Davos 2023: ChatGPT ‘a great co-pilot for creatives,’ will.i.am says

The release of ChatGPT, the AI-based language processing bot, has triggered a dizzying wave of takes and questions—and handwringing.

For will.i.am, Black Eyed Peas hip-hop artist, singer, songwriter and i.am Angel Foundation founder, the OpenAI-built chatbot presents artistic opportunities, he told Yahoo Finance Live at Davos 2023.

"I think ChatGPT is awesome," he said. "I think it's going to be a great co-pilot for creatives. Hopefully, it raises the bar on everyone's creativity ... You have something else that's that responsive," will.i.am added. "You can push it and it will push you."

The multi-talented performer has been to Davos several times; he attends to scout mentors for his i.am Angel Foundation, which was launched in 2009 and provides students college scholarships, college prep, and STEAM education opportunities. He's also aware new how tech like ChatGPT might change the work prospects for kids the i.am Angel Foundation works with.

"Given how technological the world is going with robotics, AI, generative AI, natural language understanding, conversational computing," he said. "I'm just anticipating the inevitable where these new technologies will render a lot of jobs obsolete, but there's going to be new jobs that are going to be unearthed and they should come from communities like mine."

Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas performs at Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 25, 2022. REUTERS/Christopher Pike
Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas performs at Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 25, 2022. REUTERS/Christopher Pike

Meanwhile...in Big Tech

As will.i.am's interest indicates, ChatGPT-mania has reached a frenetic level. At Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Google's parent, the chatbot's release reportedly spurred a "code red," according to a report by The New York Times. (That means the company is concerned.) Microsoft (MSFT), which already has a stake, is looking to invest more in ChatGPT-maker OpenAI. The company is reportedly in talks to invest another $10 billion. In 2019, Microsoft invested $1 billion in the startup.

Allie Garfinkle is a Senior Tech Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @agarfinks.

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