We Are All Data Now

Abstract

An abiding concern for the responsible use of data is nothing new for those of us among the ranks of data professionals. Whether from the perspective of research, education, commerce, or policy, careful consideration of data ethics is an important aspect of our work. The recent increase in the accessibility and prevalence of “generative AI” technology adds a new dimension to the digital landscape and a new level of difficulty for would-be facilitators of information literacy. Briefly, generative AI uses complex, impenetrable statistical models to produce novel combinations of text or images in response to user prompts. The best-known example may be ChatGPT, which can in mere seconds write a poem in the style of Edgar Allen Poe, a tailored marketing pitch, or a research paper that may or may not be accurate. What does this mean for us?