Artificial Intelligence (AI)

24th March 2021 | Cybrary

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to human-like intelligence presented by a computer, robot, or other machines. AI mimics human learning by building iterative learning capabilities into a computer. AI machines learn from exposure to experiences, for example by examining objects or practicing millions of chess matches and measuring outcomes to learn better strategies. In everyday world use, AI can combine these capabilities to perform functions a human might perform, such as greeting a hotel guest or driving a car.

AI plays a large part in our everyday lives. The surge in AI utility was made possible by the availability of large amounts of data and the wide availability of computer systems that can process data faster and more accurately than humans can. AI is completing our words as we type them, providing driving directions when we ask, vacuuming our floors, and recommending what we should buy or binge-watch next. And it’s driving applications, such as medical image analysis, that help skilled professionals do important work faster with better outcomes.

How Does AI Affect Me?

Have you ever been typing out an email or text message on your phone and it shows suggested words, or even automatically fixes the words for you? That is an easy example of AI in our everyday lives. Below are some common examples of common AI use:

Speech recognition: Recognizes spoken words and converts them to digitized text. Speech recognition is the capability that drives computer dictation software, TV voice remotes, voice-enabled text messaging and GPS, and voice-driven phone menus.
Facial/Image recognition: AI technology that can identify and classify objects, people, writing, and even actions within still or moving images. Typically driven by deep neural networks, image recognition is used for fingerprint ID systems, mobile check deposit apps, video and medical image analysis, self-driving cars, and much more.
Real-time recommendations: Retail and entertainment websites use neural networks to recommend additional purchases or media likely to appeal to a customer based on the customer’s past activity, the past activity of other customers, and endless other factors, including the time of day and the weather.
Virus and spam prevention: Once driven by rule-based expert systems, today’s virus and spam detection software employ deep neural networks that can learn to detect new types of virus and spam as quickly as cybercriminals can dream them up.
Household robots: iRobot’s Roomba vacuum uses artificial intelligence to determine the size of a room, identify and avoid obstacles, and learn the most efficient route for vacuuming a floor. Similar technology drives robotic lawnmowers and pool cleaners.
Autopilot: This has been flying commercial and military aircraft for decades. Today, autopilot uses a combination of sensors, GPS technology, image recognition, collision avoidance technology, robotics, and natural language processing to guide an aircraft safely through the skies and update the human pilots as needed. Depending on who you ask, today’s commercial pilots spend as little as three and a half minutes manually piloting a flight.