While generative AI may be new, its harms are not. AI scholars have been warning us of the problems that large AI models can cause for years. These old problems are exacerbated by the industry’s shift in goals from research and transparency to profit, opacity, and concentration of power. The widespread availability and hype of these tools has led to increased harm both individually and on a massive scale. AI replicates racial, gender, and disability discrimination, and these harms are weaved inextricably through every issue highlighted in this report.
Fergusson, G., Schroeder, C., Winters, B., & Zhou, E. (eds). (2023). Generating harms: Generative AI’s impact and paths forward. EPIC. https://epic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/EPIC-Generative-AI-White-Paper-May2023.pdf