TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– Michael Wollowski has spent years studying artificial intelligence. 

Well before ChatGPT captured the attention of people across the country, the Rose-Hulman Computer Sciences professor worked to help students grasp how A.I. programs worked. And as they’ve made headlines, he said it comes with a caveat. 

“There’s a lot of hype, but also, some misinformation.”

Wollowski said the rapidly-changing technology does present lots of benefits– and one Indiana senator has been working to realize some of those. 

U.S. Senator Todd Young is part of a bipartisan committee that looks at the pros and cons of A.I. in different fields, and one he thinks would be good for Hoosiers– healthcare.

“AI has rapidly evolved in recent years and has both potential benefits and risks to our society,” Young said in a statement to WTWO. “One area where AI can help Hoosiers is health care, as AI research and innovation is already leading to new advances in medicine, individualized health care plans, and improved treatment options.” 

Wollowski said he thinks A.I. could help out medical professionals– but he thinks the technology can only go so far.

“Think about medical decisions. I’d rather have my doctor make the decision rather than an A.I. program, right? If they use an A.I. program to help them, maybe to read some MRIs better or some X-rays better, I’m all for it,” he said. “But what they call high stakes decisions, health or even life and death decisions that are made, I don’t think software should make those decisions. It’s okay to make recommendations, but people have to be making the decisions.”

No legislation has been passed to this point, but as we move towards the end of 2023, Wollowski said the one he’s certain of– the technology will continue to evolve as we move forward.

“I think probably, in December or so, Chat GPT will be an old hat. And we have a new thing,” he said. I don’t know what it is, I don’t think anybody knows what it is.”