Navigating the Future: The Impact of GenAI on Information Access and Media Careers
On November 19, we were fortunate to have George Chen as a guest speaker, discussing how GenAI impacts the way we access information. He began by illustrating the progress of journalism over the past few decades, comparing the month-long delay in news of Lincoln's assassination reaching the entire U.S. to how news is now delivered in real-time. He divided the revolution of the internet into three phases: Directory, represented by Yahoo; Search, represented by Google; and Discovery, represented by Facebook. He then introduced ChatGPT as the fourth phase in the Q&A stage.
I believe that these phases don't replace one another, but rather coexist, with the earlier stages gradually fading. For instance, news platforms or forum sites like Yahoo are less popular among younger people today. Similarly, Google’s search engine won’t be replaced by Facebook’s social media, and while ChatGPT is unlikely to replace search engines in the short term, it does show signs of gradually doing so. Social media, unlike other stages, seems irreplaceable by current technologies.
During the discussion on whether generative AI might replace media professionals, George Chen quoted Bill Gates: “Context is king.” As long as we can create high-quality content, we will always be needed in the industry. We don’t need to be scientists in generative AI, but we must learn how to use it. George also suggested that data analysis-related jobs, including marketing and research, could be promising career paths for us.
Regarding the future of technology, George noted two major ideological clashes: Elon Musk’s focus on robots and Mark Zuckerberg’s focus on wearable devices. I believe that due to challenges like limited battery advancements and the difficulty of making transparent electronic components, wearable devices won’t see revolutionary progress in the near future. However, robots equipped with generative AI show clear potential for development.
George introduced a concept for AI development in three stages: ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence), AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), and ASI (Artificial Super Intelligence). We are currently in the AGI stage, and within 30 to 40 years, we may reach ASI.
He also touched on the issue of whether generative AI should be open-source. Meta leads in open-source AI, while OpenAI is closed-source. He discussed the pros and cons of each approach: openness brings transparency but also more risk, as it's unclear who is behind the technology. It's a double-edged sword.
Finally, George shared insights on the acceptance of generative AI in education. At The Chinese University of Hong Kong, strict regulations are in place for its use, and the school doesn't provide these tools to students. However, other institutions like The University of Hong Kong offer more access. He believes that, in general, new technologies should be open for use, and I agree with his view.
Reflecting on the lecture, I gained
valuable insights into the ongoing evolution of the internet and the increasing
role of AI. It made me think about how we, as future professionals, need to
adapt to these changes by developing new skills and staying open to emerging
technologies. I'm particularly inspired to explore how AI can complement our
work rather than replace it, and the importance of learning how to leverage
these tools effectively.
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