Advantages of artificial intelligence and why you should be excited about it

We cannot guarantee that artificial intelligence was not involved in creating this article. 😉
You call me a copycat? Technically, artificial intelligence (AI) does not have intellectual property. Everyone utilizes it, every day. Read about the advancements in AI and why it is good.

Artificial intelligence vs. machine learning

AI (artificial intelligence) is something non-human that is capable to acquire knowledge. Machine learning (ML) describes a structured process in which AI is implemented to gain experience from learning.

For a machine to learn, data needs to be fed into it. Algorithms let it perform a task. These are then re-programmed to optimize the task or output. Here is where AI comes into play. It improves results. As AI and ML are intertwined, we will talk about AI as a system, even though technically it is implemented in a system.

Types of AI

What is the impact of AI? We understand it as an evolving thing that started to pass three stages:

• Specialized or artificial narrow intelligence (ANI)
• Artificial general intelligence (AGI)
• Artificial superintelligence (ASI)

ANI are goal-orientated systems, designed to solve specific problems. These are reactive machines and have limited memory. It is all about machine learning and automation.

Types of artificial intelligence

Reactive machines

Are basic systems that respond to human interactions, like Deep Blue, a chess game the famous player Garry Kasparov lost in the 90s. Equally, Netflix is giving you recommendations based on your watched movies. Another example is the set-up of your SPAM filter.

Limited memory

Systems learn from past experiences to make predictions. They require to store information over years. Self-driving vehicles, like the Paris Metro Line 1, is one example. Another one would be the facial recognition system on your phone knowing it’s you, even if you have your baseball cap on.

AGI are machines that can multitask and are built to learn anything. They think and feel like a human. You would come across it as the theory of mind and self-aware systems.

Theory of mind

This intelligence understands human emotions and responds accordingly. The cash machine is not yet comforting you when you overdraft your credit card with deep regrets. Imagine a bar of Snickers coming out of the machine: “You will need it, honey. You are at –500 USD!“

Self-aware systems

Are an extension of the Theory of Mind. A self-conscious multitasking machine, that is aware of itself, its actions, and consequences. Like Marvin, the depressive android (from A hitchhiker’s guide through the galaxy).

Marvin the paranoid

Were you waiting for a real example of AGI you are using daily?
There is none. It is not developed yet.

Any software that recognises our voice, and face and answers all questions, seemingly multitasks. But, it is an algorithm that searches data for a match fitting your request, not a human-like thinker. All current systems cannot reason like humans and have no cognitive functions. This lack of humanness is mocked as artificial stupidity.

Super intelligent AI is a spin-off of AGI and is completely hypothetical. Imagine a lifeform that excels in everything better than any human with endurance, accuracy, and speed. It would be cleverer than several Grigori Perelman’s (highest IQ of 236) and quicker than Eliud Kipchoge (< 2h marathoner) combined. A new race might be born.

The dark side of AI

Only in the last decade, we have had more insight into AI. The imminent rise of general artificial intelligence (AGI) lets people discuss its risks and how it could change the world.

Bias, a human thing

AI systems are created by humans who have unconscious biases. Therefore, the system has given parameters for given groups and thus can be discriminating, inaccurate, and unfair.

I believe anybody who tells you he is unbiased is a liar. Being human gives you bias, and you can’t avoid that. The best you can ever hope to be is fair.

David Poole

AI revolution

Robots are taking over. A fear that is not only portrayed in various films like Idiocracy.

Automation is already taking place. According to analysis from McKinsey and PwC, by the mid-2030s 30% of all existing jobs will be automated by AI, secretaries, clerks, ticket offices and cashiers being among them. An AI headshot generator can create professional profile images for business applications without needing a photo shoot.

But it does not mean that AI is dangerous. Automating mundane, repetitive tasks will free up people to focus on productive, higher-value work. It lets employers distribute labour costs efficiently. Even if a superintelligence evolves, it all depends on how we program and use it. Additionally, using office 365 project tools can further streamline processes and improve collaboration within the workplace.

In a brighter scenario, one would create human-like machines that help us to become more carbon neutral, solve the world food crisis, assist the growing older generation and act as coaches to help people with psychological disorders.

Other concerns

Artificial narrow intelligence is vulnerable to hacking and data breaches, which can disclose confidential information. But, used and programmed correctly, AI responds to such potential threats much quicker than traditional measures.

Is a partly AI-generated thesis still yours? Is a distorted Mona Lisa still Leonardo DaVinci’s or does it belong to AI or the one who generated it with AI? For example, Deviant Art lets artists decide if their work will be crawled by robots to produce AI-generated art. Defining creator rights and patents on AI is currently in its infancy. Artificial intelligence creates value that should be protected. This will change in the future.

