We've been hearing a whole lot about artificial intelligence (AI) for quiet some time now and it is increasingly becoming evident that this technology will play a significant role in shaping the future. This article provides a basic understanding of AI, and the impact and applications of this technology in our daily lives and work.
The earliest recorded instance of AI
Source: Wikipedia People have always been intrigued by the idea of creating something that can think for itself. We've seen the notion of AI appear in science fiction movies well before AI became popular. Even though AI is something that has been making headlines during the last few years, the idea of AI dates back to the time of the ancient Greeks who seem to be the first to imagine and ponder about Artificial Intelligence. In fact, the earliest recorded instance of AI in history can be found in Greek Mythology long before technological evolution. One of the earliest conceptions of a robot was Talos, a giant automaton made out of bronze. According to the Greek mythology, Talos was commissioned by Zeus to protect the island of Crete from pirates and invaders. He circled the island's shores three times daily.
AI explained simply
Put simply, AI refers to machines and computer systems that are capable of performing tasks that require human intelligence, and perform them as well as, or better and faster than humans. This can include tasks such as speech recognition, visual perception, translation between languages, understanding natural language, and decision making.
One of the most common types of AI is machine learning, where computers learn from data. We often hear the term algorithm, but what exactly is it? A machine algorithm is a set of rules that a machine can execute. The algorithms use mathematical models to analyze large datasets and look for patterns and relationships between different variables. The algorithms can learn from the data and overtime they can become more accurate at predicting new data, without being explicitly programmed to do so.
A lot of AI nowadays is trained on data that come from humans, most notably language models, where computers are being trained to understand and produce human language. ChatGPT by OpenAI, a language model which interacts in a conversational way, has recently become a topic of great excitement. In fact, we asked ChatGPT itself to explain what it is using simple words and here is what it came back with: "It (ChatGPT) uses advanced machine learning algorithms to generate human-like text responses to questions or prompts given to it. Essentially, it is a program that can respond to questions and hold conversations with people, like a virtual assistant or customer service representative." Needless to say that ChatGPT, albeit not yet perfect, has opened the door to many exciting possibilities and applications.
Put simply, AI refers to machines and computer systems that are capable of performing tasks that require human intelligence, and perform them as well as, or better and faster than humans. This can include tasks such as speech recognition, visual perception, translation between languages, understanding natural language, and decision making.
One of the most common types of AI is machine learning, where computers learn from data. We often hear the term algorithm, but what exactly is it? A machine algorithm is a set of rules that a machine can execute. The algorithms use mathematical models to analyze large datasets and look for patterns and relationships between different variables. The algorithms can learn from the data and overtime they can become more accurate at predicting new data, without being explicitly programmed to do so.
A lot of AI nowadays is trained on data that come from humans, most notably language models, where computers are being trained to understand and produce human language. ChatGPT by OpenAI, a language model which interacts in a conversational way, has recently become a topic of great excitement. In fact, we asked ChatGPT itself to explain what it is using simple words and here is what it came back with: "It (ChatGPT) uses advanced machine learning algorithms to generate human-like text responses to questions or prompts given to it. Essentially, it is a program that can respond to questions and hold conversations with people, like a virtual assistant or customer service representative." Needless to say that ChatGPT, albeit not yet perfect, has opened the door to many exciting possibilities and applications.
ChatGPT a language model by OpenAI responding to our question.
AI applications
AI is already integrated in our everyday lives, but it may be the case that on many occasions we may not be aware of it. If you have ever used, for example, Google Maps to reach a destination, then you are already using a product where AI is a critical component of what makes it so successful. Google Maps' machine learning model is trained on two sets of data: information that comes from phones that use Google Maps to determine speed along a route and information from routes driven with Google Maps when projected on the car's display. This enables Google to suggest alternative routes when traffic conditions in one route may not be optimal saving us a lot of time from being stuck in a traffic jam. You're surely aware of Siri, Apple's virtual assistant for devices such as the iPhone. Siri was one of the first voice recognition and natural language processing technologies powered by AI that appeared in the market.
Robotics is probably one of the most well-known applications of AI. Robots can use AI algorithms to make decisions, plan movements, and perform tasks. Robots have played a significant role during the Covid-19 pandemic where it was not possible for healthcare professionals to provide care to patients without exposing themselves to danger. They were commissioned to disinfect the air and surfaces, to monitor patient condition, and bring them food and medication.
AI is already integrated in our everyday lives, but it may be the case that on many occasions we may not be aware of it. If you have ever used, for example, Google Maps to reach a destination, then you are already using a product where AI is a critical component of what makes it so successful. Google Maps' machine learning model is trained on two sets of data: information that comes from phones that use Google Maps to determine speed along a route and information from routes driven with Google Maps when projected on the car's display. This enables Google to suggest alternative routes when traffic conditions in one route may not be optimal saving us a lot of time from being stuck in a traffic jam. You're surely aware of Siri, Apple's virtual assistant for devices such as the iPhone. Siri was one of the first voice recognition and natural language processing technologies powered by AI that appeared in the market.
Robotics is probably one of the most well-known applications of AI. Robots can use AI algorithms to make decisions, plan movements, and perform tasks. Robots have played a significant role during the Covid-19 pandemic where it was not possible for healthcare professionals to provide care to patients without exposing themselves to danger. They were commissioned to disinfect the air and surfaces, to monitor patient condition, and bring them food and medication.
| Generative AI In recent years, the advancements in machine learning algorithms and deep learning, the availability of a growing datasets to train the models, the proliferation of cloud computing, faster connectivity and faster hardware, have also led to advancements in generative AI. Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can create new data such as, for example, using a texual description to create a digital image. ChatGPT and DALL-E are two examples of generative AI. As a matter of fact, the image that you see here is created using DALL-E, an AI-powered system created by OpenAI that leverages deep learning models to generate images from natural language descriptions. We asked DALL-E to create an image in stained glass style for this article that shows a futuristic concept of AI facing a real human. |  Here is what DALL-E created when we asked it to show a futuristic concept of artificial intelligence facing a real human in stained glass style. |
Ethical AI
Some believe that we will reach a new era, that of AI Singularity, where technology will improve itself at an exponential pace which will lead to AI surpassing human intelligence. On the one hand, this brings hope and promise - from the possibility of curing diseases that were previously deemed incurable to generating scripts for a new TV series, AI's potential is endless. On the other hand, it raises concerns about the impact of this technology on issues such as jobs, privacy, and data security. The use of Ethical AI, in other words, the development and use of AI technology that is considered morally and socially responsible, is critical. As AI systems become more integrated into our daily lives, they need to be designed and used in ways that are in alignment with values such as fairness, transparency, accountability, and human rights, and that they respect privacy and protect personal data.
In conclusion, when thinking about the potential of AI in transforming how we live and work, we are just scratching the surface. Albeit the challenges that need to be addressed, AI will become an increasingly important part of our lives in the coming years. It is essential that we understand the basics of this technology and its impact and application in our lives and work.
###
In conclusion, when thinking about the potential of AI in transforming how we live and work, we are just scratching the surface. Albeit the challenges that need to be addressed, AI will become an increasingly important part of our lives in the coming years. It is essential that we understand the basics of this technology and its impact and application in our lives and work.
###
About Marketing For Tech
Marketing For Tech is a technology marketing firm which helps tech companies with their marketing strategy & execution. Contact us here.