OpenAI’s ChatGPT Initiatives with Santosh Karthikeyan Viswanathan

In preparation for the 2024 US Presidential elections, OpenAI has revealed a comprehensive set of updates designed to counteract potential abuses, deepfakes, and misinformation originating from AI, ensuring the integrity of the voting process.

Expressing its commitment to empowering individuals through AI tools that enhance daily life, OpenAI’s official blog post outlines the first major update—a new provenance classifier tool tailored for DALL·E-generated images. Early results are promising, and the tool is set for feedback from initial testers, including journalists and researchers. This initiative aims to augment transparency in image provenance, allowing voters to scrutinize the tools employed in their creation. To further enhance this transparency, digital credentials from the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity are being incorporated, utilizing cryptography to encode image details.

Santosh Karthikeyan Viswanathan, Global Technical Director, Clinical Data & Insights at AstraZeneca, commends the transparency initiatives undertaken by ChatGPT, emphasizing the significance of fortifying image provenance. He says:

“In the quest for transparency, the team behind ChatGPT is taking significant steps to ensure the credibility of image provenance. By allowing voters to scrutinize the tools used in image creation and employing cryptographic encoding from the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity, they aim to fortify the trustworthiness of visual information.”

Addressing the realm of ChatGPT and its API, OpenAI has instituted strict prohibitions on applications related to political campaigning and lobbying until the effectiveness of personalized persuasion is thoroughly understood. Prohibited activities include impersonation of real individuals or institutions, discouraging voting, and misrepresenting voting processes. Users are encouraged to report any violations using the new GPTs, promoting enhanced accountability and user involvement.

Moreover, ChatGPT has seamlessly integrated with real-time global news reporting, providing users with sources and relevant links. This integration empowers voters to independently evaluate and trust the information they receive, contributing to a more informed electorate.

Santosh underscores the commitment to democratic processes, stating:

“The commitment to prohibiting the platform’s involvement in political campaigning and lobbying, along with stringent measures against impersonation and misinformation, underscores a dedication to safeguarding democratic processes and user trust.”

Collaborating with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), a nonpartisan group of public officials, OpenAI aims to improve access to authoritative voting information. ChatGPT guides users to CanIVote.org for accurate details on US voting, including polling locations, strengthening the link between AI technology and reliable voting resources.

“Collaboration with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) highlights a commitment to providing authoritative voting information. ChatGPT guides users to CanIVote.org for accurate details, including polling locations, enhancing access to reliable information, and supporting democratic participation,” says Santosh.

The incorporation of user reporting mechanisms serves as a final layer, enhancing accountability and user engagement, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to responsible AI use in the democratic context while keeping humans in the loop.

“The incorporation of user reporting mechanisms enhances accountability and user engagement, reinforcing the platform’s responsible use of AI in the democratic context, keeping humans in the loop,” concludes Santosh.

OpenAI’s innovative updates underscore a commitment to transparency, integrity, and responsible AI use in the democratic process, shaping a more secure and informed electoral landscape for the upcoming 2024 US Presidential elections and beyond.

Disclaimer: All views expressed by Santosh are personal and should not be considered as attributable to his employer.