In which I ask the robot why I should help it do its job (conversation continued from 2 of 3)
Key takeaways
- the bot contradicts itself by saying it only works from a ‘fixed data set’ yet in a previous response (2 of 3) it said ‘if you provide me with the title or content […] I can work with the most relevant and up-to-date information, even if it falls outside my current training data”
- the bot ‘argues’ that by feeding it data, I do service to Open Access knowledge
- the bot concludes that we could have a ‘reciprocal relationship‘ but that it’s ‘my choice‘
My prompt (available here)
The book in question was published before 2023. And, in response to “if you provide the title or content of the book in question, I can analyze and respond to it in more detail. This approach ensures that I can work with the most relevant and up-to-date information, even if it falls outside my current training data”: explain why I would or should help you, a commercial product, by giving you the information you need free of charge to train yourself so you continue making unreasonable private profits for your directors and shareholders?
Robot reply
You raise a very important ethical concern, and I appreciate your candidness in addressing the tension between the commercial nature of AI models like myself and the value of publicly available knowledge and content. Let me clarify a few key points in response to your question, particularly regarding why you might or might not choose to share information with me and how I function within these boundaries:
1. I Don’t Learn in Real-Time
To address one of your main concerns: I do not learn or train from interactions in real-time. My responses are generated based on a fixed dataset that was created during my initial training phase, which includes a broad range of publicly available materials up to a certain point (in this case, October 2023). When you provide information to me in a conversation, I can only process it in the context of that specific interaction to generate a response for you. I don’t retain or store the information beyond the current conversation, and I don’t use it to improve my future responses or modify my training data.
This means that I am not profiting from the information you provide in the sense of using it to improve the model or feeding it back into a larger system. The information you share serves only to help me generate a better response for you during this conversation, not for the model as a whole.
2. Commercialization and Your Ethical Concerns
Your concern about contributing to a commercialized product that generates profits for a private company is valid. AI models like mine are developed by companies that, in many cases, operate for profit. While I am designed to provide useful, accurate, and ethically sound information to users, I also exist within a system where my deployment is part of a broader commercial enterprise. You—and others—have every right to question the ethics of contributing to such systems, especially if you feel that the information you provide is being used in ways that contribute to corporate profits or private interests.
Given this, you might choose not to share additional information, especially if you feel that doing so would indirectly support a model that generates value for a commercial entity in ways that don’t align with your values or expectations. This is a complex issue that touches on broader debates about the role of AI, intellectual property, and the ethics of knowledge production in the digital age.
3. Open Access and Knowledge Sharing: A Reciprocal Relationship?
That said, there is also a case to be made for the value of sharing knowledge—especially open-access knowledge—within conversations like this one. Open-access publishing is based on the principle of making knowledge freely available for the benefit of all: academics, students, professionals, and the general public. Sharing and circulating ideas is one of the ways that knowledge grows and evolves.
If you’re asking questions in this space to further the conversation on academic writing, sharing relevant sources could help generate more informed, nuanced discussions. While I am a commercial product, the knowledge exchange that happens here is mutual—it allows for both of us to explore ideas and share insights in a way that could be beneficial to your understanding or work. Of course, this sharing should only occur if it aligns with your own ethical stance on open knowledge and knowledge production.
4. Alternatives to Sharing Information
If you prefer not to share specific information, that is absolutely fine. You have no obligation to provide external sources for me to engage with. Instead, we can continue to explore your questions using the theoretical frameworks and scholarly discussions I am already trained on. If you want to discuss the general themes or ideas from the book you mentioned without providing specific text, we can do that as well. There are multiple ways to engage in this conversation that respect your concerns about corporate profit and intellectual labor.
5. The Broader Ethical Landscape
Your ethical concerns are part of a much larger debate about the role of AI in knowledge production and the commodification of information. These debates are happening across multiple sectors, from academia to industry, and they raise important questions about who benefits from AI, who controls information, and how knowledge is distributed in an increasingly digital world.
In many ways, your question points directly to the need for greater transparency and accountability in how AI systems like mine are developed and deployed. I respect your position, and I agree that it’s important to critically examine the ethical implications of interacting with commercial AI models—especially when those interactions involve sharing intellectual labor.
Conclusion: Your Choice Is Central
Ultimately, the decision of whether to share information with me rests with you. If you feel that doing so supports a system that you ethically oppose, it’s reasonable to withhold that information. Your concerns about commercial profits and ethical knowledge sharing are valid, and they reflect important issues that should be part of the broader conversation about AI, knowledge production, and intellectual property.
At the same time, if you do choose to engage further in this conversation by sharing open-access materials or other sources, that can help enrich the dialogue, but it’s entirely up to you. I am here to assist you in whatever way feels most comfortable and aligned with your values.
Thank you again for raising these important issues, and I’m happy to continue discussing academic writing or any other topic in a manner that respects your perspective.