The world is in a perpetual state of change. All through the centuries, humans have endured numerous extinction events such the plague of the Spanish Flu and Smallpox. In the present day with the progression of technology and massive advances in science and medicine, man appears to have everything in check.
In this high-tech period, we find ourselves in, our lives have been made much relaxed by transferring demanding and labor-intensive stuff that would take colossal strength and time to machines and robots. This is appealing, isn’t it? But to take it a notch higher, we have now developed intricate Artificial Intelligence that can aid these machines and robots to execute their actions even better.
In this high-tech period, we find ourselves in, our lives have been made much relaxed by transferring demanding and labor-intensive stuff that would take colossal strength and time to machines and robots. This is appealing, isn’t it? But to take it a notch higher, we have now developed intricate Artificial Intelligence that can aid these machines and robots to execute their actions even better.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence or AI as it is more usually branded as, is the synthesis of human intelligence processes by machines, principally by computer systems. Some of these processes comprise learning, reasoning, and self-correction.
In computer science, AI research can be well-defined as the study of "intelligent agents". Any device or object which is not human or organic that can distinguish its situation and takes actions that raises its chance of achievement of an objective can be considered an Artificial Intelligence.AI was considered and established as an academic discipline in the mid-1950’s and in the years subsequent it has undergone several highs and lows. The discipline of AI was established on the contention that human intelligence could be so precisely defined that a machine could successfully mimic it.This assertion created philosophical sentiments about the nature of the mind and the ethics of creating artificial beings capable of human-like intelligence.
The Resurgence of AI
In the twenty-first century, AI technology has received a shot of adrenaline in a manner of speaking owing to concurrent hikes in computing power, huge amounts of data, and a better theoretical comprehension of the subject area. AI technology has developed into an essential element of the technology industry and is facilitating the resolving of many perplexing difficulties in computer science and other areas such as production and manufacturing.
With AI being adopted by many industries and supplanting humans, there has been a significant increase in the number of workers laid off by huge companies who embrace AI technology or robots. These massive losses in the workforce have a direct impact on the economy. Jobs are gone and the purchasing power of people is significantly reduced leading to a less strong economy. However, best job search websites help people find great jobs that suit their skills.
From SIRI to self-driving cars, artificial intelligence (AI) is developing quickly. While science fiction regularly depicts AI as robots with human-like features, AI can actually comprise anything from Google’s search systems to IBM’s Watson to self-directed weapons.
Artificial intelligence currently is accurately recognized as narrow AI (or weak AI because it is intended to perform a specific task (e.g. only facial recognition or only driving a car). But, the long-term aim of many scientists is to build a general AI (AGI or strong AI). While narrow AI may outclass humans at whatever its precise task is, like playing chess or solving equations, AGI would outdo humans at virtually every intellectual assignment.
Benefits of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is intricate by design. It uses a very complex combination of computer science, mathematics, and other difficult sciences. Complex programming aids these machines imitate the cognitive capabilities of humans.
1. Reduction of Error
Artificial intelligence helps to diminish mistakes and the chance of precision with a greater degree of exactitude is a real prospect. Artificial intelligence is practical in numerous studies such as space exploration. Smart robots are provided with information and are sent out to travel space. Since they are machines, they are more resilient and have a better capacity to tolerate space and its unfriendly environment. They are built and adjusted in such a way that they cannot be altered or spoiled or breakdown in the inimical atmosphere.
2. Exploration
Artificial intelligence and the science of robotics can be of immense help in mining and other fuel exploration procedures. Also, these complex machines explore the depths of the ocean and therefore performing beyond human confines. Owing to the programming of the robots, they can execute more arduous tasks with better accountability.
3. Numerous Applications
Computed systems for automated reasoning, learning and perception are now a normal occurrence in our daily lives. We have Siri or Cortana to assist us. We also go for long drives without a pre-determined destination in mind but with the aid of GPS, we can easily find ourselves a way home. No more getting lost. Smartphones are in vogue and that is just a simple example of the use of artificial intelligence.
