CAT 2024 Slot 3 VARC Question & Solution

Reading ComprehensionMedium

Passage

The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.

Fears of artificial intelligence (AI) have haunted humanity since the very beginning of the computer age. Hitherto, these fears focused on machines using physical means to kill, enslave or replace people. But over the past couple of years, new AI tools have emerged that threaten the survival of human civilisation from an unexpected direction. AI has gained some remarkable abilities to manipulate and generate language, whether with words, sounds or images. AI has thereby hacked the operating system of our civilisation.

Language is the stuff almost all human culture is made of. Human rights, for example, aren’t inscribed in our DNA. Rather, they are cultural artefacts we created by telling stories and writing laws. Gods aren’t physical realities. Rather, they are cultural artefacts we created by inventing myths and writing scriptures….What would happen once a non-human intelligence becomes better than the average human at telling stories, composing melodies, drawing images, and writing laws and scriptures? When people think about Chatgpt and other new AI tools, they are often drawn to examples like schoolchildren using AI to write their essays. What will happen to the school system when kids do that? But this kind of question misses the big picture. Forget about school essays. Think of the next American presidential race in 2024, and try to imagine the impact of AI tools that can be made to mass-produce political content, fake news stories and scriptures for new cults…

Through its mastery of language, AI could even form intimate relationships with people, and use the power of intimacy to change our opinions and worldviews. Although there is no indication that AI has any consciousness or feelings of its own, to foster fake intimacy with humans, it is enough if the AI can make them feel emotionally attached to it….

What will happen to the course of history when AI takes over culture, and begins producing stories, melodies, laws and religions? Previous tools like the printing press and radio helped spread the cultural ideas of humans, but they never created new cultural ideas of their own. AI is fundamentally different. AI can create completely new ideas, completely new culture….Of course, the new power of AI could be used for good purposes as well. I won’t dwell on this because the people who develop AI talk about it enough….

We can still regulate the new AI tools, but we must act quickly. Whereas nukes cannot invent more powerful nukes, AI can make exponentially more powerful AI.… Unregulated AI deployments would create social chaos, which would benefit autocrats and ruin democracies. Democracy is a conversation, and conversations rely on language. When AI hacks language, it could destroy our ability to have meaningful conversations, thereby destroying democracy …. And the first regulation I would suggest is to make it mandatory for AI to disclose that it is an AI. If I am having a conversation with someone, and I cannot tell whether it is a human or an AI—that’s the end of democracy. This text has been generated by a human. Or has it?

Question 1

The author identifies all of the following as dire outcomes of the capture of language by AI EXCEPT that it could

spawn a completely new culture through its ability to create new ideas and opinions.

out-strip human creativity and endeavours in the spheres such as art and music and,in the formulation of laws.

eventually subvert democratic processes through the mass creation and spread offake political content and news.

apply its mastery of language to create strong emotional ties which could exacerbate the polarization of political views.

Solution:

Let us evaluate the given choices -

Option A: The creation of new culture and ideas is a central theme of the passage, highlighted as a potential outcome of AI's linguistic capabilities: [“...AI can create completely new ideas, completely new culture…”]

Option B: The author hints that AI could surpass human creativity in areas like storytelling, composing music, and drafting laws or scriptures: [“...What would happen once a non-human intelligence becomes better than the average human at telling stories, composing melodies, drawing images, and writing laws and scriptures?...”]

Option C: The threat to democracy through the mass production of fake news and political content is a major concern raised by the author: [“...Think of the next American presidential race in 2024, and try to imagine the impact of AI tools that can be made to mass-produce political content, fake-news stories…”]

Option D: The passage does discuss AI's ability to create emotional connections with individuals: [“...form intimate relationships with people, and use the power of intimacy to change our opinions and worldviews…”] However, it does not explicitly connect this capability to ‘exacerbating the polarization’ of political views. The focus is on fostering fake intimacy to influence opinions, not specifically on worsening political polarization.

