ORLANDO, Fla. – Artificial intelligence, or AI, has no single definition since AI tools are capable of a wide range of tasks.
In general, AI refers to computer systems that can perform complex tasks traditionally done by human reasoning.
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Whether that’s helping diagnose diseases, identifying crime suspects, or perhaps for the everyday user — help writing a sentimental speech for a wedding this weekend you’ve been procrastinating (guilty).
Of course, with AI comes a long list of ethical questions and concerns.
Should computers be creating art or making big decisions? Some say — no.
Who is reining in the power of artificial intelligence?
As of early 2025, dozens of states have created legislation regulating the use of AI — essentially creating guardrails for applications of this technology.
In Florida for example, state leaders passed bills making it illegal to possess or create computer generated child pornography.
They also outlawed the sharing of so-called deepfakes — images that depict a real person performing an action that did not actually happen.
Today, if you ask a chatbot such as Claude, Meta AI or ChatGPT “how to hotwire a car,” it will reply with a message along the lines of “sorry, I can’t assist you with that” or “this content may violate our usage policies.”
Designing chatbots to prevent giving advice on committing crimes or harming themselves or others is an important process.
It’s part of what is known as AI alignment — essentially ensuring AI systems work “in line” with human goals.
Chatbots, though, can be easily tricked.
“There are cases in which you can actually manipulate that input to the AI to make it generate those responses for you,” says Amrit Singh Bedi, an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida.
Bedi, who taught a course on AI alignment, described how human feedback transformed chatbots from delivering cold, basic answers to appearing as thinking — even feeling — beings.
“You can really talk to a chatbot and you will feel like you’re talking to a human,” Bedi says.
This tragedy prompted the makers of “Character AI” to introduce new safety features.
Bedi notes the rapid pace of AI development.
“I think it is really, really happening at like an extremely fast pace, even like more than we can hold on to.”
Bedi foresees significant transformations in healthcare, where AI could expedite processes, reduce human error, and improve patient outcomes.
However, he acknowledges the need for AI to be safe, explainable, and reliable before it can be widely applied in healthcare.
Where are we and where is AI going?
When it comes to using AI, we are still in an experimental phase — especially when using this technology on a large scale.
Developers often rely on user feedback to identify issues or unintended behaviors.
Bedi advises those resistant to AI technology to consider its potential benefits.
“It’ll take some time,” he says, drawing a parallel to the initial resistance to mobile phones. “Once its benefits start showing up... it can really transform lives.”
Companies are already leveraging language model tools to do specific tasks such as booking hotel reservations, shopping online and calling rideshares.
Advice for first-time chat bot users
- Consider the information you’re sharing.
Does your question or request divulge personal health data, a password or financial details? Once shared, you can’t control where it ends up or who sees it.
- Expect to see inaccurate or outdated information.
Always fact check and be aware that AI can confidently make things up — often called “hallucinations.”
- Some AI chatbots are free to users while others might offer premium services for a fee.
Make sure you know what you’re getting for free versus what requires payment.
- Using an AI chatbot can take practice if you want to get the most out of its capabilities.
Phrase your questions clearly and educate yourself on the limitations of the specific AI you’re using.
When it comes to AI’s potential to transform lives, Bedi remains confident and stresses the importance of education in using AI responsibly.
“For example, electricity. It can give you a shock, but it also lights up everything, right? So I think it’s our sensible use of AI can really do a big transformation and help in our daily lives. ”
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