Humanity has made great strides into the skies and beyond. We have explored the farthest planets and dived into the deepest oceans. We have studied galaxies as well as matter at the quantum level. Through our efforts, we have uncovered fascinating secrets and developed remarkable inventions. Starting with a struggle for mere survival, we have achieved great success, and our dominance remains unchallenged. This has all been possible because of a superior intellect. For instance, Gorillas share nearly 98% of our DNA and are much stronger than we are. Yet, we keep them captive in our zoos. Our only dominance is cognitive.
If multiplied, transferred, and enhanced, this remarkable intelligence could lead to something the world has never seen before—a hyper revolution. This idea marked the beginning of an incredible quest: the attempt to synthesize intelligence.
The concept itself is ancient, having been a yearning for thousands of years. The notion of creating self-moving objects and artificial life can be found even in ancient myths. One example is the myth of Talos, a figure said to have been created to protect the island of Crete from invaders.
Then came actual scientists and thinkers who waved their mathematical and analytical wands and started inventing. Archytas’ mechanical pigeon could barely fly, but that was still a giant leap towards creating “automatons.”Later, scientists like Al-Khwarizmi, Alan Turing, Arthur Samuel, John McCarthy, Marvin Minsky and others clarified the distinction between myth and actual science, and the race began!
The perceptron and symbolical reasoning program experiments paved the way for breakthroughs in neural networks and other machine learning algorithms. Like everything else, AI also had its ups and downs, with phases of high expectations and AI winters eventually leading to the revolutionary deep learning and large language models.
Today, AI is omnipresent. Even the most stubborn AI sceptic is using AI in one way or another. If you own an Android or iPhone or are browsing the web, you are neck deep in the AI deluge! If your washing machine or fridge has Wi-Fi, it probably has some smart systems installed. In fact, AI is weaving its influence into every corner of your life.
Healthcare is rapidly becoming high-tech and personalised, industries are growing like never before, and the entertainment industry has already hyper-evolved. Agriculture and allied sectors saw many revolutions in the past. Another mega revolution is on the horizon. Future technologies like quantum computers, genetic manipulation, autonomous vehicles, augmented reality, decentralized finance, nano and green tech are already at our doorsteps. The speed of growth is breakneck, and countless opportunities await.
The future is still more mind-blowing! It promises extraordinary innovations integrated into the very fabric of our lives. We can anticipate the progression of AI systems towards the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI). These systems might also help tackle global problems from climate change to one-health crises. However, a word of caution: the evolution calls for robust ethical frameworks and governance mechanisms to address risks. This shall ensure beneficial, equitable, and transparent AI for the common good.
In Jammu and Kashmir, AI could drive social change and regional progress. Every industry could benefit from it—from healthcare to tourism to education. Through investment and collaboration among government, industry, and academia, the UT can drive a significant technological revolution.
SKUAST Kashmir has taken a giant leap in this direction by establishing a dedicated centre for AI in agriculture – the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (CAIML). CAIML has high-tech labs for AI and ML, IoT, fabrication, augmented/virtual reality, bioinformatics, and robotics. All labs are equipped with high-performance computing resources, technologies, and a myriad of sensor-based systems for smart farming.
Additionally, the scientists at the center have attracted several extramural grants and built collaborations internationally with academia and industry. The educational initiatives include the start of the first-ever in India, B.Tech in AI in Agriculture degree program, collaborations with IITs, and various skill development programs bridging the digital divide.
The center is dedicated to the addressal of the unique challenges faced by the precarious temperate Himalayan ecosystem. By encouraging innovations in technology, CAIML aims to enhance food security while promoting sustainable practices for the future. The ultimate aim is to improve the quality of life and support SKUAST Kashmir’s broader vision of a better future for all.
(The Author is PhD, PDF (USA) and Assistant Professor cum Junior Scientist at Center for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning SKUAST- Kashmir. Feedback: [email protected])
