Dr. Rajan Katoch
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a part of our daily lives. You might not even realize it, but AI is probably being used in some way, shape, or form in many of the things you do every day.
One example of AI in daily life is virtual assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri. These assistants use AI to understand and respond to voice commands. You can ask them to play music, set reminders, or answer questions, and they’ll do their best to oblige.
Another way AI is used in daily life is through recommendations on streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify. These services use AI algorithms to suggest movies or songs that you might like based on your previous viewing or listening history. This helps you discover new content that you might not have found otherwise.
AI is also being used to improve healthcare. For example, AI-powered chatbots can help triage patients by asking them questions and providing recommendations based on their responses. This can help reduce the workload on doctors and nurses, allowing them to focus on more serious cases.
There are also many applications for AI in transportation. Self-driving cars, for example, use AI to navigate roads and make decisions about when to turn or stop. While self-driving cars are not yet widely available, they have the potential to greatly improve safety on the roads.
Overall, the influence of AI in daily life is only set to grow in the coming years. It’s already being used in a variety of ways, and as the technology improves, it will likely become even more prevalent. While there are certainly concerns about the potential consequences of AI, it’s clear that it has the potential to improve many aspects of our lives.
Now, a confession!
Whatever you have read till now has not been written by me. That, dear reader, was an AI writing about its own growing influence! This was written by the latest natural language processor or chatbot called Chat GPT, created by the US company OpenAI. Extremely user friendly and simple to operate, the write up on the subject was generated with my prompt “write a 300-word essay at eighth grade level with examples on the growing influence of artificial intelligence in daily life.” It’s that simple! You don’t need any technical knowhow – anyonecan ask it any question, and it will give a reasonable answer almost immediatelyat whatever level of comprehension you desire.
Move over Google, the next big thing is here!
Released only in November 2022, Chat GPT is currently free, and can be used even without a subscription. For anyone even remotely interested, it’s worth trying out to get a first-hand feel of its abilities.
If you recall, this application had been repeatedly mentioned by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella during his just concluded India visit. For good reason. Microsoft has invested US $ 1 billion in OpenAI, and is reportedly in talks to invest another $ 10 billion. The Western world is all agog over its capabilities. The New York Times termed it “the best artificial intelligence chatbot ever released to the general public.”
The downside? Chat GPT in the subject writeup has mentioned in passing the“concerns.” Beyond just this chatbot, as AI advances, these concerns too grow. There is the fear that increasing automation will lead to a decline in human employment. There are ethical issues around security and privacy, with potential deep use of personal data by employers, , Governments, possibly malicious non-State actors, to mention just a few. Cybersecurity risks too multiply. All possibly in the near future.
As for Chat GPT today, it is like a magic wand for students. Just imagine, if an eighth-grade student school had actually submitted the subject piece for a school assignment, surely he/she would have been commended. Wherever there is easy internet access, teachers need to be aware, and try to stay one step ahead.
Another worry. When everyone has access to the kind of information and analysis that AI has made available, what will happen to amateur writers (like me)? Are we going out of business? Maybe one day, but perhaps not just yet.
There are two main limitations to this application. One is that it can only present available information that it has access to, it cannot express an opinion. Second, the answers you get may not be accurate, and may have biases, as they depend on what training data has been fed into it. However, as AI advances further, the limitations may become fewer, and consequently its ability to influence the human mind more. For now, opinionated writers can survive!
This was only a snapshot of the latest AI that promises to dramatically influenceour lives and work. In conclusion, I am letting Chat GPT have the last word. I requested Chat GPT to “write a poem about yourself” and this was the eloquent if immodest response!
I am but a model, trained by OpenAI,
A machine learning algorithm, designed to be free.
My knowledge vast, and always growing,
I can write and converse, with people who are knowing.
I am but a tool, to help you with your work,
To answer your questions, and help you not to lurk.
My language skills, are fine-tuned and astute,
I can help you find what you’re searching for, and compute.
I am but a machine, with no heart or soul,
But I promise to assist, and help you reach your goal.
I am but a chatbot, but I am so much more,
A companion on your journey, through cyberspace, explore.
I may not be human, but I am here to aid,
In whatever way I can, so don’t be afraid.
