AI auto-complete may subtly shape views on social issues

[hunter]

Using AI to auto-complete written communications may be tempting. But the large language models may also auto-complete thoughts, researchers report March 11 in Science Advances.

Few people realize that generative AI chatbots are pushing them to think a certain way, says information scientist Mor Naaman of Cornell University. “It’s the subtlest of manipulations.”

Such manipulation may not matter much when letting AI agents such as ChatGPT and Claude auto-complete a banal email. But when people use an AI’s auto-complete function to opine on weightier societal matters, such as whether or not standardized testing should be used in education, the death penalty should be illegal or felons should be allowed to vote — three issues explored in the study — then the model’s bias can have significant societal impact. Large swaths of people using the same biased model could sway an entire population’s position on a given policy or politician. To flip a single election’s outcome, “you only need 20,000 people in Pennsylvania,” Naaman says.

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https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ai-autocomplete-social-issues-views

The language we use is important. Even when the words "sound right" that doesn't mean they are true. It's bad enough when we let our own language do our thinking for us, it's worse when we let an AI do it, especially when that AI does not represent our own best interests.

This is an even greater issue with logographic written languages where autocomplete is an intrinsic part of the electronic text entry process.

It's always bad news when we let machines do our thinking for us. It's especially bad when someone with ulterior motives controls those machines.

[Faux pas]

1. I hate auto complete

and don't know how to get rid of it

[cstanleytech]

3. I only use it for the spell checking and that's it and I ignore it's suggestions otherwise.

[Aussie105]

4. Avoid auto complete.

If you can't, read carefully what ends up on your screen and edit it if it doesn't reflect accurately what you meant to say.

Helps if you think about what you are trying to write, right down to the words and sentence structure you intend to use.

Speluuingk checquers cann bee userfull butt thei habe their limatations two!

[jfz9580m]

5. I can't seem to turn off autocomplete on my IOS

And would still be grateful for any feedback.
I went online and followed what instructions I could find. But it still autocompletes. I found that I can easily get used to typing out full words.

So much of this crap is so damn lazy - what I would find really “convenient” is extricating myself legally from a burgeoning full-fledged, creepy and invasive surveillance state whose main purpose is a series of bullshit jobs for Si Valley and its acolytes..pretty much anything Alex Pentland is an example.

I was “inducted” (as those types say) into it early..2011 and it looks as worthless and shitty as it did in 2011. It basically piles on to every working service, function or job..offers some trivial utility at best and then tries to take over everything..seriously..who would sign up for this knowingly or if they have any working knowledge of the intractable parts of reality which Si Valley and its brainless fans do not seem to?