ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) - who are you?!

In one of the earlier blog posts, an interesting phrase appeared: “artificial intelligence”. It was used as a future deputy of many professions, especially those simpler, schematic, not requiring typical “human” traits. But what it really is and what role will it play in the future?

What Artificial Intelligence exactly is?

Of course, the term itself is not something that you’ve never heard of, because it was used in movies, games and more or less scientific articles. Intelligent computers, cyborgs and other smart items. Maybe there is a part of reality in this vision, but this perspective is shallow and does not show the whole essence of the matter. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein defined AI as a “system's ability to correctly interpret external data, to learn from such data, and to use those learnings to achieve specific goals and tasks through flexible adaptation”. This definition gives us a picture of some kind of algorithm, capable of independent data acquisition, interpretation and taking actions based on the earlier gathered conclusions. Moreover, one of the most important features of such a system is the analysis of historical data and the results of previous activities in order to gain experience to further improve the outcome of taken actions. In short, a simplified simulation of the human mind.

Artificial Intelligence around us

Uses cases of AI are not hard to find. I bet you have your smartphone in front of you. Unlock it and say “Hi Siri” or „OK Google”, depending on the system you got. You have just said “Hello” to your personal assistant, who can talk to you, thanks to speech recognition mechanisms (soon on our blog). He is also able to find interesting things for you, show nice restaurants in your town, tell you a joke or even sing a song exclusively for you. Another use of AI that you can find in your everyday life is... your Facebook newsfeed. The algorithm intelligently selects the displayed content basing on your interests, connections with friends or reactions to specific posts. That all are just simple implementations, but possibilities are unlimited.

How can AI replace us and should we be afraid?

Let’s begin with the automotive industry. Even now there are cars with more or less autonomous functions, cars which can move independently, respond to signs, restrictions or other vehicles and even detect the possibility of future accidents, thanks to rapid analysis of road situations around. It’s only a matter of time before first fully autonomous cars are introduced to the market (prototypes are being tested). Doesn’t that call into question the profession of a taxi driver? Another application can be news generation. AI, based on the received data, can “produce” high-quality articles, not inferior to those written by journalists. This system has already been successfully used during the Beijing Olympics, where the “Xiaomingbot” system created an average of 35 articles a day, with the results of the games. When it comes to business, the range of possibilities is also wide. Almost everyone has already had the opportunity to talk with chatbots on corporate services, and this is one of the applications – customer service.

In addition, we can use AI to collect, process, monitor or verify data, and search for anomalies in them. We can automatically perform business analyzes without the help of experts, carry out recruitment processes, detect various types of fraud, perform simulations of future events or plan and manage entire companies more effectively. Of course, that all have an element of risk. It’s unlikely (or maybe even impossible) that a catastrophic vision of a machine rebellion will come true, in which intelligent devices will have a desire to destroy humanity. However such developed algorithms may contribute to spreading evil when put in the wrong hands. How? For example by generating fake news, hacking or manipulation activities. In the world based on mass media, especially the Internet, disinformation, and propaganda are powerful weapons, particularly when spread by an out of control computer program.

Where are we heading?

Future possibilities of AI are amazing. In principle, contrary to all widespread fears, artificial intelligence is not intended to replace people, but to support them, allowing for much better and more productive use of our mind, which is a “tool” that’s maybe not perfect, but definitely impossible to enclose in a simple framework. Thanks to the use od AI, majority of the linear, monotonous and often thoughtless jobs can be taken over by machines, that serve as cheap and “renewable” workforce, releasing the most valuable human potential, giving the opportunity to use it in places where creativity, individual approach, and real intelligence is required.

BONUS CURIOSITY!

We recommend to look for „Multi-Agent Hide and Seek” on YouTube. Video shows how artificial intelligence gets smarter thanks to machine learning mechanisms, what conclusions it gets, and how changes its methods basing on previous experiences.