Artificial intelligence has revolutionized every facet of our existence and has even pushed the boundaries of our comprehension regarding the human mind, brain, and consciousness. Throughout our daily routines, from the moment we begin our day until we settle in for the night, we interact with numerous AI-powered tools designed to meet our everyday needs. These needs vary from the perception of doing minute calculations, controlling devices, downloading information from the web or even do coding in any language. As we grow humans tend to learn from the experiences and mistakes of the life. The life keeps evolving, inevitably, when a fraction of data is processed. According to a legend Galileo said that “Earth couldn’t possibly move, yet it moves” (Eppur si muove). On similar basis Marvin Minsky, a great advocate of AI, said that the progress by AI sometimes remains clandestine but when you visit the same place or area after ten years you will analyze the difference.
For a naive man the question remains what is AI and how its infusion in our daily lives and routines could impact us? Let’s start by generalizing the definition. For that we can start with the simple terminology. AI could be perceived as intelligence embedded in any machine that gives that machine the learning power from the environment and make decisions based on that comprehension. The purpose of AI is to construct computational frameworks capable of mimicking, replicating, or simulating human cognitive functions and behaviors. This revolutionary process enables machines to develop artificial intelligence capabilities, moving beyond their traditional programming. By utilizing machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing techniques, these systems can analyze enormous datasets, identify patterns, engage in self-learning, and make independent decisions. As a result, they begin to exhibit behavior that more closely resembles human cognition and decision-making processes.
Contemporary artificial intelligence systems often integrate multiple approaches, with many evolving into hybrid models that offer enhanced problem-solving abilities or greater autonomy. The scale and diversity of data being analyzed has reached staggering proportions. This widespread application intensifies the need for researchers to develop more sophisticated tools capable of supporting humans in processing this information seamlessly, effectively, and in real-time. It increases the success rate of the decisions taken by the machines. In this context John McCarthy & Claude Shannon (1955) said, “Every aspect of learning or any other feature of intelligence can in principle be so precisely described that a machine can be made to simulate it. An attempt will be made to find how to make machines use language, form abstractions and concepts, solve kinds of problems now reserved for humans, and improve themselves.”
Artificial intelligence systems have demonstrated exceptional abilities in specific, focused tasks, surpassing human capabilities. This has garnered attention in various fields, including chess, the more complex game of Go, and protein folding in biochemistry. Meanwhile, our society is increasingly digitizing its historical records and steadily transitioning more aspects of life to online platforms. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the capability to identify important relationships within datasets and is utilized in various clinical scenarios to predict outcomes, manage treatments, and diagnose different medical conditions. Healthcare and research sectors are implementing or testing AI for numerous purposes, including disease identification, chronic condition management, healthcare service delivery, and pharmaceutical development. Mobile applications powered by AI have the potential to enable individuals to assess their own symptoms and engage in self-care when appropriate.
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing education& healthcare by creating customized learning experiences. AI-powered adaptive learning systems utilize algorithms to customize educational materials according to each student’s specific requirements. Automated assessment tools driven by AI offer real-time feedback, enabling teachers to enhance their instructional methods. In the present day, AI can swiftly accomplish a wide range of tasks, from deciphering intricate grammatical structures to grasping the subtleties of a new language.
In recent years, researchers at the intersection of artificial intelligence and natural sciences have been utilizing machines to rediscover established physical laws and concepts. These efforts have included replicating findings such as the heliocentric model, the directionality of time, and equations describing mechanical motion. While these applications serve as effective demonstrations of the algorithms’ functionality, it remains uncertain whether AI systems capable of rediscovering known physical principles could also contribute to advancing scientific knowledge. We posit that this outcome is not assured.
The developers of these AI systems are aware of the specific outcomes they aim to achieve in these case studies. As a result, it is challenging to determine how to eliminate both intentional and unintentional biases (in the broadest sense, including choices of particular representations) from the code or data. Consequently, even if an algorithm successfully rediscovers significant physical phenomena, its potential to further scientific progress by uncovering novel ideas remains unclear. To move beyond mere rediscovery, it is essential to explicitly address the question of how to generate ‘new’ scientific insights.
The question that was derived from an article of The Hindu, “Are we propelling machines to mimic human beings, or are we transforming humans into machines governed by AI?”. To address this specific inquiry, we must examine both historical and current contexts, using these insights to establish a connection with future developments. This process is dynamic and will continue to evolve over time. The applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) span a wide array of sectors and fields.
By mimicking human cognitive processes and streamlining intricate operations, AI serves as a powerful tool for enhancing productivity, precision, and strategic planning. Its capacity to emulate human-like intelligence and handle complex tasks makes it an invaluable asset in numerous areas. It traverses field to field marking its remarkable presence there. Technology is inevitable and comes both with pros and cons. It depends on the context and usage which could derive its end results.
