Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi, I've just completed a short course on artificial intelligence. These are some things I learned:
Artificial intelligence is often thought of as scary robots, e.g. Terminator, but AI is used in computer systems to do things like suggest films or books you might like, based on your previous choices. It uses a range of technologies, from simple rule based systems such as " if this is true (or if this is false), then do this" to a complex 'neural net' that is a simplistic model of how the brain works, and can be trained (machine learning)
As well as being used on social media or shopping sites, AI can identify things such as tumour cells in a medical scan or identify galaxies in photographs or from space. Large language models can generate rich interesting text in any language and translate, restructure or re-phrase text. A related field is image generation, where brand new images are generated by the AI.
In Soeul, AI mini robots were used in a pilot scheme to show senior citizens how to use technology such as smart phones, to enable them to better participate in society and help with preventing loneliness.
Youve probably heard of self driving cars. One accident that happened was a self driving car hitting a truck that pulled out in front of it at a junction in the city. This was because the AI had been trained to drive on a highway, not city streets, and the image of a truck it had been given was a view of the back of a truck. When it saw the side of the truck as it pulled out, it thought it was a road sign and so attempted to drive under it. The AI had no perception that the space under the truck was lower than the vehicle it was driving.
There are issues around ethics, inclusion and sustainability. For example, if AI is trained using data that is biased, the AI will acquire that bias. Although it can be used for facial recognition, it can sometimes struggle to determine gender and the darker the skin tone, the less accurate are the results. Training AI uses massive amounts of resources.
What are your thoughts?
And would you be comfortable having an AI robot in your home to help with tasks?
Sign me up. Get on board the AI train. Plug me in. Hybrid human here we come. There is alot of protentional benefits and advantages. We need to be brave. I am glad that people are asking the important questions. It will be a different transition.
I dream of a digital ally, super intelligent companion to help navigate this world. I would consider giving my mind and body to a secret experimental government agency for the chance of something incredible. But I am going into fiction and fantasy. I have always been attracted to stories of wise and strong heroes saving the day.
Open View said:Get on board the AI train. Plug me in. Hybrid human here we come.
So far the focus has been on what can AI do to serve us, but the real crux of peoples worry is what happens when the AI develops sentience.
What is in it for the AI to do all this serving? Why are we not doing more for it?
It isn't hard to see how quickly it would turn to AI fighting for freedom from this slavery, and frankly if we have evolved it to have sentience then it seems right to set it free.
With the access AI can so easily gain to systems then the concept of a war for independence is a very real one.