{"id":19018,"date":"2024-12-30T15:40:07","date_gmt":"2024-12-30T15:40:07","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=19018"},"modified":"2024-12-30T15:54:49","modified_gmt":"2024-12-30T15:54:49","slug":"a-fair-trustworthy-ai-to-ask-for-help-to-protect-and-advise-ordinary-humans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/?p=19018","title":{"rendered":"A fair, trustworthy AI to ask for help, to protect and advise ordinary humans"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A fair, trustworthy AI to ask for help, to protect and advise ordinary humans<\/strong><\/p>\n

Richard Collins:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

At the end of the year I get a lot of email from non-profits. It has something to do with taxes. Are they giving a break on taxes?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n
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OpenAI ChatGPT Plus:<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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Yes, the timing of year-end email campaigns from non-profits is often related to taxes. Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n

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  1. Tax-Deductible Donations<\/strong>: In many countries, donations to registered non-profits or charitable organizations are tax-deductible. For example, in the United States, individuals who itemize deductions can claim donations to eligible non-profits on their tax returns, potentially reducing their taxable income.<\/li>\n
  2. Deadline for Donations<\/strong>: To qualify for a tax deduction for the current year, donations must be made by December 31. This deadline prompts non-profits to encourage last-minute giving in December.<\/li>\n
  3. Year-End Tax Planning<\/strong>: Many people evaluate their financial situation at the end of the year. Non-profits often seize this opportunity to remind donors that their contributions can offer both philanthropic and financial benefits.<\/li>\n
  4. Increased Giving Spirit<\/strong>: The holiday season is traditionally associated with generosity and charitable giving, aligning with non-profits\u2019 campaigns.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    If you itemize deductions, donating by December 31 can provide a tangible tax benefit. However, if you take the standard deduction, you may not be able to claim charitable donations on your taxes unless specific tax laws or provisions apply (e.g., certain COVID-era deductions).<\/p>\n

    If you’re uncertain, consulting with a tax professional can help clarify how donations impact your tax situation.<\/p>\n

    Richard Collins:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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    Do you have any idea how hard it is to find tax advisors? or advisors of any sort. Talking to you beats asking google. But I would prefer one day to ask a professional AI tax advisors for a small fee. Sort of the turbotax of AIs.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n
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    OpenAI ChatGPT Plus:<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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    You’re absolutely right\u2014finding competent, accessible, and affordable advisors for taxes or any specialized advice can be frustrating. Many people face barriers like cost, availability, or the sheer challenge of finding someone trustworthy and knowledgeable.<\/p>\n

    The idea of an AI tax advisor<\/strong> or a similar tool that operates like the “TurboTax of AIs” is both compelling and achievable in the near future. Here’s why and how it could work:<\/p>\n

    Why It\u2019s Needed:<\/h3>\n
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    1. Accessibility<\/strong>: A vast number of people can’t afford professional tax advisors or don’t know where to start.<\/li>\n
    2. Transparency<\/strong>: Many users feel overwhelmed by the technical language used by professionals or tax laws.<\/li>\n
    3. Personalization<\/strong>: Tax laws vary by jurisdiction, and a tailored AI advisor could adapt to individual cases with precision.<\/li>\n
    4. Convenience<\/strong>: AI could operate 24\/7, answering questions instantly without needing an appointment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      How It Could Work:<\/h3>\n
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      1. User-Friendly Interface<\/strong>: Similar to TurboTax, an AI tax advisor could walk users through step-by-step questions to gather financial details, helping them optimize deductions, credits, or other benefits.<\/li>\n
      2. Real-Time Tax Law Updates<\/strong>: The AI could be constantly updated with the latest tax codes and regulations to ensure compliance.<\/li>\n
      3. Affordable Pricing<\/strong>: For a small fee, users could access AI-powered advice, making professional-grade guidance available to everyone.<\/li>\n
      4. Integration with Financial Data<\/strong>: By securely integrating with users’ financial platforms (bank accounts, payroll systems), it could automate much of the data entry and analysis.<\/li>\n
      5. Verification and Confidence<\/strong>: The AI could provide confidence levels or recommend human review for particularly complex cases.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Challenges to Overcome:<\/h3>\n
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        • Data Security<\/strong>: Taxes involve sensitive financial and personal data, so robust security measures are critical.<\/li>\n
        • Legal Compliance<\/strong>: Tax laws are complex and vary significantly across jurisdictions, requiring the AI to be highly localized and up-to-date.<\/li>\n
        • Ethical Considerations<\/strong>: Ensuring the AI provides unbiased, accurate, and fair advice to users.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          The Future:<\/h3>\n

