The author argues that while many fear the impact of advanced AI technologies, it is the simpler, low-tech algorithms like plagiarism detection software that are causing significant disruption. The article concludes that the real power of AI lies in its ability to scale processes, and warns against overlooking the influence of more straightforward factors such as money, power, and influence in shaping our world.
Key takeaways:
- The 2024 culture wars are focusing on academic integrity, with high-profile plagiarism accusations leading to resignations and public backlash.
- Anti-plagiarism software, such as iThenticate, is being used to conduct large-scale plagiarism reviews, but the results require careful human review to avoid false positives.
- The term 'liar’s dividend' describes a scenario where synthetic media such as deepfakes become prevalent enough that anyone accused of bad behavior can simply cast doubt on whatever genuine evidence is used against them.
- AI's true power lies in its ability to scale and automate tasks with inhuman efficiency, which can be used for both positive and negative effects in society.