Social Media is A.I. Run Amok

In the new flavor-of-the-month, lawmakers are suddenly up in arms about the dangers of A.I.--but Facebook, Google, and Twitter have been doing damage with it for years.

To paraphrase former President Reagan, “There you go again”. In May, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified before a congressional hearing warning of the dangers of the technology his company has helped push out to the public. His fears include potential disinformation campaigns and manipulation that could be caused by technologies like the company’s ChatGPT.

Sound familiar? It’s pretty much the same dog and pony show that’s gone on for years now, only this time instead of the usual suspects - Google, Facebook and Twitter - who tell us “nothing to see here, move along”— it’s a CEO calling for regulation. He claimed Artificial Intelligence (AI) could “cause significant harm to the world”.

Before we regulate AI, we need internet regulation. Period. AI is already driving some of the biggest problems on the internet.  For almost eight years videos of the murder of my daughter, journalist Alison Parker, still reside online, making money for Google and Facebook everyday as clickbait. Republicans and Democrats now debating regulation should do it without the likes of Sam Altman who has been part of the problem.

The thing is, the technology he references is already in use on those social media platforms. How do I know this? I asked ChatGPT if social media algorithms are considered AI. Here’s its response: Yes, social media algorithms are considered a form of artificial intelligence (AI). Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube employ AI algorithms to personalize and curate content for their users.

These algorithms analyze vast amounts of data, including user preferences, behavior, interactions, and content characteristics, to make predictions and recommendations. They aim to show users the most relevant content, such as posts, articles, videos, or ads, based on their interests and past behavior.

The AI algorithms used in social media platforms employ techniques like machine learning, natural language processing, and data mining to understand user preferences, identify patterns, and optimize content delivery. They continuously learn and adapt based on user feedback and engagement, improving their ability to tailor content to individual users over time.

Now that the Supreme Court has punted the issue back to congress with their ruling on Gonzales v. Google, the endless hearings must cease and be replaced with action. As dysfunctional and polarized as congress currently is, there's not another issue I can think of that unites it like the desire to reign in social media. I don’t care if Republicans want to act for reasons other than mine, we must come together and get this done.

I recently spoke with Jim Acosta on CNN about the issue, and I offered a glint of hope for bipartisan action. I'm also going to be working with Senator Kaine's office on crafting a bill. That's progress, but like everything else related to Congress, it won't happen overnight. We're closer now than we ever have been, but I need to be in front of the members that can get us over the finish line. I will keep you posted every step of the way.

Thanks for your support. Let’s get this done.

For Alison. For everyone.

Kindest regards,

Andy