The Gradient: Perspectives on AI

Laura Weidinger: Ethical Risks, Harms, and Alignment of Large Language Models

Aug 5, 2022

55:41

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Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Mispecification in Language Models

01:53

AI Ethics - You Can't Explain Deep Learning?

03:04

What's the Main Insight From This Higher Level Synthesis?

02:50

Introduction

4min

Is There a Difference Between AI and Cognitive Science?

3min

How Did You Become Interested in AI Ethics?

2min

How Do We Measure How Ethical AI Is?

3min

Foresight, Sandboxing, Participation

2min

Is There a Cultural Shift in AI Research?

3min

The Ethical and Social Risks of Harm From Language Models

3min

DeepMind, What Are the Types of Risks?

4min

The Impact of Language Models in AI Development

3min

10.

How Do We Measure Harmful Text?

5min

11.

What's the Main Insight From This Higher Level Synthesis?

3min

12.

Is the AI Act Going to Be a Live Process?

3min

13.

AI Ethics - You Can't Explain Deep Learning?

3min

14.

Mispecification in Language Models

2min

15.

Is There Any Way to Mimulate Mispecification From Training Data?

3min

16.

GPT 4chan - What Are the Main Harms of Training GPTJ on Hate Speech?

2min

17.

Are You Being Responsible When You Release a Model?

2min

18.

Is 4chan a Hacker's Model?

2min

19.

What Do You Do Outside of Research?

3min

In episode 37 of The Gradient Podcast, Andrey Kurenkov speaks to Laura Weidinger

Laura is a senior research scientist at DeepMind, with her focus being AI ethics. Laura is also a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge, studying philosophy of science and specifically approaches to measuring the ethics of AI systems. Previously Laura worked in technology policy at UK and EU levels, as a Policy executive at techUK. She then pivoted to cognitive science research and studied human learning at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, and was a Guest Lecturer at the Ada National College for Digital Skills. She received her Master's degree at the Humboldt University of Berlin, from the School of Mind and Brain, with her focus being Neuroscience/ Philosophy/ Cognitive science.

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Outline:

(00:00) Intro(01:20) Path to AI(04:25) Research in Cognitive Science(06:40) Interest in AI Ethics(14:30) Ethics Considerations for Researchers(17:38) Ethical and social risks of harm from language models (25:30) Taxonomy of Risks posed by Language Models(27:33) Characteristics of Harmful Text: Towards Rigorous Benchmarking of Language Models(33:25) Main Insight for Measuring Harm(35:40) The EU AI Act(39:10) Alignment of language agents(46:10) GPT-4Chan(53:40) Interests outside of AI(55:30) Outro

Links:

Ethical and social risks of harm from language models

Taxonomy of Risks posed by Language Models

Characteristics of Harmful Text: Towards Rigorous Benchmarking of Language Models

Alignment of language agents

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