creating software for preliminary toxicity tests.

Positive News in AI and Animal Testing

AI shows promise in helping reduce animal testing. Significant developments have been made, moving us closer to an era where AI can play a part in transitioning away from using animals in any tests or experiments.

Conclusion

From AI in politics to reducing animal testing, the potential applications of AI are vast and varied. While there are ethical considerations, the future holds exciting possibilities for AI in making the world a better place.

Keywords

• AI Steve
• Alan Turing
• Scarlett Johansson
• OpenAI
• NO FAKES Act
• Animal Communication
• Earth Species Project

FAQ

What is AI Steve?

AI Steve is an AI chatbot created by Brighton-based businessman Steve Endicott, running for Parliament as an independent candidate. It uses public input to generate policy drafts, which are then validated by local volunteers.

Who is Scarlett Johansson suing and why?

Scarlett Johansson is suing OpenAI because she believes their voice assistant, Sky, sounds eerily similar to her voice from the movie "Her."

How does AI help in understanding animal communication?

AI is used to analyze and classify animal sounds, using vast datasets to decode different vocalizations. This could help in understanding and protecting various animal species better.

What is the Earth Species Project?

The Earth Species Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using AI to decode nonhuman communication, aiming to understand animals better and gain wisdom for solving human issues.

How is AI reducing the need for animal testing?

AI is used to analyze extensive datasets from previous studies and develop software for preliminary toxicity tests, thereby reducing the need for immediate animal testing.