The future of AI in an imperfect world

AI is technology’s most important priority, and healthcare is its most urgent application, says Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. When it comes to the future of artificial intelligence (AI), the sky is the limit. We are only limited by our imagination in terms of what we can create and achieve with this technology. Every time I try to fully wrap my head around its possibilities, I am left amazed at what the future holds for repeatable tasks and learnable activities. However, as AI continues to develop and evolve, there are certain challenges and limitations that we need to be aware of. A United Nations document has said that the number of jobs in an AI-progressive world will be decreasing, and the remaining ones will require skill levels impossible to attain by more than half of the population – a different kind of unemployment. After all, AI is not perfect. In this article, we will explore some of the potential future challenges of AI development and how we can address them.

To try to figure out a definition for AI in an imperfect world, I dare say that, In an imperfect world, AI is the future. That is primarily because AI has the ability to help us automate repetitive tasks, identify patterns and insights in data, and make better decisions by constantly learning from experience. Automation can free up our time so we can focus on more important things, like relationships and creativity. Data-driven insights can help us identify problems and opportunities sooner. And constantly learning algorithms can help us make better decisions over time. Of course, AI is not perfect. It’s biased like the humans who create it and prone to error. But in an imperfect world, AI is still the best hope we have for making progress.

Moreover, there are three primary types of AI: rule-based, decision tree-based, and neural network-based. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Rule-based systems are the simplest form of AI. They rely on a set of pre-determined rules to make decisions. These systems are fast and efficient, but they lack flexibility and can be easily fooled by new data that doesn’t fit the existing rules. Decision tree-based systems are more complex than rule-based systems. They use a series of if/then statements to arrive at a conclusion. These systems are more flexible than rule-based systems, but they can be slow and may not reach the most optimal solution. Neural network-based systems are the most complex form of AI. They mimic the workings of the human brain, using a series of interconnected nodes to process data. These systems are very flexible and can learn from new data, but they require large amounts of training data and can be difficult to interpret.

Quite fascinating to know that AI has been around for centuries, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that the term “artificial intelligence” was coined. Since then, AI has gone through periods of intense interest followed by setbacks and skepticism. In the 1980s, there was a major AI winter when funding for AI research dried up. However, AI has made a comeback in recent years due to advances in computing power and data storage.

AI technology is used in a variety of ways, including speech recognition, image recognition, and decision-making. Currently, AI is being used to develop self-driving cars, create personalized newsfeeds, and diagnose diseases. In the future, AI will become even more ubiquitous and could be used to improve human cognitive abilities, create intelligent robots, and automate tasks that are currently done by humans.

However, as AI technology continues to develop, there are also concerns about its potential impact on society. For example, some people worry that intelligent machines will eventually surpass human intelligence and take over the world. Additionally, there are ethical concerns about how AI should be used, such as whether or not it should be used for military purposes. As AI technology continues to evolve, it is important to consider both the potential benefits and risks of this transformative technology.

As it stands, AI is being used in a number of ways that are designed to make our lives easier. One such way is through the use of chatbots. These are computer programs that can mimic human conversation and are often used to simulate a human’s conversation in order to provide customer service or support. Another area where AI is being used is in the field of medicine. Here, AI is being used to help doctors diagnose diseases and also develop new treatments as we experienced during the Covid19 pandemic. Additionally, AI is being used in finance in order to predict market trends and make investment decisions among other process-based tasks to happen in an instance. Imagine what it feels like to be making a loan request decision in seconds leveraging the power of AI and behavioral data footprints carefully harnessed.

Furthermore, when it comes to AI, the potential is limitless. With its ability to learn and process vast amounts of data, AI has the potential to revolutionize many industries and change the way we live our lives. The world that AI will birth completely eliminates the need for all repeatable and learnable tasks. I dare say that one of human’s greatest companions of all time will be AI, where machines can learn and grow in understanding like humans. However, AI is not perfect and there are some challenges that need to be addressed before it can truly reach its potential.

One of the biggest challenges facing AI is bias. Due to the way AI is designed, it can often replicate and amplify the biases of those who design and train it. This can lead to serious problems, such as discrimination against certain groups of people. Another challenge is accountability. As AI gets better at making decisions, it becomes harder for humans to understand how and why those decisions are made. This can make it difficult to hold AI accountable for its actions.

Despite these challenges, there is still great potential for AI to improve our lives in a number of ways. For example, AI could be used to help us make better decisions by providing us with more accurate and unbiased information. It could also help us automate repetitive tasks so that we can spend more time on creative or meaningful work. Ultimately, it is up to us to harness the power of AI in order to create a future that we want to live in.

AI has the potential to transform the world as we know it. But with this potential comes great responsibility. As AI technology advances, it is imperative that we consider the implications of its use in an imperfect world.

There are many ways in which AI can be used for good, such as improving healthcare, increasing access to education, and reducing crime. However, there are also ways in which AI can be used for evil, such as propagating false information, amplifying bias, and being weaponized by malicious actors. It is important that we think about the future of AI in an imperfect world so that we can mitigate the risks and realize the benefits. Otherwise, we may find ourselves in a future where AI is used to devastating effect. AI is often seen as a panacea for all ills, but it is important to remember that AI is not perfect. In an imperfect world, AI can only do so much.

There are three main limitations of AI:
1. AI is only as good as the data it is given. If the data is flawed, the AI will be flawed.
2. AI is limited by its ability to identify patterns. If there are no patterns to be found, the AI will not be able to find them.
3. AI is limited by its ability to learn. If the data set is too small, or if the data set is too complex, the AI may not be able to learn from it.

As we become increasingly reliant on AI, there are a number of potential implications that could arise. For example, if AI is used to make decisions about things like loans or insurance, there is a risk that it could perpetuate existing biases and disparities. Additionally, as AI gets better at understanding and responding to human emotions, there is a possibility that it could be used to manipulate people in unethical ways. As AI continues to evolve, it will be important to consider these implications and several others, and take steps to mitigate them.

In conclusion, AI has the potential to drastically improve our world for the better if we gave it a bit more attention. However, in order for this to happen, we need to ensure that AI is developed responsibly and with caution in a deliberate way that offers all humans its potential huge benefits. We must also be aware of the potential risks involved in implementing AI into our societies and think ahead of how we plan to mitigate the same. Only by taking these precautions can we hope to create a future that is both advanced and safe, otherwise we risk a world that can be wiped out by AI. I close with Ted Bell (American author), who posited that every major player is working on this technology of artificial intelligence. As of now, it’s benign…But I would say that the day is not far off when artificial intelligence, when applied to cyber warfare, becomes a threat to everybody.

I remain open to deliberate conversations on Technology as it applies to Nation Building and personal development. Follow me on Medium: www.medium.com/@roariyo. Also, we can connect and chat as you send me an email: techtalk@freesia.com.ng