All about AI
Here’s what you need to know about artificial intelligence
THERE’S a lot of talk about artificial intelligence, or AI, these days, and you’ve probably heard some of it. AI is a branch of computer science and technology that’s making huge strides every week!
It’s very exciting, but what exactly is AI? What can it do? And why are some people excited about it while others are afraid of what it might entail?
WHAT IS AI?
As you know, your brain is in control of everything in your body. Nothing happens without our brains having something to do with it. Whether it’s movement or breathing, smelling or tasting, or even thinking and learning – our brain gives the commands that make everything happen, even the things we don’t consciously think about!
AI is like the brain of a computer. It enables the computer to do things independently, without needing human instructions. Some basic things AI can do include reading and processing language, solving problems, and even learning from information it can find on the internet.
We could say that AI is the computer’s ability to mimic the thinking and learning process.
In fact, the goal of AI is to create computers that can “think” just like humans do. Some people even consider AI the next stage in evolution!
HOW DOES AI WORK?
While our human brain can constantly learn and adapt, AI is only as smart as the information it receives. This information, or data, is usually provided in the form of computer programs written by human programmers.
Most AI systems have access to vast amounts of information, and they can process this information very quickly, just as Google can search the entire internet for topics you’re looking for in a matter of seconds.
Just imagine what it would be like if humans could study for tests as quickly as Google can find answers!
Let’s take a quick look at the three types of learning processes involved in AI: machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing.
Machine learning allows computers to learn things regardless of whether they’re programmed to do so or not.
Algorithms, which are step-by-step instructions for computers to perform a task, are designed to analyse data, and they can learn to identify patterns in this data.
Once they have learned the patterns, the computer can make predictions or decisions based on them.
A practical application of this type of learning is in self-driving cars, which can identify objects and images, like road signs, traffic lights, and other vehicles, and make decisions about the best way to navigate around them.
Deep learning is an AI method that teaches computers to process information in a way similar to the human brain.
Just as a toddler can learn what a dog is by pointing to different objects and hearing from adults whether it’s a dog or something else, a machine can learn to distinguish certain objects from others.
Using driverless cars as an example, it describes the car’s ability to distinguish between a pedestrian and a lamppost.
It’s an important skill to have!
Natural language processing is an area of computer science that focuses on the interaction between computers and human languages. You may have encountered it through online interaction with a chatbot.
Chatbots are designed to understand your needs and respond to them thanks to natural language processing algorithms that analyse, understand, and create responses in human language to your online queries.
EXAMPLES OF AI
Here are a few examples of real artificial intelligence that is already part of our lives.
Streaming services like Netflix use AI to suggest shows and movies we might like. By analysing data such as what shows we’ve already watched and where we live, AI can make educated guesses about what we might enjoy.
E-commerce platforms such as Amazon or Takealot make similar suggestions based on our searches and buying history.
Navigation apps such as Google Maps use AI to plot travel routes. The application’s ability to analyse real-time data, such as traffic conditions and weather, enables it to suggest the fastest and most convenient route based on all the current information.
Voice assistants such as Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa can understand and respond to voice commands.
As with any new development, there are two sides to AI – one that is useful and important for our development as humans, and another that concerns many people.
BENEFITS
There are many benefits to AI, and we will likely discover many more over time.
Some of these include AI’s ability to make quick, good decisions; its constant availability as it doesn’t need breaks, sick leave, or vacations; AI’s function in making our online experience more personal by showing us what we likely to want to see; AI’s use to eliminate human errors; its ability to perform fast and advanced data analysis; its use in making workflow better; and its function of performing boring, repetitive tasks.
DRAWBACKS
Whenever a machine, robot, or computer program can do something better than a human, there is a danger that those humans may lose their jobs.
More and more job opportunities are being lost, and experts believe this will become even more common.
Security risks and privacy threats are still concerns, especially since AI needs to analyse so much information to function properly.
What we do, where we go, what we like – all of this is private information that can be collected about us.
Then there is the question of whether an AI system can ever be truly creative.
Will it be able to show empathy towards humans? Our humanity, kindness, and warmth distinguish us from machines. But for how long will this still be the case?