But what else can it achieve?

We’ve all seen the sci-fi films where futuristic technologies seem capable of doing almost anything. But whilst some bits might be a little far-fetched, parts of it are not as far away as you might think. Artificial Intelligence seems to play a central role in many of the stories, where robot uprisings see them challenge humans in world dominance. But is this realistic? Is AI something to be welcomed or feared? Read this beginner’s guide to artificial intelligence and decide for yourself…

What actually is A.I.

There is no formal definition for Artificial Intelligence, or AI for short, simply because it is not any one thing. But it is exactly this lack of rigid definition that has allowed AI to grow organically. At its core, AI is an area of computer science which focuses on the creation of smart machines which can perform tasks that would otherwise require human intelligence to complete them. It focuses around machine-learning, which essentially means technology which can learn new behaviour from the different situations they are presented with. Artificial Intelligence is causing a fundamental shift across the whole of the technology industry, making for a very exciting time in the field.

There are two key types of AI functionality:

Embodied – such as robots, drones, self-driving cars and the Internet of Things.

Software – virtual assistants, image analysers, search engines, face/speech recognition systems.

‍

Whilst a seemingly futuristic ideal, the concept of AI was actually borne over 70 years ago in 1943 when a paper was published by Warren McCullough and Walter Pitts. The paper proposed the creation of a neural network using a mathematic model. Subsequently, English mathematician and pioneer of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence, Alan Turing, asked the question, “Can machines think?” in 1950. Turing was already well-respected in the tech world have having broken Enigma, the encryption machine used by the Nazis in World War II, to help the Allied Forces become victorious. He published a paper answering this question, laying out the fundamental vision of AI in that machines should one day be able to replicate human intelligence.

But understanding AI is probably best achieved by looking at where it currently stands and what it does for us today.

How is A.I. currently used?

It may sometimes feel as though technology has taken over the world, but it isn’t quite that extreme just yet! Even still, you might be surprised to learn how prevalent AI is within our daily lives. It works in an assisted form, generally speaking. For example, we do not have robots working for us, but we do have Siri and Alexa voice command tools that respond to our requests making our lives increasingly easier. It is used by search engines in order to deliver the best results for your criteria and our homes benefit from items such as smart thermostats which learn the residents’ behaviours in order to conserve energy.

In terms of transport and travel, there are algorithms in place that will work out how to connect the best Uber driver to the person requiring the fare to minimise time and cost for both parties. Within cars themselves, you might find that somewhat more advanced ones will take over driving responsibilities with cruise control, lane management and auto-breaking to ensure an altogether safer experience. And of course, self-driving cars will be one of the biggest breakthroughs of AI when they are fully developed and adopted into mainstream use. Traffic is also managed using AI to reduce congestion and improve circulation.

AI is currently being developed in order to summarise published research papers so that students (or indeed readers) don’t have to. It can be used to fight cyber attacks as the AI begins to recognise them as they start, and it is even being used in the fight against Covid-19 in the form of thermal imaging in airports as well as tracking the spread to minimise outbreaks. AI also allows face and speech recognition which helps us all with general security.

Social media uses AI for multiple reasons, one of which is to control the spread of fake news which can be highly damaging. It works by trawling through social media sites to find inflammatory and alarming words and phrases and checking the author of them to see how reputable they are, removing them if necessary.

Online advertising and shopping are key focuses for AI due to the huge benefits it brings. Personalised adverts which are specifically tailored to the individual user allow for targeted promotions, resulting in engagement levels which would never previously have been seen. These can be based on what users have searched for or purchased in the past to ensure relevancy. In fact, AI is increasingly common in commerce for the other benefits it brings too, such as inventory planning, product optimisation, logistics and so on.

So what does the future hold for A.I.?

Many predict that AI will change the world in more ways than anything else in the history of mankind. Sound a little far-fetched? With how much AI is already pervading our daily lives, you could argue the future is now, but the truth is there is so much more to come still. Autonomous cars are on the horizon (albeit a decade or more away), manufacturing will adopt the use of robots to perform certain tasks without fear of human error or fatigue plaguing them. Diseases will be diagnosed more accurately than ever before and medications will even be developed more quickly. Textbooks will become digital and the engagement and comprehension of students will be monitored thanks to facial analysis gauging emotions in order to deliver a better individual experience. Customers will continue to benefit too, from being targeted in an intelligent way with relevant products and promotions, to being able to buy what they want when they want it thanks to improved stock, process and logistical management. Even customer service will improve with AI that could place your appointments for you.

All in all, AI is already everywhere you turn in today’s world but the future looks nothing but promising. We’ll benefit greatly in the future from increased AI applications throughout all aspects of our lives.

‍

Take a look at the collection