How Artificial Intelligence Will Affect Your Life
These days, our society is filled with technological innovation. Things like blockchain technology, machine learning, and bitcoin are just a few of the tech trends that dominated the news this past year. There's also more and more discussion about the potential role artificial intelligence will play in modern society.
Those of us that don't work in the tech industry are left with a lot of questions, particularly about artificial intelligence, because some of the innovations on the horizon could change our daily lives! Let's discuss.
What is artificial intelligence, and why is it important?
What exactly is artificial intelligence (AI)? A Harvard Business Review article defines artificial intelligence as “a machine’s ability to keep improving its performance without humans needing to explain exactly how to accomplish all the tasks it is given.” Even though there has been much talk surrounding artificial intelligence and its significance, how can artificial intelligence impact various industries? Should we trust it? What are the potential impacts?
Potential uses of artificial intelligence
Healthcare: There are so many potential use cases for AI in healthcare, including precision medicine, cybersecurity, and analytics. AI could make patient diagnosis more efficient. It's already been incorporated into mobile health applications to aid in patient treatment and diagnoses. For example, machines are learning to read CT and PET scans and other diagnostic materials to identify abnormalities. There are also smaller scale, customer-facing versions of this technology as well. For example, the mobile app SkinVision allows users to upload photos of concerning moles and freckles and after being run through SkinVision's machine learning program, the app will make a suggestion as to whether or not the user should go see a dermatologist.
Marketing: We learned in a recent Forbes article that AI will likely change the way marketing is done through improved integration of tools, datasets, and platforms. With machines reading analytics for us through data-driven decision making, some marketing tasks can be easily automated using AI. With the increased use of AI and the growth of digital marketing, companies are unlocking the mysteries of consumer purchasing decisions.
Education: Another Forbes article describes the potential uses of AI in education. One example is that AI tools can produce customized learning materials for students, particularly on digital devices. The increased use of technology in the classroom will result in improved hands-on learning and interaction between students and teachers.
What should we expect to see?
Many questions still arise when thinking about the impact of new technology. Will jobs be lost due to automation? If so, who will be at risk? How will AI impact other industries? What are other benefits we can expect to see? It's a fast-moving field and we're excited to see what's next!
Natalie Cantave is a tech columnist for JUGs. You can follow her on Twitter: @n_cantave