Artificial Intelligence (AI)

INTRODUCTION:

Artificial Intelligence, popularly known as AI, refers to a set of techniques or methods applied to make machines work like human brains. This ‘intelligence’ i.e., the knowledge or the skills the machine perceives, is built using complex algorithms and mathematical equations to get them to behave like humans and provide appropriate solutions. These machines are trained in a way that enables them to learn from their own experiences and make decisions based on available information. AI can be called a subset of technology that has made various advancements in our daily lives. It is widely used for countless applications every day, such as speech recognition, road navigation, improving user experiences in digital forms, facial recognition, and biometric authentication, providing personalized recommendations in e-commerce applications, and much more.

HISTORY:

Year 1950:

Alan Turing, an English mathematician, proposed a test known as the ‘Turing Test’, also called the Imitation Game. This test checks whether a machine can exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to the human brain.

Year 1956:

Four scientists, Allen Newell, Herbert A. Simon, and Cliff Shaw built ‘the first artificial intelligence program known as the ‘Logic Theorist’. This computer program proved 38 out of 52 mathematical theorems from the book ‘Principia Mathematica’ and even found shorter and easier proofs for some of those.

John McCarthy, an American computer scientist is known as the “Father of AI”. In 1956, the term ‘artificial intelligence’ was coined by John McCarthy himself at the ‘Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence conference which was held at Dartmouth College, USA.

Year 1966:

‘Eliza’, the first chatbot was devised by Joseph Weizenbaum, a computer scientist and professor. ‘Eliza’ enabled communication between users and itself in the form of typed conversations.

Year 1972:

Ichiro Kato of Waseda University, Japan, built the first ever intelligent robot, ‘Wabot- 1’. It had communication, gripping, and walking abilities.

Year 1980:

‘Expert System’ was introduced in AI. It is a computer system, programmed to imitate the decision-making ability of a human. Expert Systems can solve critical problems accurately and are also easy to use.

Year 1997:

IBM invented a chess-playing supercomputer called ‘Deep Blue’. It was the first-ever expert system to win a chess match against the world chess champion Gary Kasparov.

Year 2002:

AI was introduced to our houses and daily lives in the form of vacuum cleaners, popularly known as Roomba.

Year 2006:

Popular companies like Facebook, Twitter (now known as X), Amazon, and Netflix started implementing AI in their apps and services.

Year 2011:

Apple introduced ‘Siri’, which is considered an example of conversational AI that deals with text-and-speech-based queries.

The year 2020 and Beyond:

AI has made significant advancements in fields such as healthcare, finance, marketing, and business analytics and it has evolved worldwide as it integrated more into our lives through technology.

TYPES OF AI:

Let us have a look at the two broad categories of Artificial Intelligence:

WEAK AI:

Weak AI, also called ‘Narrow AI’, is a form of artificial intelligence technology designed to perform narrow and limited tasks because its intelligence is restricted to a specific area. It is trained to perform only one type of function but is disabled from performing multiple functions.

Examples of weak AI include smart assistants like Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant; Google maps; ChatGPT; Chatbots; Self-driving cars, etc.

STRONG AI:

Strong AI, also called ‘Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)’ or ‘General AI’, only exists in fiction as of now. It is a theory that machines are as smart as humans. It posits that strong AI could perform intellectual functions as creatively and accurately as humans and could also develop emotions, making them unpredictable.

Examples of strong AI include Robots.

AI, MACHINE LEARNING & DEEP LEARNING:

A common question often arises about how is AI different from machine learning and deep learning. We have already discussed AI. Machine learning is a pathway to AI as it helps machines to learn from their past experiences and deep learning is a subset of machine learning.

MACHINE LEARNING:

All machine learning (ML) is AI, but all AI is not machine learning. Machine learning is a subfield of AI where machines are programmed or trained to automatically learn from their past data and experiences. As the name suggests, it makes the machines learn how to imitate human behavior without being explicitly programmed. As Machine learning can learn and improve automatically, it helps many organizations make better decisions.

Real-life examples of machine learning are Facial recognition, Recommendation systems, Natural language processing (NLP), Social media optimization, and medical fields.

DEEP LEARNING:

Deep learning is a subset of machine learning, where a machine can work exactly like a human with great accuracy, with the help of deep neural networks. Neural networks are made up of layers of connected nodes that transform data based on the working and structure of the human brain. A neural network consists of a single input layer, one or more hidden layers, and an output layer. The input is being received from the input layer and passed on to the hidden layers to process and the output turns into the input for the other neurons in the next layer of the network. These layers transform the input into valuable data, enabling the recognition of complex patterns and the production of answers with utmost correctness.

Real-world examples of deep learning are Virtual assistants, Sentiment analysis, Fraud detection, and colorization of an image.

APPLICATIONS OF AI:

Applications of AI have covered multiple domains in the market ranging from finance to entertainment. Let us discuss some of them here.

FINANCE:

Artificial intelligence has multiple applications in the field of finance. Systems can discern identity fraud and unusual behavior during transactions with the help of AI. It also enhances security by implementing cybersecurity which allows to detection of cyber threats and shields private financial information. Companies can make profits and reduce risks as AI can predict market trends, analyze data from records, and determine any possible risks.

EDUCATION:

Artificial intelligence uses natural language processing (NLP) to provide instant feedback on grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary, thereby increasing the efficiency of both learning and teaching. Similarly, AI plays a crucial role in the creation of virtual classrooms. These tools provide a more engaging and innovative platform for students, enhancing their learning experience. AI systems can automate the grading system of assignments and evaluations, saving a lot of time. Students can also seek help from AI chatbots that offer guidance and assistance through text or speech interaction.

HEALTHCARE:

Artificial intelligence has many revolutionary applications in the field of healthcare and medicine. AI can analyze medical conditions through images produced in X-rays, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), and CT scans. It can evaluate historical data of a particular patient, including their genetic information to diagnose diseases and treat them accordingly based on their lifestyle factors. Similarly, it can identify medical complications or possible risks and take preventive actions against them. Virtual health assistants or chatbots can offer initial treatment, answer queries, and provide information related to health, during an emergency, thereby saving time. AI can also reduce human errors and enable professionals to work for the betterment of healthcare.

ENTERTAINMENT:

Artificial intelligence has made various advancements in the entertainment industry. AI can generate creative content including music composition, art creation, colorization of images, and many more. Streaming platforms or services use personalized recommendation systems for suggesting movies, music, shows, and advertisements based on the users’ preferences. It has become much easier than in earlier times for audio translation or speech-to-text conversion on the internet because of the technology called NLP which is used for text and speech recognition. It plays a vital role in Augmented Reality (AR) by creating realistic virtual environments and combining digital elements with the physical surroundings of the gamer. AI is also used in the authorization and authentication of social media apps to prevent malicious acts.

TRAFFIC:

With the help of specific artificial intelligence algorithms, self-driving cars and automated vehicles have been developed. AI algorithms enable machines to navigate roads, use computer vision, and make decisions in real-time. It is used to reduce congestion, traffic jams, and blockage on the road, consequently enhancing traffic management. Mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) platforms, which are mobility services that combine various transportation modes, are being developed using AI. AI is employed in parking systems to make parking spots easily findable for drivers. Additionally, AI is used for security purposes in vehicles, through video analytics and surveillance, to increase safety measures.

FUTURE OF AI:

In the next decade, AI is expected to experience immense growth worldwide, making its way into various industries and permeating our daily lives. Advancements in AI, have the potential to influence our lifestyle and the way we live. AI-driven automation and technology will transform the environment which will require new skills and expertise to adapt and thrive. Anticipated developments include more accurate conversations between machines and humans through improved natural language processing (NLP) and gaining accuracy in decision-making abilities. In healthcare and medicine, AI is likely to play a significant role in disease diagnosis, improving both quality and correctness. AI’s expansion in the field of cybersecurity can ensure the detection of fraud and the elimination of cyber threats. AI technologies can make further progress in the transportation field, by particularly improving the safety of automated vehicles. The future is likely to witness more collaboration of human and artificial intelligence which will be advantageous for society as a whole.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, AI has undergone revolutionary advancements and transformations in the past one to two decades. As we stand at the beginning of a new age, the ongoing development of AI promises to enhance creativity and efficiency for the betterment of the environment. AI embraces the potential for responsible development in society and the collective benefit of humanity.