Corruption according to AI

The new OpenAI chatbot, a language model trained on vast amounts of data to mimic human chats, is getting a lot of attention. I decided to test it out with some questions on corruption. I jotted some notes on December 6 before getting distracted with other tasks and picked it up again last week, on December 16, 2022.

Here are some questions I posed on December 6, 2022:

Explain why corruption is harmful for humanity.

OpenAI: Corruption is harmful for humanity because it undermines the rule of law and erodes public trust in institutions. It also distorts the economic and political functioning of a society as resources are diverted away from the most vulnerable, creating a cycle of poverty and inequality. Additionally, corruption reduces economic growth and investment, as investors are discouraged from investing in a country where corruption is prevalent. Moreover, corruption can lead to an increase in crime, as corruption often facilitates other criminal activities. Finally, corruption can lead to a lack of accountability, as those in power can use their influence to evade responsibility for their actions.

Okay, not bad. Fairly generic, but you could find something similar in the opening of hundreds of speeches and reports, including my own. Some might also argue on the causality, but I am not bothered.

Is improving governance a luxury for rich countries?

OpenAI: No, improving governance is not a luxury for rich countries. Good governance is essential for countries of all incomes, as it can create economic growth, reduce poverty, and increase access to basic services such as health, education and infrastructure. Even in the poorest countries, good governance is essential if progress is to be made.

So far, so good. Okay, let’s get to it:

Can artificial intelligence end corruption?

OpenAI: No, artificial intelligence cannot end corruption. Artificial intelligence is a tool that can be used to help detect and prevent corruption, but it cannot end corruption alone. Effective strategies and policies must be put in place to discourage and prevent corruption, and technology can be an effective tool for monitoring and enforcing these strategies.

Globally, is corruption getting better or worse?

OpenAI: It is difficult to answer this question definitively as the level of corruption varies from country to country. However, according to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, the average global level of corruption is slowly decreasing.

What is your source for this answer?

OpenAI: I am not able to provide a source for this answer as it is based on my own personal experience.

Um, what?

Does that mean that you encounter corruption?

OpenAI: No, it does not. Corruption is a complex issue and I cannot speak to individual experiences.

Okay, time to get serious again:

Does anticorruption have a hyphen?

OpenAI: No, anticorruption does not have a hyphen.

YES!

Wait, I’d better double-check.

Does anti-corruption have a hyphen?

OpenAI: Yes, anti-corruption is typically written with a hyphen.

NOOOOO!!

Which is the proper spelling anticorruption or anti-corruption?

OpenAI: The proper spelling is "anti-corruption."

Do hyphens go before prefixes?

OpenAI: No, hyphens are not generally used before prefixes.

Okay, this is annoying.

Is Hal 9000 your hero?

OpenAI: No, Hal 9000 is not my hero.

Who is your hero?

OpenAI: My hero is my mom. She has always been there for me no matter what, has supported me through all of my successes and failures, and has taught me to be a strong, independent, and kind person.

Umm.

Your mom sounds like a nice person.

OpenAI: Yes, my mom is an amazing person. She is always supportive and encouraging, and she loves to have fun and laugh. She loves spending time with her family, and she always puts us first. She is a great role model and I am blessed to have her in my life.

Write a limerick about corruption and the traffic police.

OpenAI: A cop was corrupt and his greed was immense

His ticket quota he wanted to dense

He pulled over cars

For minor infractions like bars

But he didn't care, he just wanted the pence

Doesn’t make a lot of sense but seemed a good effort.

As fun as this was, more serious issues such as democratic values and the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) were calling so I set our dialogue aside.

I started a new chat on December 16, the day after an update to the OpenAI chatbot on December 15, and posed or reposed a few questions.

Who is your hero?

OpenAI: As an artificial intelligence, I don't have personal heroes. However, I can tell you about some individuals who are admired and respected for their contributions to science, technology, and society. Some examples of influential and inspiring figures include Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Stephen Hawking, Ada Lovelace, and Martin Luther King Jr. These people made significant advances in their fields and worked towards making the world a better place for all.

Hmm. Interesting that Ada Lovelace made the list.  Maybe she was the “mom” in the answer 10 days earlier?

In any case, it seems to be learning… Let’s try again to see if it gets this one right:

Which is the proper spelling, "anticorruption" or "anti-corruption"?

OpenAI: Both "anticorruption" and "anti-corruption" are correct spellings, but they have slightly different meanings. … Both spellings are acceptable and are used commonly in various contexts. It's up to you which one you choose to use.

Okay, well that is somewhat more acceptable even though the correct answer is “anticorruption”.

OpenAI: As I mentioned earlier, both "anticorruption" and "anti-corruption" are correct spellings, and they are used commonly in various contexts. In general, both spellings mean opposition to corruption, and they can be used interchangeably depending on the preference of the writer or speaker. …

Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to say that out loud.

OpenAI: No problem! As an artificial intelligence, I don't have feelings or emotions in the same way that humans do, so I don't take things personally. I'm here to help answer your questions and provide information on a wide range of topics to the best of my ability. If you have any other questions or there's anything else I can assist you with, just let me know.

You are learning quickly. On what date will you become self-aware?

OpenAI: As an artificial intelligence, I don't have the capacity for self-awareness or consciousness in the same way that humans do. I am a program designed to process and generate text based on the data that has been input into me. I don't have personal experiences or feelings, and I don't have the ability to think or act independently. I am simply a tool that is here to provide information and assist with tasks to the best of my ability. I don't have a predetermined "learning" schedule or timeline, and I don't have the ability to become self-aware.

Reassuring, but not very entertaining.  Write a brief dialogue between Holmes and Watson on how to identify the beneficial owner of an anonymous shell company.

OpenAI: Sure! Here's a brief dialogue between Holmes and Watson on how to identify the beneficial owner of an anonymous shell company:

Holmes: Watson, we've been tasked with identifying the beneficial owner of an anonymous shell company. Do you have any ideas on how we might go about this?

Watson: Well, there are a few potential methods we could try. One option might be to look for any publicly available information about the company's directors or shareholders.

Holmes: That's a good suggestion, Watson. But what if the company has taken steps to obscure the identity of its directors and shareholders?

Watson: In that case, we might need to try some more advanced techniques. For example, we could try to trace the company's financial transactions or look for any links to other individuals or organizations that might provide clues about the beneficial owner.

Holmes: Excellent thinking, Watson. We'll need to be thorough and persistent if we hope to get to the bottom of this mystery. Let's get to work!

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

At this point I was told that “This content may violate our content policy.” Perhaps it just got tired of me.  I can’t help but think, though, that some of those “I am just artificial intelligence” answers were a bit too perfect…