Cyber Resiliency: Secure Communication using Vector Packet Processing; DALL-E: The Benefits and Dangers of AI Image Generation Technology

My technical capstone project on secure network communication and my STS research on the utility of AI art involve two very different fields of CS, but some similarity can be found in their recency and potential for widespread use. My technical capstone project involved learning about a relatively new and unutilized technology for much faster network communication and building a network using that technology. At the time, I had not put much thought into the consequences of introducing new technologies like this one, as I was more interested in learning about the technical aspects of these technologies. However, my introduction to ethical frameworks and analysis in STS research led me to analyze the consequences of another new technology in generative AI, specifically AI art, under utilitarianism. While the technologies used in my technical project don’t have consequences on the same scale as the one in my STS research, it is still an important part of computer science to analyze the consequences of technologies one creates. In my technical capstone project, my team and I developed a network for secure and fast communication between many locations. To do this, we utilized vector packet processing, a new technology by the Fast Data Project (FD.io) that involves sending multiple packets through a network at once. We built a network of nodes at various company locations all managed by a broker database that stores important information about each node. Key components included the GoVPP library to build the network nodes and the database and IPSec tunneling between nodes for security. These technologies along with the mentorship of my team members allowed us to create a working prototype of this network. In my STS research paper, “DALL-E: the Benefits and Drawbacks of AI Art Technology”, I analyzed the viability and ethical implications of generative AI’s utilization in art spaces. Using the utilitarianism framework, I investigated some of the major consequences of DALL-E’s development and usage, including its use of data scraping, the replacement of artists in professional spaces, and the end product’s effect on consumers. My paper argues that DALL-E and other AI art technologies are ultimately unethical due to these factors and their breach of fundamental principles of utilitarianism. I highly value the opportunity to work on the technical project last summer followed by my STS research paper this semester. In my technical project, I was able to experience the excitement and interest that came with experimenting with a new technology. However, my time in STS research showed me the importance of analyzing the consequences of any new technology, both positive and negative. In this way, I’ve both experienced how easy it is to neglect this aspect of engineering and understood the potential danger in doing so, giving me a new view on the computer science field as a whole. In the future, I aim to bring this view into any new technologies I have a hand in, encouraging others to ensure usage and development of more positive technologies.