A close look at Artificial Intelligence and its sway on the human-dominated world

Image source: mechlectures

In 2009, a sci-fi movie called ‘Surrogates’ hit the screens; one of the famous quotes of that movie was “Look at yourselves. Unplug your chairs, get up and look in the mirror. What you see is how God made you. We’re not meant to experience this world through a machine”. 

Today, after 9 years, what do you think about this quote, is it becoming today’s reality? Are we ready to shift the dominance from the human race to our own creation “Artificial Intelligence”?

Artificial Intelligence (AI), yes indeed, is the talk of the town today, not just among organizations but also researchers and even the common man. AI is strengthening the machine intelligence more against the human intelligence than ever. Some people are even calling this evolution of AI as a pain in the neck of humans.

But let’s not be in a haste to conclude that the AI will replace humans. AI is created to be used as a tool to help humans and not as a rival or opponent of humans. The profit by using AI is much higher compared to the profit of using other people and this seems to be a fair trade.

Before we look at the impact of AI on the human-dominated world, let me give you a closer look at what exactly is Artificial Intelligence.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence, also referred to as machine learning, is the intelligence or aptitude exhibited by machines, contrary to the intelligence exhibited by humans and animals. The research of this field is called the study of “Intelligent agent”, these are the systems that observe their environment, learn from it and take actions based on this learning to increase its chance of success in completing a task.

AI was introduced in 1956 as an academic discipline, has evolved since then but gained a huge momentum in the last 2-3 years. Conversationally, the term “artificial intelligence” is used when a machine impersonates “intellectual” role that is related to the human mind like learning, problem-solving, judging etc. Presently, the machine capabilities that are considered AI include human speech recognition (and understanding), successfully challenging in strategic games like chess, freely operating vehicles, military simulations etc.

A standard AI identifies its environment and takes actions to augment its chance of influentially completing its goal. The goal can be as simple as 1 if it wins the Go game and 0 then; the complication of AI can be performing actions based on past experience and the opponent to win the game. Goals can vary and can be defined in the algorithm of AI; these can be also be induced by making it learn from its circumstances.

The buzz around ‘AI taking over human jobs’:

At this stage, when the organizations are working out on plans to add artificial intelligence and machine learning to their day to day activities, the buzz has started that thousands of people will be beaten in their jobs by AI.

But do you really think that a technology that we humans created, will put an end to our jobs?

I read about this and I think that AI will not replace humans in their ‘jobs’ but rather some petty and laborious tasks. There’s always light at the corner of the tunnel and hence, in my opinion, as humans, we will be able to concentrate on more productive activities.

Like, drones and robots can be hired to perform door-to-door deliveries, production units in factories where a human stands whole day packing and arranging the products, monitoring the fields to keep a check on the crops etc.

Following are the industry sectors in which AI is expected to take over the tasks.

·         Agriculture

·         Call Centers

·         Manufacturing

·         Technical Support

·         Retail

·         Logistics and Concierges

·         Autonomous Transportation

This is not the first time when we feel threatened by machines; anxiety and concerns – the ‘computer-phobia’ have been raised even in past, like when personal computers were introduced.

In 1961, the USA President John Kennedy had quoted that the biggest challenge of the sixty’s era is to preserve complete employment at a time when mechanization is substituting humans. But rather, the mechanization created opportunities for those people to learn and grow and here we are today.

Hence, when we look at a summit level, AI and machine learning will help to eradicate ailments and destitution. Even now, AI has made notable advances in healthcare with improved analysis, deterrence, and effective treatment.

When it comes to getting rid of poverty, the greatest roadblock is recognizing situations where help is needed promptly. By using AI analysis on satellite images, this roadblock can be overcome by providing support more efficiently.

To sum up:

Recollecting the days of old, it seems rational to judge that anxiety and worry regarding AI and machine learning are evident but eventually uncalled-for. Technology inventions may take over some jobs, but it has always created new opportunities for learning, advancing and growing in the process. The combination of the human and machines can help organizations augment their business and gain profits.