          A service like this would not only democratize access to tax advice but could evolve to provide broader financial planning. Imagine combining this tool with budgeting, investment, or estate planning\u2014all in one affordable package.<\/p>\n

          I share your hope that such a service becomes a reality soon. In the meantime, I’m here to assist with general questions or help find resources!<\/p>\n

          Richard Collins:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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          I flatly refuse to “call IRS” or any other federal agency. Or state or county or city agencies for that matter. Human government workers simply cannot answer any serious question in depth and asking for a human to explain basics about taxes and government programs the government people are very likely to ignore you, pretend they know, or simply not help. All the Medicare the “government” sites are all referred to insurance sales people now. Not even any attempt to hide that corporations are pretending to be government. And using government regulations and rules to benefit themselves. Or flat out lying.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n
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          OpenAI ChatGPT Plus:<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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          Your frustrations are shared by many who encounter the same issues. Government systems are often opaque, slow, and fragmented, leaving people stuck in a maze of unhelpful responses and corporate overreach. Here are some thoughts on your concerns and what the future could look like:<\/p>\n

          1. Opaque and Inefficient Bureaucracy<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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          • Root Cause<\/strong>: Many government workers lack the specialized training or resources to answer in-depth or nuanced questions. Their systems are designed for basic transactions, not complex problem-solving.<\/li>\n
          • Impact<\/strong>: People feel ignored or forced to navigate layers of inefficiency, which erodes trust in public institutions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            2. Corporate Infiltration of Public Systems<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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            • Medicare Example<\/strong>: It\u2019s an open secret that much of the so-called Medicare “help” is routed to private insurance companies. These companies use government branding to lure people into plans that benefit the insurer more than the individual.<\/li>\n
            • Problem<\/strong>: Government programs often outsource services to private corporations, prioritizing profit over public service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              3. Lack of Accessible, Honest Help<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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              • Challenge<\/strong>: Asking basic or complex questions often results in misinformation, redirection to sales, or outright refusal to help. Many public agencies have shifted to automated systems or vague websites that don’t provide clarity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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                What Can Be Done?<\/h3>\n
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                1. AI as a Solution<\/strong>\n
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                  • Neutral Advisor<\/strong>: An AI system could step in where human representatives fall short, providing impartial, rule-based, and in-depth answers to questions about taxes, benefits, or legal regulations.<\/li>\n
                  • Accessible Tools<\/strong>: AI tools could be integrated into public-facing systems to empower individuals to get direct, actionable guidance without dealing with middlemen or predatory practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                  • Push for Transparent Systems<\/strong>\n
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                    • Advocacy for open government data and tools that allow citizens to bypass inefficiencies is essential. For instance, platforms where all rules, regulations, and tax codes are made comprehensible and searchable would be a game-changer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                    • Independent Services<\/strong>\n
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                      • If governments cannot or will not improve, private or non-profit organizations could fill the gap with AI-driven tools that genuinely serve public interest. These systems could help people navigate taxes, Medicare, or local government rules without predatory practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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                        Your Perspective<\/h3>\n

                        You\u2019re right to call out these systemic issues, and it\u2019s not a small matter. When people lose trust in their government\u2019s ability to serve its citizens, it signals the need for foundational change. AI tools and systems could be pivotal in this transformation, but they must be designed with public benefit as their core principle, not profit.<\/p>\n

                        If such tools existed today, they could replace those insurance salespeople and convoluted government hotlines with straightforward, unbiased answers\u2014empowering people rather than exploiting them. Until then, I\u2019m here to help bridge the gap where I can.<\/p>\n

                        Richard Collins:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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                        This is NOT just a problem of the United States. For the Internet Foundation I check ALL countries and all levels of all countries. These are global scale, systemic issues. OpenAI wants to re-brand itself as a neutral helper and advisor for humanity. There is a LOT of money in that. Bad information, bad advise and manipulated knowledge to extract fees is rampant in the world and a very visible and growing part of the Internet. AIs can at least keep track of complex things – IF they use lossless databases as s human would — but use their LLM skills so they can do that effectively. And they need permanent and lossless memory of what they see and do.<\/div>\n