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Recently, Microsoft’s Rory Preddy was a guest speaker at DVT’s Tech Insights Webinar titled Harnessing OpenAI to help millions. A gripping presentation, it highlighted the ways in which OpenAI can be used to make a difference in so many ways, for so many people, across the globe.
In this webinar, Rory focused on accessibility and the scope for inclusion that OpenAI brings to the table. He looked specifically at OpenAI, GitHub Copilot, and Azure OpenAI and how it can be used to help with coding for accessibility. The coding, says Rory, is not particularly difficult. The problem lies in identifying where it is needed and then in implementing that coding – it is a process that can be time-consuming and onerous, and not all that profitable, so it often falls by the wayside. By harnessing OpenAI, that oversight can be easily and quickly corrected. If, for example, a piece of code needs to be added to make something accessible for visually or audio-impaired users, one could simply run the code through OpenAI and instruct it to add the necessary coding.
This is life-changing technology for millions of people. Any kind of disability that makes accessing certain technologies difficult, or even impossible, without the right coding, can be addressed quickly, easily, and correctly. The understanding of OpenAI is such that it can identify areas of accessibility and input the correct code far more quickly, and less fallibly, than a human tech worker can. OpenAI, says Rory, perhaps a touch controversially, won’t forget about it, procrastinate over it, or fail to identify possible points of inclusion.
Watching the webinar with much interest, Roberto Ferro, Head of software development company DVT’s Innovation Centre, believes OpenAI is an intriguing entity. His job is to understand how technology can be harnessed for business and in what ways it could be used to bring about change – both positive and negative.
“If you know how to ask it the right question in the right way, the possibilities are awe inspiring,” he says. “It is the most sophisticated tool the world has ever created, and it will continue to reduce barriers to knowledge like we've never seen before. It’s a tool that will help teach and educate anyone on any level about anything. I think it also has the potential to help and empower people who previously wouldn't have had the opportunity and support, due to social circumstances, to thrive and have a chance to prosper.”
Roberto believes that OpenAI technology such as ChatGPT (GPT-3) could be trained to replace people in many mundane tasks, particularly those that can be automated, or which need an immediate non-complex answer. While it can be used to answer complex questions and undertake complex tasks, there is a question of AI and tech ethics which need to be considered, and more testing and refining to be done. In the meantime, tasks such as 24-hour appointment scheduling, rote document drafting, simple call centre questions, and online sales could – and are - being undertaken by OpenAI programmes. The human touch, however, will never go out of style and, as Roberto reminds us, human ingenuity should never be underestimated. It should also be remembered that AI is already present in our everyday living, in maps and navigation, video games, face filters, call centre bots, autocorrect, rideshare apps, Siri, Alexa, Google Now and Cortana, to name but a few – OpenAI is the next level of a journey already well underway.
However, the business applications presented by OpenAI as generative technology, are immense and, Rory believes, limited only by human creativity. In terms of increased efficiency and productivity, as well as reducing instances of human error, the benefits are clear. For Roberto, OpenAI is a magnificent tool. You need to tell it what to do, of course, but once the guidelines and parameters are clear, the process is automatic. There is no need for admin or overtime, pressure points amongst employees caused by necessary but repetitive and time-consuming tasks are alleviated, and reliability increases as the chances for human error to creep in are removed. Like any tool however, it should be treated with caution and care, especially when it comes to unfair gender and racial bias, stereotypes, language and tone, and dependence on the data. This is particularly relevant in relation to programming for accessibility and diversity.
One thing is clear – communication, as in all things, is key. Rory says, “You must know how to talk to AI to achieve results. People are worried about AI replacing their jobs or that humans will become dumb, but AI is there to help you. So, you need to learn how to become an AI conversationalist.”