How apps like GPTZero detect content written by A.I.

CNBC Television
24 Jul 202305:14

TLDREdward Tian, co-founder and CEO of GPT Zero, discusses the importance of distinguishing between AI-generated and human-written content. As a computer science major with a journalism minor, Tian was inspired to develop GPT Zero to preserve the value of genuine writing amidst the rise of AI in content creation. He highlights the challenge of getting large AI companies to reveal when content is AI-generated, suggesting a need for third-party solutions like GPT Zero. Tian envisions a future where the tool not only detects AI-written content but also verifies human authorship, aiming to maintain the human element in writing. The discussion also touches on the implications for investors, emphasizing the importance of accurate information in decision-making and the potential risks of trading on false facts generated by AI.

Takeaways

  • 🎓 Edward Tian is the Co-founder and CEO of GPT Zero, with a background in both Computer Science and Journalism, which influenced his interest in ensuring the authenticity of written content.
  • 🔍 GPT Zero aims to detect AI-generated content, which is crucial for preserving the value of genuine writing and maintaining the integrity of information.
  • 🤝 An informal agreement was brokered by the White House, encouraging companies like Microsoft and Meta to adhere to principles that include revealing when content is AI-generated.
  • 🛡️ There's a challenge in getting major AI companies to invest in safeguards since their business model is based on AI generation, not detection.
  • 🌐 GPT Zero is considering third-party solutions and potential integrations, such as within devices' operating systems or browsers, to indicate AI-generated content.
  • 📉 The importance of accurate information is highlighted, as trading based on false facts identified by GPT Zero can be costly for businesses.
  • 💡 GPT Zero's core IP includes integration with Microsoft Word and an extension for web and email text detection, with future plans for a live tool to verify authorship.
  • 🌟 The vision for GPT Zero extends beyond detection to include a platform that incorporates both detection and verification, preserving the human aspect in writing.
  • 🚀 GPT Zero is working on enhancing AI detection technologies, which are also recognized by investors from an AI background as necessary for the generative AI industry.
  • 🤖 Current generative AI models like ChatGPT are not programmed to identify AI-generated content, but the technology used by GPT Zero could potentially be adapted for this purpose.
  • ⛓ The detection layer is seen as essential for training new AI models, as using AI-generated texts for training could lead to inaccurate and unreliable outcomes.

Q & A

  • What is the background of Edward Tian, the co-founder and CEO of GPT Zero?

    -Edward Tian is a Computer Science major with a minor in Journalism. He has conducted research with Microsoft and Princeton's Natural Language Processing app on detecting AI, and he has also worked for the BBC as a journalist.

  • What is GPT Zero's role in the field of AI-generated content?

    -GPT Zero is a tool designed to detect AI-generated content. It aims to preserve the value of genuine human writing and is seen as a necessary safeguard in an industry increasingly influenced by AI.

  • What was the informal agreement brokered by the White House regarding AI?

    -The informal agreement brokered by the White House involved major tech companies like Microsoft and Meta, committing to abide by certain principles and to reveal when content is AI-generated.

  • How does the incentive structure of big AI companies affect the development of safeguards against AI-generated content?

    -The big AI companies are incentivized to invest in the generation of AI rather than its detection. This has led some in the AI community to seek third-party solutions like GPT Zero to build new technologies for detecting AI-generated content.

  • What potential integrations is GPT Zero considering for its detection tool?

    -GPT Zero is considering integrations into devices' operating systems and browsers, possibly using visual cues like color changes to indicate AI-generated text.

  • Why is it important for investors to be aware of the source of information, especially in the context of AI-generated content?

    -Investors need accurate information to make informed decisions. AI-generated content can be prone to making up facts, which can lead to costly mistakes if acted upon.

  • What is GPT Zero's vision for its core intellectual property and the future of the company?

    -GPT Zero aims to expand beyond detection by building a live tool for people to prove authorship of their writing and verify it. They are also considering a platform that incorporates both detection and verification to preserve the human aspect in writing.