Even when you are typing, they can envisage what we will type and correct the human mistakes in spelling. This is a classic example of machine intelligence at work. Pictures are identified using the artificial intelligence algorithm and a person’s face can be identified and tagged when the image is posted on social media sites. Artificial Intelligence is extensively used by commercial/financial establishments and banking institutions to organize and manage data
4. Digital Assistance
Very innovative establishments use ‘avatars’ which are models or digital aides that can essentially interact with consumers, consequently not requiring the necessity for actual human interaction. For artificial intelligence, sentiments do not have any consequence on logical reasoning in any way. The total lack of the emotive cognition makes the robots reason logically and make the accurate program assessments. Emotion is related toa disposition that can distort proper reasoning and affect human competence. This problem absolutely out of the question for machine intelligence.
5. Medical Applications
In the field of medicine, you notice the extensive use of AI. Doctors evaluate patients and their health with the aid of artificial machine intelligence. It teaches them about the possible reactions/side effects of different medicines. Medical professionals are habitually taught with artificial surgery emulators. There are even novel medical applications powered by AI to identify and monitor neurological conditions as they can be programmed to mimic the brain functions. Robotics is often employed to help mental health patients to battle depression and stay active. A common use of artificial intelligence is radiosurgery. Radiosurgery is employed when operating tumors and this can really aid the operation without harming the immediate tissues.
6. No Breaks
Machines and therefore AI unlike humans, do not need regular cessations and food. They are pre-set for long hours and can constantly execute tasks without getting tired or sidetracked or even exhausted.
Disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence:
1. High Cost
Construction of artificial intelligence involves enormous expenses as they are very intricate machines. Their renovation and preservation also entail enormous expenses. They have software programs which require regular upgrades to accommodate the requirements of a fluctuating milieu and the necessity for these machines to keep getting smarter. In the event of a random collapse, the process to regain and mend missing codes and resetting the system will need huge time and cost.
2. No Replicating Humans
Intelligence is assumed to be an ability that is natural for humans. An ethical dispute remains, as to whether human intelligence is to be computer-generated or not. Machines do not possess emotions and moral values. They execute what they are preset to do and cannot decide if something is right or wrong. They cannot make the proper assessments if they come across a condition that is outside the scope of their programming code. They will either execute inaccurately or collapse in such circumstances.
3. No Improvement in Experience
Dissimilar to humans, artificial intelligence cannot be enhanced with experience on the job. Machines are incapable of adjusting their reactions to fluctuating situations. We are relentlessly barraged by the question if it is indeed thrilling to substitute humans with machines. In the world of artificial intelligence, there is nothing like being passionate. Care or apprehensions are not existent in the machine intelligence dictionary. They fail to differentiate between an assiduous person and an incompetent person.
4. Loss of Jobs
Substituting humans for machines will mean a rise in the loss of jobs. Unemployment is generally unattractive. Individuals who have no jobs will turn their attention to using their time and minds for the wrong purposes. Humans can be needlessly reliant on the machines with the increased usage of artificial intelligence. Also, when people begin thinking in a negative manner, they can make chaos with these machines. Artificial intelligence under the influence of bad people is a grim hazard to humanity. It can premeditate large-scale devastation.
As a consequence of the points noted above in this article, the Association for the advancement of artificial intelligence has two major goals;
1. To develop and advance the science of artificial intelligence and to promote and educate about the responsible usage of artificial intelligence.
2. Identifying and studying the risk of artificial intelligence is a very important task at hand.
These two goals will aid in solving the concerns of several people. Programming blunders or cyber-attacks will require more committed and cautious research. The technology industry and its stakeholders will need to be more attentive to the quality and features of the software. All that has been produced in the world as a whole and in our distinct societies is the endless consequence of intellect. Artificial intelligence supplements and endows human intelligence. So far as we keep technology beneficial and productive, humanity will ultimately reap the benefits.
AI Research
The necessity of devising helpful applications of artificial intelligence for the general public has driven research in various sectors such as security, transportation, production and even economics. Trivial problems such a laptop crash is insignificant when compared to the unthinkable likelihood of an airplane’s autopilot software malfunction or a mistake on your trading. Dangerous autonomous weapons are also another creation of artificial intelligence and the future test is to regulate them efficiently.
