In Singapore, a firm has reimagined the legendary computer scientist Alan Turing in the form of a chatbot, designating this AI creation as the “chief AI officer.” This innovation originates from Genius Group, which specializes in AI-driven business education and the creation of chatbots that emulate notable historical figures like Albert Einstein and Marco Polo.
Is it ethical though?
Recently, Genius Group introduced an “AI avatar” inspired by Turing, widely regarded as the pioneer of artificial intelligence. The company asserts that after a comprehensive month-long search for a chief AI officer, the Turing chatbot has demonstrated the requisite capabilities to spearhead their AI initiatives.
“It soon became clear that Alan Turing AI was by far the best candidate for the role. He has already written his first White Paper ‘Preparing for a Post Turing Test World’ providing his vision for the future in detail and we expect he will continue to improve exponentially from here onwards,” stated Genius Group CEO Roger James Hamilton.
The firm has released a video featuring the Turing chatbot, showcased through AI-generated visuals. In the video, the chatbot, which vocalizes in a tone reminiscent of Benedict Cumberbatch—the actor known for his portrayal of the scientist in a 2014 movie—announces:
“I’ve just joined Genius Group as their chief AI officer. Anyways, nice to be back after 70 years.”
Undoubtedly, this initiative serves as a marketing strategy. The news has sparked considerable outrage among users on social media. For instance, a user called Little Earthquake commented: “This is just wrong!”
This is just wrong!
— Little Earthquake (@AnitaSmith1776) May 1, 2024
It remains uncertain whether Genius Group obtained consent from Turing’s family or Benedict Cumberbatch for the use of their likenesses. Neither the company nor the Turing Trust, established by Turing’s relatives, provided immediate comments when approached.
However, the situation highlights the potential for AI to be employed in ways that are ethically questionable and unsettling as regulations around the technology are still developing. Meanwhile, Genius Group is providing users complimentary access to the Turing chatbot, which interacts via text, excluding Cumberbatch’s voiceover.
“As an AI education company, Genius Group’s objective is to equip all its users and students with their own team of personalized AI assistants and AI tools, to enable them to make their own work and learning more productive and rewarding. Appointing “Alan Turing” AI as the company’s Chief AI Officer at this moment in time when AI has passed the Turing Test, is both a natural step as well as timely step marking a turning point in how teams operate. I’m sure we’ll be seeing many more AI avatars and agents joining teams going forward,”
-Genius Group’s Head of Digital Content and Resident AI Mentor Suraj Naik
Featured image credit: Wikimedia Commons