The following are some key implementations of AI technology
- Healthcare: Artificial Intelligence (AI) assists in medical diagnosis by examining medical images like X-rays and MRIs to help identify conditions such as cancer and fractures. In drug development, AI speeds up the process by predicting molecular behavior and potential drug interactions, leading to more efficient drug discovery. AI also enhances personalized medicine by examining patient information to customize treatment plans and medication dosages, improving healthcare outcomes. Artificial Intelligence (AI) facilitates scientific study by handling and evaluating vast amounts of data, contributing to breakthroughs and advancements in domains including biology, chemistry, astronomy, and medicine.
- Finance: AI algorithms detect unusual patterns in financial transactions, identifying potential fraud and enhancing security. AI can process vast amount of data in short period of time thus helps the agencies in decision support. It also aids in assessing investment risks and forecasting market trends through historical data analysis, enabling more informed investment choices. Additionally, AI-powered chatbots (24*7) improve customer experiences by providing support, handling inquiries, and assisting with banking transactions.
- Automotive: AI enables self-driving vehicles by processing sensor data and making real-time decisions for safe navigation without human intervention. It also predicts potential vehicle component failures, optimizing maintenance schedules and reducing downtime.
- Retail: AI enhances shopping experiences by analyzing customer behavior and preferences to offer personalized product recommendations. It also optimizes inventory management by predicting demand, reducing overstocking or stockouts, and improving supply chain efficiency. It also segments customers based on behavior, preferences, and demographics, enabling tailored marketing strategies.
- Agriculture: AI analyzes data from drones and sensors to optimize planting, irrigation, and fertilization in precision farming, maximizing crop yields and minimizing resource usage. It also helps identify crop diseases and pests early, enabling timely intervention and reducing crop damage. Currently, there are many mobile applications e-g Plantix, where a farmer can upload a picture of his infected crop. The AI embedded in the app not only detect the disease but also recommends the treatment for it.
- Education: AI personalizes educational content to individual student needs and learning styles, improving engagement and educational outcomes. It also automates the grading of assignments and tests, saving time for educators. Many online educator applications e.g. Unacademy, Udemy etc tailor courses personalized for the students of different courses.
- Cyber security: Artificial intelligence systems identify irregular network behaviors, possible cyber security risks, and unauthorized access attempts, enhancing digital defense strategies. It also examines behavioral patterns to recognize and thwart malicious software attacks targeting computer systems and networks. While artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to be revolutionary, there are a number of concerns and difficulties that must be properly addressed.
The following are some of the main dangers connected to AI
- Prejudice and Equity: Artificial intelligence systems may unintentionally adopt biases present in their training datasets, potentially leading to skewed outcomes in decision-making processes and perpetuating existing societal prejudices. These biases can manifest in AI systems across various dimensions such as gender, ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic background, resulting in unequal treatment and discrimination. Skewed or biased result at any stage will trigger further biasness at further levels.
- Excessive Reliance and Dependency: Over-reliance on AI systems, particularly in critical domains such as healthcare and transportation, may lead to overconfidence and reduced human oversight, potentially magnifying errors or failures. An excessive dependence on AI without understanding its limitations could compromise safety and overall system resilience. Just now when I am typing this, news of an autonomous Car on Jaipur Flyover got caught in fire which created havoc. Even in flames it was plying through the traffic.
- Security Threats and Vulnerabilities: AI systems may be susceptible to adversarial attacks, where malicious actors attempt to manipulate input data to mislead or compromise the AI model’s performance. Security breaches can result in unauthorized access, data theft, and the potential for malicious exploitation of AI.
- Workforce Displacement and Economic Consequences: The advancement of AI automation may lead to job losses, particularly for repetitive and routine tasks, potentially causing unemployment and economic disruption in certain industries. This displacement might disproportionately affect workers with lower skill levels, highlighting the need for workforce retraining and skill enhancement.
- Synthetic Media and Misinformation: AI-generated deep fakes, which utilize machine learning to create convincing fake videos or audio, pose a threat to trust, credibility, and the proliferation of false information. These synthetic media can be employed maliciously, including the spread of disinformation, online harassment, and damaging the reputation of individuals or organizations.
- Security threat and Vulnerabilities: AI systems face potential threats and weaknesses in the form of adversarial attacks. These occur when malicious entities attempt to deceive or undermine the AI model’s effectiveness by manipulating input data. Such security issues can result in unauthorized system access, theft of sensitive information, and the possible misuse of AI technology for harmful purposes. Recently we have seen cases where the official site of the Supreme Court of India was hacked by hackers.
Artificial intelligence has proven to have more benefits than drawbacks, although this is dependent on the user’s context and how they are using it to enhance their environment and personality as a whole. When used appropriately, technology may be of infinite assistance and benefit.
(Author is PhD Scholar at Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad)
