Smart Syndrome
it’s always been a popular genre of Hollywood movies - those epic science fiction plots that feature human-like robots who either want to destroy the world, or show us a world of advanced technology that resides in the realm of imagination. This is how many people were introduced to artificial intelligence (AI) and how it is redefining our present and future.
First coined in 1956, the term AI now refers to sophisticated technology that drives the evolution of people’s life through automation and that has developed exponentially in the last decade.
AI in China has permeated all walks of life. China has a flourishing entrepreneurship culture, strong government assistance and a public that has embraced all forms of technology.
From the fields of medicine, where AI systems can assist doctors diagnose ailments, to the judiciary, where AI can help judges hand down sentences in criminal cases, the technology is ubiquitous.
China has devised a framework of China’s future AI objectives. The three-step approach will see the country elevate its expertise match the rest of the world by 2020, achieve major breakthroughs by 2025 and be the world’s premier AI innovation center by 2030. It’s an ambitious plan that will place China as the preeminent global advocate of AI in both research and implementation.
In line with the ambitious plan, the Chinese Government is investing $2.12 billion in an AI research park in Beijing according to Xinhua News Agency, while global AI leader Google has announced the launch of the Google AI China Center, also in Beijing. Li Meng, Vice Minister of Science and Technology of China says of the Google center, “We look forward to working with the brightest AI researchers in China to help find solutions to the world’s problems.”
In addition, leading Chinese technology companies like Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent are far down the road in using AI to develop automated vehicles.
The drive is also impacting Africa. Countries such as Zimbabwe are forging ahead with AI initiatives. With assistance from China, Zimbabwe is the first country on the continent to employ facial recognition. The AI facial recognition system, installed at border posts and ports of entry, will improve security of Zimbabwe’s movement of people, while also being used in the financial and business sector.
To feed the growth of AI, China is going to require massive increases in the number of engineers in the field. Youth who are considering career paths would be well advised to consider algorithmic engineering Zhaopin.com, a major recruiting portal in China says demand for this skill set has doubled in 2018.
With so much being made of infinite data volumes, improved algorithms and advancements in computing storage and power, there are ethical concerns in some quarters. The fear that humans are tampering with technology that might become more intelligent than them is being heard. To ensure this doesn’t happen, there must be equal effort put into safety measures at every stage of AI development. By being smart, the systems are being designed to enhance human abilities, not be a threat. Humans and intelligent machines can co-exist comfortably and advance civilization into the next epoch.