• The US Supreme Court will hear the case of Gonzalez vs. YouTube next week, where the latter’s algorithm will come into question.
• Based on the decision reached, it could result in changes to Section 230, and who is responsible for online content.
• This in turn could see the legal fate of AI platforms being looked at too.

Over the past few weeks there has been plenty of discourse surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), as myriad companies look to invest in solutions that are available both now, and into the future. One aspect that has been brought up, but perhaps not thoroughly considered, is whether an AI platform should be held liable for the answers it gives.

This is what may come up following a Supreme Court case that will be heard in the US next week.

The case is that of Gonzalez vs. YouTube, with it focusing on the latter hosting content on its platform by terrorist groups.

This in turn brings up the question of Section 230, which has given online platforms certain protections when it comes to the content that is uploaded to them.

Here is where things get interesting, as The Verge points out, with the algorithms that direct users to or recommend content coming into question. While a platform may not be responsible for terrorist videos being uploaded, if they are viral, should they be responsible for the algorithm serving it up to users?

If the Supreme Court thinks they should, it means the algorithms governing the behaviour of AI platforms like ChatGPT could also fall under the same banner. This especially as Microsoft and Google have debuted search tools newly imbued with AI assistance.

These platforms have many kinks to iron out, as we have seen particularly on Microsoft Bing this week.

When factoring in what any changes to Section 230 will mean for the internet, which includes AI platforms, next week’s case could have far-reaching ramifications.

To date, those building and training AI platforms have been very careful about what kinds of questions they can field, but we have also seen determined users find ways around that.

Either way, there are indeed an increasing number of questions that new AI tools and platforms will need to answer should the obsession with them from silicon valley continue.

[Source – The Verge]
[Image – Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash]