Many try to define AI as the process which enables a machine to think. Now, that’s quite a turn! How can a machine think? Does it have a brain? Then what enables the machine to think!

Well to understand this, we might have to go through a whole world of examples. Feel free to quit or stick around to understand the world of AI.

To understand a brief function of AI let us explore an example of email filters. Many of us have mail accounts. The mails are segregated under various categories like ‘Primary’, ‘Social’, ‘Promotions’ etc. Well, surely this task is not done by a human. This is done using an AI Technology.

What you are thinking now could be ‘Oh! So, a machine can understand Primary, Social and other categories? Does it know English? ‘

Well, it’s not quite so, but the machines are trained to perform such tasks. Discussing the topic of ‘Training’ is very extensive and will be covered some other time.

But hoping you have got a vague idea of an AI, let’s discuss on the definition. John McCarthy defined AI as ‘the science and engineering of making machines intelligent’.

Can you try to imagine the most complex structure in this world? What could it be? It’s the human brain. The human brain is a highly complex organ of the body helping us analyze, perceive, and mutate. Thus, the process of collecting different technologies together to allow the machine to act as what ‘appears’ to be a human-like level of intelligence is called AI. The machine has to be engineered to be able to show ‘human-like’ levels of intelligence.

Well, this must-have cleared some doubts regarding Artificial Intelligence.

But why do we use AI? Well, one way to answer is ‘to make life simple’. Well, that’s in a way right.

But using AI will allow the machines to do some of the tasks (could be repetitive), while we humans work on other important tasks that require ‘human intelligence’ not a ‘Human-like intelligence’.

Now, many would-be thinking what ‘human-intelligence’ characteristics should an AI inherit to be able to have ‘Human-like intelligence’. The characteristics include:

→Decision making and Reasoning

→Learning from past mistakes

→Self -correction

There are two types of AI :

Simple /Weak / Narrow AI:

Such an AI is designed and trained only for certain specific tasks. This could include classifying images under groups, understanding speech, etc. For example, by asking Amazon’s Alexa questions, you could gain data from the internet, set alarms, and much more.

Strong AI :
A strong AI is that which is equivalent to the human brain. But, strong AI currently does not exist. The main function of a strong AI is that, when provided with an unspecific task, the AI must be able to analyze for finding a solution. Without having any human intervention.

Myths and Facts of Artificial Intelligence:

Will AI replace humans?

Well, I have heard many people telling ‘Sam! Machines are becoming quite intelligent. Many sectors in my office have now been replaced with AI technologies. I fear I will lose my job .” Now, remember why AI is useful? AI is used to perform tasks that require speed, prediction, repetition, and we humans can benefit from this. But as machines develop, we humans must involve ourselves in interpersonal and higher value skills which machines are incapable of performing. Machines cannot replace humans!. They are meant to aid us while we perform tasks that require our skills.

Does an AI mimic human?

Yes! The concept of AI was developed from the human brain. Its need is to provide human-like levels of intelligence.

Can AI define its own goals?

AI works based on the tasks humans program it to function for. AI works on the programs that we design. Hence AI is directly connected to humans and it works on the goals received by humans.

Depths of Artificial Intelligence:

AI, as we discussed, is a collection of various technologies allowing the machine to sense, comprehend, act, and learn. Let’s discuss each of these with examples.

SENSE:

COMPREHEND:

ACT AND LEARN:

Have you heard of the word automation? Most of you might have heard this. Is automation similar to AI ?. Is automation a part of AI?

Automation and AI are two different complex systems.

Automation:

Automated machines run on a certain set of prescribed rules set by humans to perform repetitive tasks. Wonder where do we have repetitive tasks? When you book for a movie and receive an email before the movie reminding you, this is an automated task. Automation has a huge contribution in the business sectors where repetitive tasks are performed by machines, while workers tend to work on more interpersonal skills.

Artificial Intelligence:

AI-enabled machines work on decision making and require certain human intervention. AI-enabled machines do not perform repetitive tasks, while they are used for making decisions. Let’s understand a real-life example. AI in the healthcare industry has revolutionized by great heights. But where is it used in healthcare? AI-enabled healthcare devices can help predict what diseases or injury a person is having, while the doctors can utilize this time to perform other operations or tasks. Moreover, hospitals use robots to assist doctors in surgeries that require precision and control, which robots are excellent at.

Most of you might be thinking ‘Sam! It’s too much. Let’s stop here!’. And there you go, guys! This is the end. I would like to end with a question ‘Do you think introducing AI in all industrial sectors will cause mass unemployment as machines tend to take over may tasks?’.

AUTHOR:

Shashank Hara Sridhar

Student at SASTRA Deemed to be University

Tech Geek