Essential Facts You Should Know About Artificial Intelligence (AI)

In the world of technology and digital advancements, artificial intelligence (AI) has re-emerged as a prominent tool due to recent developments by tech experts. Businesses, organizations, and every sector of the economy are now recognizing the potential of AI in advancing their activities and increasing productivity.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of a computer or a robot controlled by a computer to perform tasks typically carried out by humans, as they require human intelligence and discernment. It encompasses systems capable of reasoning, discovering meaning, generalizing, and learning from past experiences. While digital computers, developed in the 1940s, have demonstrated their ability to perform complex tasks such as proving mathematical theorems and excelling at chess, there are still no programs that match the full flexibility of human intelligence across a wide range of domains or in tasks requiring broad everyday knowledge. However, AI has found its place in applications like medical diagnosis, computer search engines, voice and handwriting recognition, and chatbots.

John McCarthy, an American computer scientist, is regarded as the father of Artificial Intelligence and is credited with coining the term “artificial intelligence.” He was a founding figure in the field of AI, along with pioneers like Alan Turing, Marvin Minsky, Allen Newell, and Herbert A. Nevertheless, the earliest substantial work in AI was conducted in the mid-20th century by the British logician and computer pioneer Alan Mathison Turing.

Today, AI has evolved into different types. As per the current classification system, there are four primary AI categories: reactive, limited memory, theory of mind, and self-aware.

Reactive AI is the most basic type of artificial intelligence. It provides predictable outputs based on the input it receives and responds the same way to identical situations every time. However, it cannot learn or consider past or future actions. An example of reactive AI is Netflix’s recommendation search engine.

Limited memory AI, on the other hand, learns from past experiences and uses historical data along with pre-programmed information to make predictions and perform complex tasks. It is widely used today, with applications like autonomous vehicles using it to interpret the road and enhance safety.

Theory of mind AI equips machines with decision-making capabilities akin to humans. It enables machines to understand and remember emotions, adjusting their behavior based on emotions during interactions with people. This type of AI presents challenges due to the fluidity of human emotions in communication.

The most advanced type, self-aware AI, allows machines to be conscious of their emotions and the emotions of others. They have desires, needs, and emotions and can make inferences that are not possible with other AI types. This category remains under development.

While AI offers numerous benefits, it also presents disadvantages. Potential job displacement, skill loss in humans, overreliance on technology, increased human laziness, and ethical concerns are some of the drawbacks. Some applications of AI, such as robots, may lead to job displacement and increased unemployment. Incorporating ethics and morality into AI can be challenging, and the rapid progress of AI raises concerns about uncontrollable AI growth, referred to as the AI singularity.

In conclusion, AI tools have automated many tedious tasks, reducing the need for human involvement. This overreliance on AI can lead to skill loss and potentially create issues for future generations. As we embrace AI’s benefits, it is essential to consider and address its implications carefully.

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not represent the opinions or views of Osun Defender