On Thursday, March 16, Microsoft is planning to disclose extra of its grand scheme for implementing AI chatbot ChatGPT’s options into but extra facets of our lives – particularly, how the tech agency has large plans to “reinvent productiveness with AI”.

In addition to being totally meaningly company advertising jargon, this notion of ‘reinventing productiveness’ is regarding at greatest, particularly since we don’t know what it truly entails but. Hypothesis is rife that Microsoft plans to combine ChatGPT into the Microsoft 365 (previously Workplace) software program suite, together with the Dynamics 365 suite for enterprise use.

This comes sizzling on the heels of Microsoft shoving the chatbot into virtually every little thing it owns. Beginning out with the combination of ChatGPT into Bing and following quickly with AI-powered additions to Skype and the Home windows 11 taskbar, Microsoft has been going arduous in terms of AI in its software program.

We had already speculated concerning the methods during which ChatGPT might remodel Microsoft’s shopper software program suite, so it’s not like this can be a large shock. Nonetheless, I’m anxious about the entire prospect; Microsoft is speeding into its AI implementation plan, and it’s going to trigger extra issues than it solves.

The AI arms race

Microsoft’s obvious want to shoehorn AI options into but extra of its merchandise is probably going a response to competitor Salesforce’s personal strikes in partnering up with ChatGPT creator OpenAI to carry the chatbot to Slack (in addition to Snapchat introducing its personal AI chatbot) This kind of reactionary decisionmaking is never a clever transfer, particularly when it entails AI.

ChatGPT has already confirmed itself to be, effectively, problematic. Whether or not it’s getting used to commit cybercrime or create spurious pictures competitors entries, AI poses some very critical dangers. Many of those issues are brought on by human abuse of AI software program, however instruments like ChatGPT have their very own failings too.

We’re witnessing a real-time arms race to cram AI tech into each side of our lives, and I wouldn’t belief Microsoft (or any large tech firm, like Google or Meta) to be the harbingers of this chatbot renaissance. Proper now, Microsoft is demonstrating a scarcity of warning in terms of ChatGPT and AI typically, particularly because it’s an area but to see critical regulation from main governments.

I’ll admit that AI coming to the 365 suite is definitely a a lot much less horrible thought than, say, letting ChatGPT make video content material. The power to ask ChatGPT one thing easy like ‘add some animations to my PowerPoint presentation’ or ‘reformat this textual content doc as a letter’ is each helpful and comparatively non-threatening – although the potential for Microsoft Phrase to easily write content material for you is a bit regarding, particularly for the educational area.

I’m not saying that ChatGPT being added to those instruments goes to break our lives, however it has points – and I’m positively not satisfied that Microsoft is taking all the appropriate precautions right here. It is a scenario the place warning might be rewarded; Google isn’t letting individuals stand up shut and private with its new AI simply but, and Microsoft themselves needed to restrict the Bing chatbots replies after a complete load of weirdness from the AI. Charging forward with extra AI instruments proper now? Not a superb look.