  • How does GPT Zero plan to use AI technology in the future?

    -GPT Zero plans to use AI technology to enhance its detection capabilities. They also envision using AI in a conversational generative way to identify higher likelihoods of AI-generated content.

  • What is the current limitation of generative AI models in identifying AI-generated content?

    -Current generative AI models, such as ChatGPT, are not programmed to identify AI-generated content. They are designed for content generation rather than detection.

  • Why do investors with an AI background support GPT Zero?

    -AI investors recognize the need for a detection layer in the industry of generative AI. They understand that using AI-generated texts to train new models can lead to inaccurate and unreliable outcomes.

  • How does GPT Zero's tool help in maintaining the integrity of information in the digital age?

    -GPT Zero's tool helps verify the authenticity of written content, ensuring that the information circulating is genuine and not artificially generated, which is crucial for maintaining trust and integrity in digital communication.

  • What is the potential impact of widespread AI-generated content on the journalism and writing industry?

    -The widespread use of AI-generated content could devalue authentic human writing, blur the line between real and artificial news, and potentially mislead readers, impacting the integrity and trustworthiness of the industry.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Genesis of GPT Zero: Journalism and AI

Edward Tian, the co-founder and CEO of GPT Zero, discusses his background in both computer science and journalism, which heavily influenced his motivation to create a tool that can distinguish genuine writing from AI-generated content. He highlights his research with Microsoft and Princeton on natural language processing and AI detection, as well as his experience as a journalist for the BBC. The conversation touches on the significance of preserving the value of authentic writing amidst the rise of AI in the industry.

05:01

🤖 The Challenge of AI Transparency and Detection

The discussion moves to the recent informal agreement brokered by the White House, involving major tech companies like Microsoft and Meta, to adhere to principles that include revealing when content is AI-generated. Edward Tian expresses the difficulty of this task, given the lack of incentives for large AI companies to invest in detection safeguards. He suggests that third-party solutions like GPT Zero might be necessary to develop new technologies for this purpose. The potential integration of such detection systems into devices and browsers is also considered, emphasizing the importance of accurate information in fields like investing, where misinformation can lead to significant financial losses.

💼 GPT Zero's Vision and Core IP Strategy

Edward Tian outlines GPT Zero's current integrations, such as with Microsoft Word, and their browser extension for text detection on the web and in emails. He envisions a future tool that not only detects AI-generated text but also provides a means for authors to prove their authorship and verify their work. The goal is to create a platform that preserves the human aspect in writing while allowing for the use of AI in a controlled and accountable manner.

🔍 The Future of AI Detection and Generative AI

The conversation explores the limitations of current generative AI models in self-detecting AI-generated content. Tian suggests that while these models are not currently programmed for such tasks, the same technologies used to enhance AI detection could be employed to improve this capability. He also notes the interest from investors with an AI background, such as Altman Capital and Sability AI, who recognize the necessity of a detection layer in the generative AI industry to prevent the misuse of AI texts in training new models.

Mindmap

Keywords

GPTZero

GPTZero is a tool designed to detect content that has been written by artificial intelligence (AI). It is a significant concept in the video as it represents the technological innovation that aims to preserve the authenticity of human writing in the face of increasing AI-generated content. In the transcript, Edward Tian, the co-founder and CEO of GPTZero, discusses the tool's importance and its potential integration into various platforms to help users verify the origin of texts.

AI-generated content

AI-generated content refers to any material, such as text or news articles, that is created by artificial intelligence rather than by a human. The video emphasizes the growing prevalence of such content and the need to distinguish it from human-generated content to maintain the integrity of information flow. An example from the script is the mention of GPTZero identifying over 500 sites using AI-generated news, highlighting the scale of the issue.

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Natural Language Processing is a field of computer science that focuses on the interaction between computers and human languages. It is a key technology behind tools like GPTZero, which uses NLP to analyze and detect AI-generated text. The transcript mentions Edward Tian's research with Microsoft and Princeton's NLP app, indicating the importance of NLP in developing detection mechanisms for AI content.

