Claude 2: ChatGPT can summarise a novel

Anthropic, a leading US artificial intelligence company, has introduced a formidable competitor to ChatGPT with the launch of Claude 2. This advanced chatbot boasts the remarkable ability to summarize novel-sized blocks of text while adhering to a set of safety principles inspired by esteemed sources like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As concerns about AI's safety and societal impact continue to grow, Anthropic's introduction of Claude 2 provides a compelling solution to address these critical issues. In this article, we will delve into the capabilities of Claude 2, its unique safety approach, and its impact on the AI landscape.

The "Constitutional AI" Approach:

Anthropic's innovative approach, known as "Constitutional AI," involves utilizing a set of principles to make informed judgments about the text generated by the chatbot. To develop these principles, Claude 2 is trained on a diverse range of documents, including the 1948 UN declaration and Apple's terms of service. By incorporating modern concerns such as data privacy and impersonation, Claude 2 aligns its text production with ethical guidelines. One of its principles, inspired by the UN declaration, emphasizes promoting freedom, equality, and a sense of brotherhood.

Ensuring Safety and Ethical Usage:

Drawing parallels to Isaac Asimov's renowned laws of robotics, experts view Anthropic's approach as a step closer to incorporating principled responses that enhance AI's safety. Dr. Andrew Rogoyski, from the Institute for People-Centred AI at the University of Surrey, highlights the significance of integrating principled decision-making into AI systems to ensure safer usage.

Competition and Recognition:

Claude 2 enters the AI landscape following the remarkable success of ChatGPT, developed by US rival OpenAI. Several industry giants, including Microsoft and Google, have also launched their own chatbots based on similar systems. Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, has engaged in high-level discussions with prominent figures such as Rishi Sunak and US Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizing the importance of safety in AI models. Amodei's commitment to global AI safety aligns with the Center for AI Safety, where he is a signatory to a statement highlighting the need to prioritize addressing AI's risk on par with pandemics and nuclear war.

Claude 2's Impressive Capabilities:

Anthropic proudly presents Claude 2 as a chatbot capable of summarizing blocks of text as extensive as 75,000 words, akin to Sally Rooney's critically acclaimed novel "Normal People." To test its summarization skills, The Guardian challenged Claude 2 to distill a 15,000-word AI report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change into 10 bullet points, which it accomplished in under a minute.

Challenges and Room for Improvement:

While Claude 2 showcases remarkable abilities, it is not without its challenges. Instances of factual errors, referred to as "hallucinations," have been observed, such as mistakenly stating AS Roma as the winner of the 2023 Europa Conference League instead of West Ham United. Inaccuracy was also noted regarding the Scottish independence referendum results. These challenges highlight the ongoing need for refinement to enhance factual accuracy and mitigate errors in the chatbot's responses.

The Writers' Guild of Great Britain's Perspective:

The Writers' Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) has called for an independent AI regulator, citing concerns about reduced income for UK authors due to increased AI usage. The guild emphasizes the importance of AI developers transparently logging information used to train systems, ensuring writers can monitor the usage of their work. In the US, authors have initiated legal action against the use of their work in training chatbot models. Additionally, the WGGB proposes permissions for writers' work, proper labeling of AI-generated content, and safeguarding against copyright exceptions that allow scraping of writers' work from the internet.

Conclusion:

Anthropic's Claude 2 marks a significant advancement in AI text summarization capabilities, embodying a commitment to safety and ethical usage. With its constitutional approach and adherence to principled decision-making, Claude 2 sets a benchmark for responsible AI. While challenges remain, Anthropic's innovation paves the way for enhanced text processing technologies. As AI continues to evolve, ongoing collaboration between industry leaders, regulators, and writers' guilds will be essential to create a harmonious and ethical AI landscape that benefits both creators and users alike.