Recent statistics highlight that artificial intelligence is currently predominantly used for entertainment purposes, and this usage strongly depends on the level of education. Queries such as ‚Tell me a story‘ far surpass work-related queries in terms of frequency. Lately, the influx of newly introduced AI products in social media has subsided. However, this period of calm is expected to end towards the end of September. Prominent figures in the technology sector had called for a six-month halt in the development of artificial intelligence to shift the focus towards security standards.

The Chambers of Commerce are currently in the process of conducting a more detailed examination of the use of artificial intelligence, particularly with regard to potential harm to consumers. This comes in response to issues such as AI-generated ‚hallucinations,‘ humorously referred to as ‚Halunkinations‘ in homage to the renowned Austrian actor Paul Hörbiger, as well as the dissemination of misleading data.

In line with the soon-to-expire moratorium (see above), the Digital Services Act of the European Union came into effect on August 25th of this year, accompanied by new regulations. It remains uncertain whether the anticipated consumer protection measures will yield the desired results. The Digital Services Act (DSA) establishes rules crafted by the EU to compel very large online platforms, known as the ‚7 Gatekeepers‘ (Alphabet [Google], Amazon, Apple, ByteDance [TikTok], Meta [Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp], Microsoft, Samsung), to curb the dissemination of illegal content, online disinformation, and other societal risks presented by online service providers. The DSA and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) come into force simultaneously, effectively constituting a dual initiative.

While the DMA applies to companies acting as gatekeepers for online services, aiming to ensure equal access for some third-party software, the DSA’s focus is on ensuring that activities that are illegal in the physical world are also legally enforceable online. According to the DSA, digital service providers, including hosting services, online platforms, VLOPs (Very Large Online Platforms, which encompass very large online search engines), and even intermediaries like ISPs, have an obligation to ensure that products sold are safe and not counterfeit. They are also required to remove advertising that targets minors or uses sensitive data. Another requirement is to eliminate ‚dark patterns‘ in advertising. Clarity on how organizations moderate content and the obligation to submit their algorithms for verification are also mandated.

VLOPs, defined by the DSA as platforms large enough to reach 10 percent of the EU population, approximately 45 million people, must adhere to even stricter rules. The EU considers VLOPs, due to their extensive reach, as posing the highest risk to the public. In addition to the rules that other digital service providers must follow, VLOPs are required to share data with ‚verified‘ researchers and governments, allow users to opt out of profiling recommendations, undergo regular audits, and have risk management and crisis response plans in place.

Across the Atlantic in the United States, the White House has introduced a „Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights“ aimed at addressing issues related to data privacy, discrimination, and unauthorized use of AI-generated content. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is making substantial investments in AI technology to enhance its surveillance capabilities over the skies of Washington, D.C. It’s as if they have a highly intelligent watchdog up there! This watchdog will start barking by the end of the year, thanks to Teleidoskop’s development of the new AI system, which encompasses capabilities related to elephants, mosquitoes, drones, cars, and individuals.

Speaking of AI, Christian Louboutin is placing trust in ChatGPT. However, Judge H.E. Justice Prathiba M Singh cautioned that AI cannot replace human intelligence or humanity in legal decisions. The accuracy of AI-generated data remains uncertain, and AI tools like ChatGPT should be limited to initial research purposes. The court emphasized the dependence of AI models on query structures, training data, and potential inaccuracies. Things will become especially intriguing when judicial documents, including historical ones, become searchable with a yet-to-be-created tool like „judgeGPT.

I recall a time when Microsoft Word didn’t have a rotatable ruler. I was desperately trying to rotate the ruler while searching for solutions. I came across brief blog posts by aspiring and helpful young experts, and I followed their instructions with trust. However, despite all my efforts, the ruler wouldn’t budge. Instead, the text suddenly appeared upside down because I had unwittingly pressed a predefined keyboard shortcut. Unfortunately, the trustworthy blog didn’t mention that this shortcut defaultly flips the image. I had to find that information in another blog. Well, I’m not one of those quick bloggers, after all.

The March edition of Bilanz, featuring ChatGPT as a complimentary offering in the BusinessLounge at Zurich Airport, highlighted a substantial 30% potential reduction in the legal sector’s workforce by 2024. On the other hand, Gartner, a company that gained my attention due to my HP superiors reverentially mentioning its name, takes a more conservative stance, projecting a 20% reduction in legal team members by 2024. Their statement reads, „Gartner predicts that by 2024, legal departments will replace 20% of their legal team with professional staff,“ noting the use of a less politically correct term. It seems that this reduction is likely driven by the older generation naturally departing from the corporate landscape. It’s worth noting that the predictions of these crystal ball experts and the formulas they employ sometimes lean more towards „goodwill“ experiments rather than being purely scientific.