The tech community is more divided on artificial intelligence than the general public, according to a study of Reddit discussions following the launch of ChatGPT.
Researchers from the University of Rochester analyzed 33,912 comments across 388 subreddits using ChatGPT and natural language processing techniques. This analysis covered the six months after the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022.
Testing the water
Reddit, a social platform where users submit content and commentary in various sub-forums called subreddits, was the basis for this study. Researchers examined comments on tech-focused subreddits like “r/singularity” and “r/technology,” as well as non-tech subreddits like “r/futurology” and “r/wallstreetbets.”
Key topics in the AI discussions included AI’s consciousness and intelligence, development and model training, business applications, creativity, and societal impact.
Comments on non-tech subreddits generally viewed AI positively, highlighting its potential for societal improvement. However, the tech community exhibited a stronger divide in their opinions.
Polarized views
“The tech community’s opinions were either strongly positive or strongly negative, more so than the non-tech community,” the researchers noted.
They attributed this polarization to the tech community’s deeper understanding of AI issues. This dynamic is reflected among tech luminaries, with figures like Geoffrey Hinton expressing pessimism, while others like Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, are more optimistic.
Non-tech discussions often focused on social issues such as job displacement, whereas tech subreddits had more intense debates with strong opinions on either side.
“On the positive side, tech community members believe AI can boost productivity and appreciate the open-source culture surrounding projects like Llama [Large Language Model Meta AI] and other open-source models,” the researchers stated.
“Concerns in the tech community include ethical implications, societal impacts of AI advancements, and issues like regulation and AI hallucinations.”
The researchers concluded that these differences highlight the need to demystify AI for the public and address common fears and misconceptions. They urge policymakers, developers, educators, and researchers to provide clear, accessible information about AI.
