Comprehension
The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.
Fears of artificial intelligence (AI) have haunted humanity since the very beginning of the computer age. Hitherto these fears focused on machines using physical means to kill, enslave or replace people. But over the past couple of years new AI tools have emerged that threaten the survival of human civilisation from an unexpected direction. AI has gained some remarkable abilities to manipulate and generate language, whether with words, sounds or images. AI has thereby hacked the operating system of our civilisation.
Language is the stuff almost all human culture is made of. Human rights, for example, aren’t inscribed in our DNA. Rather, they are cultural artefacts we created by telling stories and writing laws. Gods aren’t physical realities. Rather, they are cultural artefacts we created by inventing myths and writing scriptures….What would happen once a non-human intelligence becomes better than the average human at telling stories, composing melodies, drawing images, and writing laws and scriptures? When people think about Chatgpt and other new AI tools, they are often drawn to examples like school children using AI to write their essays. What will happen to the school system when kids do that? But this kind of question misses the big picture. Forget about school essays. Think of the next American presidential race in 2024, and try to imagine the impact of AI tools that can be made to mass-produce political content, fake-news stories and scriptures for new cults…
Through its mastery of language, AI could even form intimate relationships with people, and use the power of intimacy to change our opinions and worldviews. Although there is no indication that AI has any consciousness or feelings of its own, to foster fake intimacy with humans it is enough if the AI can make them feel emotionally attached to it….
What will happen to the course of history when AI takes over culture, and begins producing stories, melodies, laws and religions? Previous tools like the printing press and radio helped spread the cultural ideas of humans, but they never created new cultural ideas of their own. AI is fundamentally different. AI can create completely new ideas, completely new culture…. Of course, the new power of AI could be used for good purposes as well. I won’t dwell on this, because the people who develop AI talk about it enough….
We can still regulate the new AI tools, but we must act quickly. Whereas nukes cannot invent more powerful nukes, AI can make exponentially more powerful AI.… Unregulated AI deployments would create social chaos, which would benefit autocrats and ruin democracies. Democracy is a conversation, and conversations rely on language. When AI hacks language, it could destroy our ability to have meaningful conversations, thereby destroying democracy….And the first regulation I would suggest is to make it mandatory for AI to disclose that it is an AI. If I am having a conversation with someone, and I cannot tell whether it is a human or an AI—that’s the end of democracy. This text has been generated by a human. Or has it?
Question: 1

We can infer that the author is most likely to agree with which of the following statements?

Updated On: Nov 30, 2024
  • One of the biggest casualties from the spread of unregulated AI is likely to be the democratic process.
  • Apart from its drawbacks, AI tools have been beneficial in boosting technological and industrial advance worldwide.
  • The commonly expressed fear that future AI developments will fatally harm humans is unfounded.
  • People’s fears of the dangers of students using ChatGPT and other new AI tools are unfounded.
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The passage emphasizes the threat AI poses to democracy, particularly how AI’s mastery of language could destroy meaningful conversations and undermine democratic processes. The author is concerned about unregulated AI and its potential to benefit autocrats and
ruin democracies.

Therefore, option (1) best reflects the author’s viewpoint, as it directly aligns with the argument made in the passage about the dangers of unregulated AI to democracy.

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Question: 2

The tone of the passage could best be described as

Updated On: Nov 30, 2024
  • alarmist, because the passage discusses scenarios of the influence of new AI tools on language and human emotions.
  • cautionary, because the author lays out some adverse effects of the proliferation of unregulated AI tools.
  • prescient, as the author analyses the future impact of the use of new AI tools on crucial areas of our society and culture.
  • quizzical, as the passage poses several questions, concluding with the question of whether or not the passage content has been generated by AI.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

The passage discusses the potential negative consequences of unregulated AI tools, especially on language, democracy, and culture. The tone is concerned and warns against the uncontrolled proliferation of AI. Therefore, option (2) is the most accurate description of
the tone of the passage.

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Question: 3

The author terms language “the operating system of our civilization” for all the following reasons EXCEPT that it

Updated On: Nov 30, 2024
  • has laid the foundation for the creation of cultural artefacts through writing and telling of stories.
  • is the basis of AI tools like ChatGPT which can be used to generate academic content and opinion.
  • can influence political views and opinions as it engenders close emotional ties among people.
  • is fundamental to the articulation and spread of human values and culture in our society.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

The author refers to language as the ”operating system of our civilization” to highlight its fundamental role in shaping culture, human values, and communication. The passage does not discuss AI tools like Chat GPT as a reason for this term. Option (2) is the exception, as it shifts focus from the traditional role of language in human civilization to its use in AI tools, which is not the point the author is making.

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Question: 4

The author identifies all of the following as dire outcomes of the capture of language by AI EXCEPT that it could

Updated On: Nov 30, 2024
  • eventually subvert democratic processes through the mass creation and spread of fake political content and news.
  • apply its mastery of language to create strong emotional ties which could exacerbate the polarization of political views.
  • spawn a completely new culture through its ability to create new ideas and opinions.
  • out-strip human creativity and endeavours in the spheres such as art and music and, in the formulation of laws.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

In the passage, the author discusses how AI could subvert democratic processes, create new cultures, and outstrip human creativity. However, the author does not specifically mention the creation of emotional ties to exacerbate political polarization as a dire out-
come of AI’s capture of language. Therefore, option (2) is the exception, and the correct answer.

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