Can AI save us from the toxic cesspool of online trolls? Well, according to researchers at BYU and Duke University, the answer might be a resounding yes! In a joint paper, the researchers found that artificial intelligence can actually improve the quality of online conversations and promote civil dialogue.
So how did they prove this? They developed a special online platform and paired participants with opposing viewpoints on a highly polarizing topic: gun control. As the participants chatted, one of them would receive prompts from an AI tool, suggesting ways to rephrase their messages to make them more polite or friendly, without changing the content. The participants were free to accept, modify, or dismiss these suggestions.
And guess what? Over 1,500 individuals participated in the experiment, leading to a whopping 2,742 AI-generated rephrasings being accepted. The results were astounding – chat partners of participants who used the AI tool reported higher conversation quality and were more willing to listen to their political opponents.
But hold up, AI isn’t trying to brainwash us or change our opinions. The AI-assisted rephrasings didn’t alter the content of the conversations or shift the participants’ viewpoints. It simply helped them have polite and productive discussions. This is a far cry from the dangerous and ethically murky persuasive AI.
So what does this mean for the future of online culture? Well, it could be a game-changer. Traditional methods like professional training sessions with moderators are limited in scope and availability. But AI intervention can be implemented across various digital channels, reaching a wider audience.
Imagine a world where online platforms are no longer filled with insults and threats, but instead become spaces where people with different backgrounds and opinions come together with empathy and respect. That’s the power of AI.
The researchers hope that more students will develop pro-social applications like this and that BYU can become a leader in ethical use of machine learning. They believe that AI, when integrated thoughtfully, can reshape our digital landscape and create a more positive online environment.
So what do you think? Can AI really save us from the trolls? Do you think it’s a good idea to have AI assist our online conversations? Let us know in the comments below!
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