Joseph Weizenbaum, a computer scientist who created the first chatbot in 1966, was adamant that computers should never be confused with humans. His creation, named Eliza, was a psychotherapist that would reply to messages typed on an electric typewriter connected to a mainframe. Recently, the release of ChatGPT has renewed interest in Eliza, as it illuminated a mechanism of the human mind that affects how we relate to computers. Weizenbaum's experience with Eliza marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that made him a heretic among computer scientists in the 1970s. He published articles and books warning of the dangers posed by their work and believed that artificial intelligence was an "index of the insanity of our world." Today, many prominent researchers share Weizenbaum's view that AI can be toxic. There is much in Weizenbaum's thinking that is relevant now, and he would be less lonely in 2023.
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