A Labour peer has taken a novel approach to draw attention to the growing presence of artificial intelligence (AI) in our daily lives. Lord Knight of Weymouth delivered a speech in the House of Lords entirely composed by AI, demonstrating how this technology is "infiltrating everyday life."
Lord Knight proposed an amendment to the Online Safety Bill, aiming to ensure that AI-generated content on social media platforms is appropriately labelled. He argued that such labelling would empower individuals to make informed decisions and safeguard against misinformation and manipulation in the digital era.
In a surprising revelation towards the end of his speech, Lord Knight disclosed that his entire speaking note had been generated by AI. He emphasized, "I do so not to belittle the amendment, but to illustrate that these tools are already infiltrating everyday life."
The 58-year-old peer, who was a Labour MP for South Dorset from 2001 to 2010, emphasized the importance of distinguishing between human-generated and AI-generated content.
He said: "By clearly distinguishing between human-generated and AI-generated content, we empower individuals to make informed decisions about the information they consume, promoting transparency and reducing the potential for misinformation or manipulation."
Addressing concerns about burdening innovation, Lord Knight remarked, "Some may argue that labelling AI-generated content is an unnecessary burden, or that it could stifle innovation. However, the intention behind this amendment is not to impede progress, but to foster a healthier digital ecosystem built on trust, integrity, and informed decision-making."
He concluded his impassioned plea, saying, "I urge you to support this amendment as we strive to build a future where technology works hand in hand with humanity for the betterment of all. And in the spirit of the amendment, I must flag that that entire speaking note was generated by AI... In using this tool I do so not to belittle the amendment, but to illustrate that these tools are already infiltrating everyday life, that they can supercharge misinformation, and we need to do something to ease internet users in trusting what they read."
Responding to the debate, culture minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay acknowledged the challenges presented by artificial intelligence and digitally manipulated content. However, he declined to commit to labelling such content through legislation, stating, "The labelling of this content via draft legislation is not something to which I can commit today. The Government's AI regulation white paper sets out the principles for the responsible development of artificial intelligence in the UK."
He further explained, "These principles, such as safety, transparency, and accountability, are at the heart of our approach to ensuring the responsible development and use of AI. We are building an agile approach that is designed to be adaptable in response to emerging developments. We don't wish to introduce a rigid, inflexible form of legislation for what is a flexible and fast-moving technology."
This exchange took place as the upper chamber concluded its meticulous examination of the Online Safety Bill during the committee stage. The bill will undergo further scrutiny in the future.
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