Hence, Option D is the correct choice.

Question 2

The author terms language “the operating system of our civilization” for all the following reasons EXCEPT that it

can influence political views and opinions as it engenders close emotional ties among people.

is the basis of AI tools like ChatGPT which can be used to generate academic content and opinion.

is fundamental to the articulation and spread of human values and culture in our society.

has laid the foundation for the creation of cultural artefacts through writing and telling of stories.

Solution:

The author emphasises that language is foundational to human culture and civilisation because it:

articulates and spreads human values and culture (as noted in Option C).
lays the groundwork for creating cultural artefacts through storytelling and laws (as noted in Option D).
influences political views and fosters emotional ties (as noted in Option A).

Option B, however, does not align with the rationale behind the “operating system” metaphor: the author does not suggest that language is the "operating system" of civilisation because it underpins AI tools. Instead, the passage treats AI tools like ChatGPT as leveraging language's existing role in civilization.

Question 3

We can infer that the author is most likely to agree with which of the following statements?

People’s fears of the dangers of students using ChatGPT and other new AI tools are unfounded.

The commonly expressed fear that future AI developments will fatally harm humans is unfounded.

Apart from its drawbacks, AI tools have been beneficial in boosting technological and industrial advance worldwide.

One of the biggest casualties from the spread of unregulated AI is likely to be the democratic process.

Solution:

Let us evaluate the choices based on the information in the passage -

Option A: The author does not dismiss fears about students using AI but instead deems such concerns possibly trivial compared to AI’s larger societal threats.

Option B: The author doesn’t argue that fears of AI harming humans physically are unfounded, but shifts focus to the linguistic and cultural dangers AI presents. It’s unclear whether he will explicitly support the view presented here.

Option C: Though the author briefly acknowledges that AI can be used for good, this idea is not a central focus of the passage; he also does not emphasise technological or industrial benefits. Therefore, it’s unclear whether the author will support his view.

Option D: The concern stated here has been clearly underlined in the passage. We are informed of the threat AI poses to democracy through its manipulation of language and ability to generate misinformation, fake intimacy, and propaganda. The author explicitly states that democracy relies on meaningful human conversations, which are undermined when AI becomes indistinguishable from humans. Therefore, this option aligns most closely with the author's argument.

Hence, Option D is the correct choice.

Question 4

The tone of the passage could best be described as

cautionary, because the author lays out some adverse effects of the proliferation of unregulated AI tools.

prescient, as the author analyses the future impact of the use of new AI tools on crucial areas of our society and culture.

alarmist, because the passage discusses scenarios of the influence of new AI tools on language and human emotions.

quizzical, as the passage poses several questions, concluding with the question of whether or not the passage content has been generated by AI.

Solution:

The passage clearly highlights the potential risks associated with AI's linguistic capabilities, urging action to regulate its use. While the passage does present hypothetical scenarios and employs rhetorical questions, its tone is primarily grounded in a warning, not sensationalism or mere speculation. This points us towards Option A. The author systematically explains the dangers of unregulated AI tools, particularly their capacity to manipulate language and influence human culture. The warnings are thoughtful and aim to provoke awareness and a sense of urgency without excessive dramatisation. The tone is serious and measured, which aligns with a cautionary style.

The remaining tones do not describe the discussion appropriately. For instance, consider Option B: though the passage discusses AI's future implications, the focus is less on prediction and more on warning about what could happen if action is not taken. "Prescient" implies a focus on foresight and vision, but the passage emphasises immediate concerns and actionable advice. Similarly, the passage is not “alarmist” (Option C), as it avoids overly exaggerated or emotional claims. It uses logical arguments and examples rather than fearmongering. Option D is also a poor fit: although the passage concludes with a rhetorical question, this is a stylistic device rather than a defining characteristic of the tone. The primary goal is to issue a warning, not to leave the reader in a state of curiosity or wonder, making “quizzical” an incorrect characterisation.

Hence, Option A is the best choice.