Artificial Intelligence

For a brief description of artificial intelligence and its associated terms see here. This document addresses the use of AI on the internet and, more specifically, its use on this PlantsPeoplePlanet website.

Use of AI on websites

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can now instantaneously generate high-quality, factually accurate, up-to-date and engaging text and multimedia – all customized to the specific requirements of individual users.

Where factual information is claimed, especially in an educational context, then it is important to know how AI has been used in the generation of that information. That is why this website has an AI Policy.

Websites

Human oversight remains essential for AI with the credibility of websites depending on their ethical approach to AI, consideration of potential bias, and the accuracy of the information published.

AI brings with it questions about copyright, plagiarism, and the difficulty, when using AI, of justifying factual claims by citing sources. Web developers must take into consideration the policies of Search Engines towards AI-generated content and so there is currently a software arms race in progress for both the detection, and avoidance of detection, of AI use, both in academia and more generally.

For websites like Wikipedia and PlantsPeoplePlanet: while design, presentation, accessibility, and general appeal will influence the number and demographic of readers, it is the accuracy, reliability, and authority of the content that is of foremost concern.

PlantsPeoplePlanet

AI burst onto the internet in the latter half of 2023. It was immediately obvious that factual information and descriptive text could be produced in a more appealing and far more efficient way than could be achieved by individual effort. Knowledge-seekers can now generate up-to-date factual information in a form that caters for their individual needs. General knowledge – throughout history accessible to only to an educated class – is now available to anyone with access to the necessary technology. Privileged knowledge is now largely confined to those carrying out original research.

Much of the information on PlantsPeoplePlanet developed before 2023 was of this kind – historical and factual information whose utility lay in its presentation within a specific context akin to an original synthesis. While this was information conveniently organized around explicit themes it is clear that it could not compete with AI. AI may have sucked information from the web and plagiarizing the pool of collective knowledge, but it has done this efficiently. A keen seeker of knowledge is more likely to find accurate and up-to-date information in AI sources than fiction and filling.

The focus of work on PlantsPeoplePlanet has therefore shifted to areas of original critical thinking not currently covered by AI – essentially zones of original research.

Work now concentrates on those topics that the author considers the most useful contribution may be made to current knowledge. For this website this largely reduces to questions in the philosophy of biology, and in the systematization of thinking about the relationship between plants, people and the planet.

Other areas of the website have been enhanced using AI within the guidelines of the AI policy below.

It would be foolish to ignore AI tools for grammar and spell checking, and where AI has played a significant role in writing the text, it is flagged.

Artificial Intelligence Policy

1. Introduction

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the responsible and cautious use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the development of web content. While AI has the potential to enhance efficiency and creativity, it also presents risks that must be carefully managed to ensure ethical, accurate, and user-centric content creation.

2. Ethical Considerations

2.1 Transparency and Attribution: Web content created using AI should always be transparently identified as such. Users have the right to know whether they are interacting with human-generated or AI-generated content.
2.2 Avoiding Misinformation: AI-generated content must not intentionally spread false or misleading information. Developers are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information presented on websites.

3. Data Privacy and Security

3.1 Data Collection and Usage: AI algorithms used in web content development must adhere to all applicable data privacy laws and regulations. User consent must be obtained before collecting any personal data, and data should be used solely for the purpose stated.
3.2 Data Security: Adequate measures must be in place to protect user data from unauthorized access, breaches, or misuse. AI models should be trained on sanitized and representative data to avoid perpetuating biases or privacy violations.

4. User Experience

4.1 Content Quality: AI-generated content should meet the same standards of quality, relevance, and value as human-created content. Regular assessments and adjustments are necessary to maintain the desired user experience.
4.2 User Feedback: Users’ feedback on AI-generated content should be actively solicited and carefully considered. Adjustments and improvements should be made based on user input to ensure content meets their needs.

5. Human Oversight and Responsibility

5.1 Human Review: All AI-generated content should undergo human review before publication to verify accuracy, appropriateness, and adherence to ethical guidelines.
5.2 Accountability: Developers and content creators are accountable for the behavior and consequences of AI-generated content. Clear lines of responsibility should be established to address any issues that arise.

6. Avoiding Discrimination and Bias

6.1 Bias Mitigation: Developers should implement measures to detect and mitigate potential biases in AI-generated content. Regular audits should be conducted to ensure that the content is free from discriminatory or offensive language.
6.2 Inclusive Representation: AI models should be trained on diverse and representative data to avoid reinforcing existing stereotypes and to ensure that content represents a wide range of perspectives.

7. Continuous Monitoring and Improvement

7.1 Ongoing Evaluation: Regular assessments should be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of AI-generated content. This includes monitoring for ethical concerns, accuracy, and user satisfaction.
7.2 Adaptive Algorithms: AI models and algorithms should be continuously improved based on user feedback and changing content needs to ensure relevance and quality over time.

8. Conclusion

This is a cautious policy directed at the ethical use of AI for web content development, the intention being to provide the benefits of AI while minimizing risks and, most of all, ensuring that web content remains accurate, transparent, and valuable to users.

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