The AI Opt-Out Puzzle

The dilemma of data sharing in AI: competitive edge vs collective benefit; enhancing remote work communication

Author

The AI Exchange
October 03, 2023

Welcome to another edition of the best damn newsletter in AI. Here we’ll break down AI topics that matter, open your mind to use cases, and keep you ahead of the curve.

Our #1 goal is to be useful. So please shoot us an email 📩 if you have questions or feedback, and especially if you implement something we share!

Here's what we're covering today:

  • Google will now let you opt-out of AI training on your content… but should you?

  • How to use AI to be nicer (can also be more direct, anything you want)

  • Meta and OpenAI keep pushing to go mainstream

... and if someone forwarded this email to you, thank them 😉, and subscribe here!

Let’s get to it! 👇

TODAY'S PERSPECTIVE

Google will let you opt-out of AI training… but should you?

Last week, Google made a move to allow users to opt out of their web content being scraped and used for training AI models like Bard, following OpenAI's similar decision with GPTBot.

And it's once again stirred up a crucial question: should we opt out?

While the instinct to protect one's intellectual property (IP) is natural, the situation is more nuanced than a simple "yes" or "no" answer.

The AI landscape is facing a tragedy of the commons problem, where individual decisions to share or withhold data can have significant consequences for the collective.

You might opt-out. But if your competitors don't, and get some benefit from the exchange, then you risk putting yourself at a disadvantage.

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So, how do we navigate this complex issue?

We want a simple framework 😅 but at the moment, the best we have is a set of dimensions to consider. Here’s our list 👇️ 

1. Consider competitive differentiation: Is this data that provides a critical competitive edge? (and challenge yourself on that… is it really?)

2. Data anonymization: Could sharing anonymized data mitigate those risks? If it would? It’s more likely someone will do it.

3. Ethical considerations: The ethical implications of sharing data need to be examined. Would your customers be supportive?

4. Reputational risk: How customers perceive your decision to share data, even if it is anonymized or stripped of identifying features, is crucial.

5. FOMO vs FOJI: Weigh the Fear of Missing Out (on potential benefits) against the Fear of Joining In (and aiding competitors or exposing sensitive data, is that a term?? it is now).

Ultimately - in the evolving landscape of AI and IP ownership, it's not just about staying ahead, but also about making choices that resonate with your business ethos.

So, should you opt out? The answer is still, it depends 😅 

USE CASE

Say Goodbye to Passive Aggressive Slack Messages

Miscommunication in remote work can lead to unnecessary tension. Here's how AI can help you convey your messages more effectively:

1. Use the "Rewrite Slack Message" prompt below to reframe your messages, ensuring they're perceived as intended.

2. Practice better communication by making your messages nicer and clearer. And update the prompt to your own writing style over time! (or even using a VoiceParagraph)

It's simple, but this is a prompt you should absolutely have in your prompt library. Let us know what you think!

LINKS

For your reading list 📚

Mainstream products keep getting AI features… (for better or worse)

And existing AI companies try to go more mainstream…

And if you're really nerdy...

That's all!

We'll see you again on Thursday. Thoughts, feedback and questions are much appreciated - respond here or shoot us a note at [email protected].

... and if someone forwarded this email to you, thank them 😉, and subscribe here!

Cheers,

🪄 The AI Exchange Team