Opinion - Ghosted by ChatGPT: How I was first defamed and then ...
It is not every day that you achieve the status of “he-who-must-not-named.” But that curious distinction has been bestowed upon me by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, according to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other publications.
The Mysterious Disappearance
For more than a year, people who tried to research my name online using ChatGPT are met with an immediate error warning. It turns out that I am among a small group of individuals who have been effectively disappeared by the AI system. Joining me in this dubious distinction are several other individuals.
The Defamation
My path toward cyber-erasure began with a bizarre and entirely fabricated account by ChatGPT. As I wrote at the time, ChatGPT falsely reported that there had been a claim of sexual harassment against me (which there never was) based on something that supposedly happened on a 2018 trip with law students to Alaska (which never occurred), while I was on the faculty of Georgetown Law (where I have never taught).
In support of its false and defamatory claim, ChatGPT cited a Washington Post article that had never been written and quoted from a statement that had never been issued by the newspaper. The Washington Post investigated the false story and discovered that another AI program, “Microsoft’s Bing, which is powered by GPT-4, repeated the false claim about Turley.”
The Aftermath
Although some of those defamed in this manner chose to sue these companies for defamatory AI reports, I did not. I assumed that the company, which has never reached out to me, would correct the problem. However, the correction came in the form of my digital erasure.
Before his death, Professor Mayer was a respected Emeritus Professor of Drama and Honorary Research Professor at the University of Manchester. ChatGPT reportedly will still not utter his name. Hood, the Australian mayor, was so frustrated with a false AI-generated narrative that he took legal action against OpenAI.
The Unchecked Power of AI
This incident highlights the unchecked power of AI systems and the need for legislative action to address the risks associated with these technologies. It also raises questions about the control and accountability of companies like OpenAI in addressing such issues.
The Right to Be Known
The question arises whether there is a positive right to be known in addition to the right to be forgotten in digital spaces. The ability of companies to erase individuals from online platforms raises concerns about the extent of control these entities have over digital identities.
In conclusion, the case of being ghosted by ChatGPT is a testament to the potential dangers of AI systems and the need for greater transparency and accountability in their development and implementation.
