AI Artificial Intelligence – Issue 1

What is AI?

This subject is so important, it will be dealt with in several blogs. This one is introductory and general, but later blogs will deal with applications in more detail.

Scientists have been working on AI for a long time with spasmodic, stop start progress. It is unseen to most of us, because it is mostly resident in software. AI is probably the most pervading and powerful of all new technologies.

AI is generally divided into two types, although some will claim up to 7.

   Narrow (or weak) AI, capable of performing repetitive tasks such as analysing data and making decisions based on that data.

   General AI, also known as AGI or strong AI. This is probably decades away and would behave like a superior human mind. When this happens a ‘Singularity‘ has occurred.

Both types of AI learn and become more capable (Deep or Machine Learning) with experience on the tasks they are given.

If you think all this will be scary read :

1. Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Max Tegmark.
2. Artificial Intelligence by Melanie Mitchell.
3. An article from the Guardian written entirely by AI on what AI might or might not do to the world.  As usual subversive humans may be the problem, rather than the technology.

Note: To determine if 1. and 2. are worth reading, go to your Amazon account and download the first chapter or two for free. You may need a Kindle account.

Where is AI?

Increasingly everywhere. We all know about Gary Kasparov being finally beaten by a computer (using AI) at Chess in the late 90s. Also recently computers winning at Go, a game with many more possibilities than Chess. These are popular for journalists, but  I am using it on this blog. WordPress has a function named ‘Readability’. As I type, it starts by showing my writing ‘Needs Improvement’. It suggests I use sub headings, shorter sentences, active voice instead of passive, transition words, etc. When I do this, I am judged ‘OK’, then with further amendment, judged ‘Good’. I am not smart enough to achieve ‘Excellent’, if there is such a pinnacle!

When I research new technology, Google recognises my interest and lists many relevant articles daily, on my phone. That’s useful AI. Not so useful are the ads they send, but that can be turned off.

Where isn’t AI?

Businesses that ignore AI will be left behind. Already many well known US stores, e.g. Sears and JCPenny have become bankrupt because of a failure to act. Amazon uses it everywhere resulting in phenomenal growth.

Here is a quote from Gartner. “Of more immediate concern is the prevailing skepticism about AI’s value in the workplace. 42% of IT and business executives surveyed do not “fully understand the AI benefits and use in the workplace. Fear of the unknown accounts for some of this skepticism”

Where will AI be?

In the US, it may surprise you that the biggest killer after cancer and heart disease is misdiagnosis! AI is more accurate than doctors at this but will it displace doctors? No, AI will enhance their customer patient relationship leaving AI to do the donkey work.

Judges are outgunned by AI in making judgments and sentencing. Once again Judges will have a powerful tool to help them make better decisions.

There is a huge amount of data stored in the Cloud. While some may object to the amount of their data to which governments have access, AI can scan that data very quickly and thoroughly. This helps police and the military find potential criminals and terrorists making our lives safer. Humans could never cope with the volume, speed and accuracy required.

AI Applications

The applications are endless. Think education, health, science discovery, e.g. covid19 vaccines, law, environment, finance, insurance, manufacturing, agriculture. Almost every human activity can benefit. Yes jobs will be lost, although mostly, more jobs are created than lost. It is up to mankind to foresee the coming changes and train or steer the workforce accordingly, e.g., STEM subjects. At least the dirty jobs will be lost. AI and robots work 24/7, don’t get sick, want holidays or answer back! We just need to keep them as slaves! A future life of Abundance? Several people think so, including Bill Gates.

I have not included many references as the above information is very general, based on reading over a long period. More to come later.

See also: Politics, Emotion and Policy in About