Journalism

Journalism is the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information. It is a central theme in the video as the integrity of journalism is threatened by the rise of AI-generated content. The script discusses how Edward Tian's background in journalism influenced his motivation to develop GPTZero, aiming to preserve the value of authentic writing.

Microsoft

Microsoft is a leading technology company that is mentioned in the context of its collaboration with GPTZero. The script highlights a partnership where GPTZero is integrated into Microsoft Word, demonstrating the tool's adoption by major industry players and its potential to become a standard feature in content creation and verification platforms.

Meta

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is referenced in the discussion about an informal agreement to reveal when content is AI-generated. This keyword is significant as it represents the involvement of major tech companies in the effort to maintain transparency and authenticity in digital content creation and distribution.

Investors

Investors are individuals or entities that provide capital for financial gain. The video script discusses the importance of accurate information for investors, as trading based on false facts can be costly. The development of tools like GPTZero is crucial for investors to make informed decisions, which is why understanding AI-generated content is not just a moral issue but also a business imperative.

Core IP

Core IP, or Intellectual Property, refers to the fundamental ideas, technologies, or inventions that form the basis of a company's competitive advantage. In the context of the video, Edward Tian speaks about GPTZero's current integrations and future vision, which includes not only detecting AI-generated text but also providing a platform for content verification and preserving the human aspect in writing.

Verification

Verification in the context of the video pertains to the process of confirming the authenticity or origin of a piece of content. GPTZero aims to provide a live tool for content verification, allowing authors to prove their authorship and ensuring that AI-generated content is clearly identified. This is crucial for maintaining trust in the information ecosystem.

Information Flow

Information flow refers to the movement and exchange of information within a system or network. The video emphasizes the importance of accurate information flow for various stakeholders, including investors. The integrity of this flow can be jeopardized by AI-generated content, making the role of tools like GPTZero essential in filtering and verifying the information.

Transparency

Transparency is the quality of being open, clear, and easily understood. In the video, the concept of transparency is linked to the disclosure of AI-generated content by tech companies like Microsoft and Meta. The script discusses the challenges and the need for third-party tools like GPTZero to ensure that content creators and consumers are aware of the source of the information they are engaging with.

Highlights

GPTZero is an application that can detect content written by AI, with over a million registered users since its launch in January.

Edward Tian, Co-founder and CEO of GPTZero, has a background in both Computer Science and Journalism, which influenced his motivation to distinguish genuine writing from AI-generated content.

Tian's research with Microsoft and Princeton's Natural Language Processing app focused on detecting AI, which is crucial for preserving the value of human writing.

An informal agreement brokered by the White House encourages companies like Microsoft and Meta to reveal when content is AI-generated.

Large AI companies may not be incentivized to build safeguards for AI detection as their business is in AI generation, not detection.

GPTZero is seen as a potential third-party solution to build new technologies for AI detection, as big companies might not prioritize it.

The future vision for GPTZero includes integration into devices' operating systems and browsers to indicate AI-generated content.

AI-generated content can be misleading and costly for investors who rely on accurate information for trading decisions.

GPTZero has identified over 500 sites using AI-generated news, which can lead to the propagation of false facts.

The core IP of GPTZero involves integration with platforms like Microsoft Word and the ability to detect texts on the web and in emails.

GPTZero is developing a live tool to prove and verify authorship of written content, preserving the human aspect in writing.

The company aims to create a new platform that incorporates both detection and verification of AI-generated content.

Current generative AI models like ChatGPT are not programmed to identify AI-generated content, but the technology to enhance AI detection is being developed.

Investors from an AI background recognize the need for a detection layer in the generative AI industry to prevent the use of AI texts for training new models.

GPTZero's vision is to use AI to catch AI, providing a conversational generative interface to identify the likelihood of content being AI-generated.

The detection of AI-generated content is critical for maintaining the integrity of information flow and ensuring accurate information for decision-making.

GPTZero's popularity has grown due to its ability to detect AI-written content, and the company is expanding its focus to include verification and authorship tools.