Enough about the cons of AI, more about the pros.

AI, why should we care?

Because AI is created by humans to make us more efficient. Your friends, your children, and their offspring will influence the applications of AI.

Back in the 50s, it all started with Alan Turing. You know him as the handsome lad who cracked the enigma code and saved the world. You can call him the father of artificial intelligence.

A quick history of AI. 100% generated by GPT-3 algorithms of the open AI playground

Its first applications were in finance and medicine. Without it, something else would have to be the guinea pig in lab tests to develop drugs; and no transactions would happen 24/7 around the globe.

Everyday benefits of AI

At home

A tune shakes her at 7 am. The sun still sleeps, she too, almost. “Alexa switch on the lights!” a grumpy command. At least she is not complaining. She lifts her smartphone near to her face to put an end to Lizzos About damn time. Bling! A reminder in the calendar, that synced the Facebook event she eagerly said “going” to, pops up. It’s a newly recommended meditation group she never thought to find in the neighbourhood otherwise.

Stretch out the feet, slowly. Warmth outside the blanket. So cool to have a radiator you can program. The kitchen is smirking with a “Hoho, no coffee left 😉”. Darn, the machine broke yesterday. Google comes up with the best deals, even though some clumsy fingers typed cofmachi. Pay via Revolut. Easy, it knows her fingerprint.

While organizing her tote bag she whispers “Brian” to call her boyfriend who is just finishing his night shift at the hospital. “Do you want to have breakfast with me and try out that new bakery?” …It looks like it could be her day.

See? We are using AI. Constantly.

Artificial intelligence in business

It helps with your daily office life by taking notes in dull meetings, remembering tasks on your to-do list, and tracking your time. Companies use it to analyze data and replace tasks like financial tracking and legal analysis. Businesses also often use AI in digital marketing.

Clever tools every business should try

• Voice and visual search (Siri and Google Lens)
• Search suggestions, word recognition and autocomplete
• Text to speech generators like Murf
• Build and manage ad campaigns with Creatopy
• Note-taking and recording during meetings with Fireflies
• Completing surveys with Crowdsignal or Surveymonkey or alternatives
• Create personalised marketing campaigns based on your market personas
• Writing and publishing job listings with Textio
• Legal analysis with Legal Robot
• Time tracking software, like Timely
• Monitor and track expenditures without errors
• Quality-improving tools, like Augmentir
• Gatherly event planning
• AI avatar for creating a lifelike digital presence that can interact, assist, and engage users in real-time

Hot tools

Picture driven translators like the Thing Translator are rising. It still needs some fine-tuning, before it will be used instead of Deepl or Google Translate.

Googles image translator, The Thing Translator in action trying to identify a vajilla or cup and a purple pen

Google is making its multi-search function, allowing users to search using images globally available. This includes the nearme function, which lets you find local businesses around you. Both image-based searches require GoogleLens. Nearme is starting with dishes you search for with matching restaurants around the corner. Who knows, perhaps you discover something new about your neighbourhood this way?

Immersive view will be the new Google Earth. It combines ground images and drone videos together including real-time information, like how busy London’s Oxford Street is on a Monday afternoon. For now, we can only enjoy the bird’s eye views only for London, LA, NY, Tokyo and San Francisco.

Open AI playground, ChatGPT and the Google counterpart BART are AI-driven tools to give you any answer or result in form of a coherent text. Take it as guidance or inspiration. It can

• find the right diet.
• write stuff.
• get questions answered for all levels (primary school to a university degree).
• calculate your finances.

You, a high school student, who thinks programmes like Neuro-Flash or ChatGPT are writing your essay on The sorrows of young Werthers (Goethe), while you follow gamers on Twitch. Think again. That AI-generated essay might not be correct. Neither does it have your personal touch.

With all the answers generated by algorithms sweeping the net, you are in control of what you do with the information put out for you. Forming your opinion, questioning, and evaluating.

With a free mind, is there anything that you cannot create? With an unfree mind, is there anything that you can create?

Mehmet Murat Ildan

Beyond the fun of AI

AI is playful. It brings ideas. It nourishes your creativity and entertains you. This is an extract of a poem Open AI Playground created about Webnode:

Webnode, is a mighty tool. So easy to use and cool.  
It lets you build your site, so you can show your might. 
Webnode gives you the power. Make a website in an hour.  

Examples of art created with Dall e

Image creators can give you ideas for personal use, in your business and/ or on your website.

Read also how to build website with AI