The creation of artificial intelligence very high up in the achievements of the human race. If this technology is properly harnessed and developed positively, we may even use artificial intelligence as a tool to eliminate poverty and hunger from the world. The dispute that humans can never match the absolute level of artificial intelligence shall continue for a long time. The architects and designers of artificial intelligence assert that machine intelligence is valuable and will aid the progression of humanity. However, the potential threat of artificial intelligence to accidentally cause devastation and harm should not be disregarded. Proper and ethical research is the only way help regulate AI better and reap its benefits.
The Dangers of AI
Majority of researchers settle for the assumption that a super-intelligent AI is improbable of displaying human emotions like love or hate, and that there are no grounds to presume that AI will develop deliberately compassionate or malicious. Rather, when evaluating ways that AI could become a menace, experts think that these two situations are the most probable:
The AI is programmed to do something catastrophic:
Autonomous weapons are artificial intelligence systems that are preset to kill. In the hands of dangerous people, they could certainly result in a large number of fatalities. Furthermore, an AI weapons race could accidentally result in an AI war that would also result in several casualties. To prevent being stopped or destroyed by opposing countries in the arms race, it is most likely that these weapons would be programmed to be really challenging to just “switch off.” In this case, the human fear of being inferior is what will inadvertently give rise to such a dire situation where an AI can have absolute control. This likelihood is one that is even possible presently with narrow AI, as ranks of AI intelligence and autonomy surge.
The AI is programmed to do something constructive, but it employs a negative method to be efficient
This can occur if we do not fully align the AI’s goals with ours, which will be extremely challenging. For instance, you may ask a self-driving car to get you to the airport quickly, it will do just as you asked but you may not be able to get on your flight as the car may have flouted traffic regulations and the police will hold you accountable.
With this example, it is easy to notice why the apprehensions about cutting-edge AI could become a problem. The AI is doing what it is programmed to do alright but without recourse to anything else but the parameters that have been set for it. In this case, the AI isn’t being intentionally malevolent but it is just seeking to be competent. A super-intelligent AI will be exceptionally great at achieving its objectives, and if those objectives are not in line with ours, then we have a huge issue to address. An essential objective of AI safety research is to never place humanity at peril.
The AI Safety Concern Debate Keeps Raging
Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, and Bill Gates just to name a few are several of the big players in the science and technology sectors. Some of these people including many leading AI researchers have voiced their concerns about the dangers posed by AI.
The notion that the pursuit of a strong AI would eventually flourish was initially assumed as science fiction, and not quite plausible anytime soon. But, in the light of latest developments, many stuff about AI, that experts thought of incapable only a few years ago, has been already attained. This had made many experts rethink and truly consider the prospects of super intelligence very soon. Though others still insist that human-level AI is still quite far-fetched presently, most AI researchers and experts at the 2015 Puerto Rico Conference agreed that it would happen around the year 2060. Though it may take a while to finalize a comprehensive fail-safe safety research on Ai, it is practical to begin now.
Due to the fact that AI has the capability of becoming smarter than humans, we do not have a definite prediction of its possible behavior. We cannot rely on or refer to previous technological developments as a basis. This is because we have by no means produced anything that could develop the capacity to, consciously or unconsciously, outwit us. The nearest sample we have is the story of our own evolution. We govern the planet because we are the cleverest. If we are no more the apex of the food chain, are we confident of being in control of affairs?
BIO
Theodore Adrohu is a Writer. Communications Specialist. Social Media Manager for Ghana employer job posting websites. Realist. Unorthodox Thinker. Health Fanatic. Voted Best Dad Ever by Twin Sons Jason and Jaden.
Theodore Adrohu is a Writer. Communications Specialist. Social Media Manager for Ghana employer job posting websites. Realist. Unorthodox Thinker. Health Fanatic. Voted Best Dad Ever by Twin Sons Jason and Jaden.