I first encountered generative artificial intelligence (AI) using ChatGPT about a year ago. I was impressed by the ability of ChatGPT to generate quick responses to my queries, especially with creative prompts. But then I started to wonder, who made this? I learned about OpenAI, their purpose, and rocky history. Since then other Big Tech companies have released their own generative AI systems. However, this has not gone without criticism by the public, especially given the new terms of service implemented by Google and Meta to train their AI models. Private companies are interpreting our consumer preferences and deciding what is best for us. Unfortunately, as exemplified by child safety and data privacy concerns, we have seen this approach fail before. In retrospect, when reading about ChatGPT and OpenAI, I didn’t think too critically about them or what alternatives might be possible. “That’s just the way it is.” That changed when I learned about public AI.
As we are in the early stages of increased integration of AI into our daily lives, we need to talk about how to ensure that AI is accountable and accessible to all of us. When I learned about public AI through my fellowship at Aspen Digital, I realized the implications of just a few tech companies owning this influential technology and the potential benefits of a public model. As a long-time advocate for strengthening our public health system in the U.S., I saw parallels between the features of public AI and a public health system.
