• Replies 60 replies
  • Subscribers 105 subscribers
  • Views 9753 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Artificial intelligence discussion

Lotus

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?

Parents

  • My thoughts as a tech enthusiast, but having only basic AI usage:

    At the moment, there is a lot of hype about AI, some of it is justified, and others not.

    A good use case I read about was as a "peer" for reviewing medical scans, where 2 doctors are already required to review, and there is already too much work to do. This seems like a good idea, and could save a lot of lives. First use it as an additional peer. As you gain confidence in it, replace one of the peers to save time. Potentially going further, but only if the technology is good enough. From what I've read, they can sometimes detect things that the doctors can't. Another option might be as a quick regular screening. If it takes a doctor even a few minutes to check a scan, but an AI only a few seconds, you start getting into the realms of just sending it unrelated scans to see if it can detect somethimg before there are even any symptoms.

    It can also be good for fun. I recently had it generate a cartoon image of me and my dog. It's a very good image and was quick. This is however potentially a big environmental impact just for fun, and an economic impact, taking work away from artists who might be struggling to get work. The thing really don't like is it being pushed where it feels like it's there just to say "We have AI". For example, why is it in whatsapp? So I can chat to a bot? I'm fairly sure that won't be allowed in the T&Cs, but it is for Meta.

    There is a much more difficult question about it's use in the military, which I think it's best not to go into.

    At the moment, any use of the technology I think needs either review of answers, or a lot of trails if that isn't possible (e.g. Self driving cars can't have their "answers" reviewed in the moment).

    The other side of this I think is if we are ready for AI as a society, related to the economic impact mentioned earlier. Ideally, AI would help to do less desirable work so that we have more time to do things we enjoy. Essentially allowing everyone to reduce their hours, but maintain the same or an improved lifestyle. What I believe would happen instead, based on reactions to 4-day week and responses to requests to go part time I've heard of, is an increase in unemployment instead.

Reply

  • My thoughts as a tech enthusiast, but having only basic AI usage:

    At the moment, there is a lot of hype about AI, some of it is justified, and others not.

    A good use case I read about was as a "peer" for reviewing medical scans, where 2 doctors are already required to review, and there is already too much work to do. This seems like a good idea, and could save a lot of lives. First use it as an additional peer. As you gain confidence in it, replace one of the peers to save time. Potentially going further, but only if the technology is good enough. From what I've read, they can sometimes detect things that the doctors can't. Another option might be as a quick regular screening. If it takes a doctor even a few minutes to check a scan, but an AI only a few seconds, you start getting into the realms of just sending it unrelated scans to see if it can detect somethimg before there are even any symptoms.

    It can also be good for fun. I recently had it generate a cartoon image of me and my dog. It's a very good image and was quick. This is however potentially a big environmental impact just for fun, and an economic impact, taking work away from artists who might be struggling to get work. The thing really don't like is it being pushed where it feels like it's there just to say "We have AI". For example, why is it in whatsapp? So I can chat to a bot? I'm fairly sure that won't be allowed in the T&Cs, but it is for Meta.

    There is a much more difficult question about it's use in the military, which I think it's best not to go into.

    At the moment, any use of the technology I think needs either review of answers, or a lot of trails if that isn't possible (e.g. Self driving cars can't have their "answers" reviewed in the moment).

    The other side of this I think is if we are ready for AI as a society, related to the economic impact mentioned earlier. Ideally, AI would help to do less desirable work so that we have more time to do things we enjoy. Essentially allowing everyone to reduce their hours, but maintain the same or an improved lifestyle. What I believe would happen instead, based on reactions to 4-day week and responses to requests to go part time I've heard of, is an increase in unemployment instead.

Children
No Data