AutoGPT is the latest artificial intelligence* tool taking the world by storm, but cybersecurity* experts warn.
This technology is based on the wildly popular ChatGPT, which acts as a chat bot*, conducting conversations and creating text responses in all forms, from poetry to school assignments to computer code.
However, unlike ChatGPT, AutoGPT is connected to the Internet, so it can also search for the latest information and download programs to the user’s computer.
It solves a problem, achieves a single goal set by the user, and can break it down into tasks and complete them without further human guidance.
The move towards semi-autonomous* AI is alarming the tech world, as AI is moving too fast for governments, industry experts, or the general public to keep up.
AustCyber Group executive Jason Murrell said everyone, including the Australian government, is “catching up” with AI.
This comes as the “godfather of AI” Geoffrey Hinton resigned from Google last week, leaving him free to talk about the dangers of AI and how fast it changes.
“I thought the idea of this actually being smarter than a human being… was 30 to 50 years away, maybe longer,” Hinton told the New York Times. “Of course I don’t think so anymore.”
But despite believing that AI could evolve to manipulate* or harm humans, Hinton said more than 27,000 people had signed a petition* to stop researching AI. Not one of the people.
“If the American people stop, the Chinese people won’t stop,” he said.
Freelancer.com CEO Matt Barrie is one of a growing number of Australians starting to experiment with AutoGPT.
He asked the bot to create a report on the mining company’s gold production over the past three years and tabulate it.
“It literally blew my mind,” Barry said.
“(without further prompting) I found various news sources…. The PDF I downloaded was unable to read the PDF, so I wrote code to read the PDF, debugged my own code and created a new ( programming) module, and actually upgraded (a computer program).
“I noticed that the math package was not installed… I googled how to install it, read it, and installed it.”
“It was crazy to watch it because you can see the thought process of, ‘This is what I’m going to do next,'” Barry said.
It’s not perfect yet, but I could imagine a future where “all the boring work” is given to bots like AutoGPT.
AutoGPT has also begun investigating another mining company, Barrie said. This is one of the reasons why security experts are concerned.
Tyler McGee, McAfee’s general manager of product growth, said cybercriminals can also use AutoGPT to “develop sophisticated scams,” and the speed at which the programs are released makes them easier to detect. It states that there may be vulnerabilities that are not
“For lack of a better word, many safeguards have been put in place to ensure that they are used for good rather than evil, but the speed with which these are deployed is always at risk. (There may be mistakes along the way,” McGee said.
Because it is so new and completely untested, many companies tell their employees not to install AutoGPT on work devices to avoid security vulnerabilities*.
What is CHATGPT good for?
• Ideas for recipes, games, TikTok videos, and more
• Convert long reports or speech to dot points
• Language translation
• Creating and modifying computer code
• Write a song, poem, or job resume
What is AUTOGPT good for?
• Use the internet and its powerful memory to solve complex tasks like building apps, downloading software, and creating spreadsheets
• Decompose a single goal into subtasks by itself
Create your own prompts and pathways to complete tasks
Glossary
artificial intelligence: computer’s ability to think and learn
Cyber security: Protect your computer and system from information theft or damage
Chatbot: Software or computer programs that simulate human speech or “chatter” through text or voice interaction
Semi-autonomous: partially self-controlled
operation: influence in an unfair way
Petition: request to change something
Vulnerability: weakness
extra reading
Cheating Fears See Schools Block ChatGPT
AI to help rescue the Great Barrier Reef
This is what a spider’s web looks like
quick quiz
1. What are the main differences that make AutoGPT problem solving better than ChatGPT?
2. Who is the “godfather of AI”?
3. Why are tech professionals concerned about the pace of AI?
4. Which AI bots are likely to take on “all the boring jobs”?
5. How many people have signed the petition to stop work on AI?
listen to this story
classroom activities
1. Danger of AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology offers some surprising benefits, but also some potential dangers. Work with your classmates to complete the table below.
time: You have 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Digital Technologies, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking.
2. Extension
Do you think AutoGPT will take over many of the jobs humans currently do?
What impact will this have on the economy?
What does this mean for the future jobs of today’s children?
time: You have 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Digital Technologies, Critical and Creative Thinking.
VCOP activity
1. Read with Kung Fu Punctuation
Stand up paired with the article for an easy demonstration of Kung Fu punctuation.
Practice reading sentence by sentence. Read it again, acting out the punctuation marks as you read.
Read and act on three sentences before exchanging with your partner.
Do 2 turns each.
Have your partner read the sentence aloud while you try to act out the punctuation marks. can you catch up? Replace?
Act out the two sentences. are you still smiling?
