I am hearing LOTS about this AI thing – will it help me, or should I be worried?

By Malcolm and John Harding of Compu-Home

We can answer these questions in two words: “yes and probably.” For a bit more detail read on, in this and in our November column.

To begin, we have a bit of a quarrel with the name, “artificial intelligence,” as we think that “accumulated intelligence” is a better description. Computers, and groups of computers are so powerful and fast now, they can gather and store huge amounts of information. The result can mimic human intelligence, sometimes up to and including the ability to learn even more, on their own.  

This allows for mastering tasks that we traditionally described as “mental,” such as providing search results in Google or Bing faster and more completely than ever before, or suggesting efficient strategies for carrying out a project. Nobody would ever suggest (we hope) that computers can replace human professionals. But, if AI can interpret test results and then assemble and present all pertinent information about a medical issue, thus allowing the doctor to make informed decisions and take appropriate action, it would seem that this new assistant has made a worthwhile contribution.

It is not new that robotic devices have taken over some of the drudgery and strain involved in repetitive physical tasks in industries such as manufacturing. AI integrates more sophisticated computers into the mix, allowing the robot to react to changing conditions and requirements, without human intervention.

There is no doubt that the sweet spot of AI happens right within its technology-based home. For example, when a program is able to accumulate massive amounts of imaging data. It then becomes capable of altering or generating images or videos, from something as crude as swapping in a new face or background on a photo, to creating entire videos, such as tv commercials, entirely from scratch – with realistic sound, of course.

AI also excels in the world of communication. Banks of computers the size of a town become integrated, so that huge amounts of literature, science, medicine, sociology, history, language, music, finance, and education (to scratch the surface) can be stored and consulted in milliseconds. This can then be provided to human researchers who can add a human dimension in using that knowledge to create their own original content. 

AI contributes to the mechanics of communication as well. It is no accident that voice recognition is greatly superior to what was available only 10 years ago. Word processing, email, texting, and worldwide media such as Zoom, WhatsApp, Teams, Google Meet, and Slack are easier and more effective to use with their AI enhancements. One important example of the contribution that AI is making is how email providers are becoming increasingly able to identify fraudulent messages and filter them out of our inboxes.

Next time, we’ll have a look at how AI can be abused, and the necessity of greater government, industry, and personal sophistication in making sure it remains a positive force.

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