Artificial intelligence (AI) has been taking the world by storm nowadays. Before, it was just a concept in science fiction. An example would be in the movie Iron Man, Tony Stark had a program that acted as his overall personal assistant named J.A.R.V.I.S. (Just A Rather Very Intelligent System), which is actually an artificially intelligent system.
While there are still people who don’t make use of artificial intelligence due to various reasons, some utilize AI to the point that it has become part of their daily lives, especially when it comes to the accomplishment of tasks. Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri are examples of applications powered by AI that we use every day. Just by saying their name, we can ask them to do a certain task, like play music or schedule events.
AI possesses a wide range of capabilities; it can even perform complex decision-making processes. Machine Learning, a type or facet of AI, empowers the system to learn from the data provided and enhances its performance in execution.
Several factors benefit from AI, for instance, healthcare, where AI is used in drug discovery and robotic surgeries; online shopping platforms for optimizing algorithms personalized to the user; transportation, transportation as there are cars that can now “self-drive”; and even media in automated content creation/generation or recommendation and video and image analysis.
Just recently, GMA introduced their AI sportscasters named “Maia” and “Marco” for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 99 games. Netizens were quick to react negatively to the announcement, as these AI sportscasters cannot be considered journalists as they do not possess the human qualities of such.
The application of AI is truly diverse; it helps with automation, which makes certain processes faster and more efficient. Through machine learning as well, AI can help find solutions to problems and enhance programs. It is also beneficial for some companies to employ AI instead, as it is more cost-efficient than hiring a human employee who is tasked with performing a repetitive job.
AI sounds too good to be true, well, it is, because it is not without drawbacks. While it is made for efficiency, consistent use of AI may lead to job displacement. According to a news report by CNN, around 300 million full-time jobs worldwide could be replaced by AI, with administrative workers and lawyers expected to be the most affected.
There are also ethical concerns about data privacy and the potential for misuse. As AI is fed by data, it could acquire an extensive collection of personal information, which poses a threat to the safety of people.
Society is rapidly progressing, and we cannot just halt the advancement of AI. As we approach an era dominated by AI, the goal must be to maximize its potential while carefully avoiding its traps. To ensure that the benefits of this game-changing technology are achieved while reducing its disadvantages, the journey into the future of AI calls for collaboration between technologists, policymakers, and businesses. Artificial intelligence has the power to improve our world with careful implementation.
