What is AI and how intelligent is it really?
AI, also known as Artificial Intelligence, has been making waves in Hollywood for years. Machines of many shapes and sizes taking over the world is a common theme in many of these big screen productions as writers take all kinds of creative liberties.
But what is AI and how often is it used? If someone sits in front of a computer and does a search on Google Chrome for a subject, the AI results will come up at the top.
Let’s ask it: “How Smart is Artificial Intelligence?”
The AI Overview response is
“AI excels at specific tasks like data analysis and pattern recognition, often surpassing human capabilities in those areas, but currently lacks the broad, adaptable intelligence of humans, including creativity, common sense, and emotional understanding.”
Apparently, Artificial Intelligence has a solid understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. In more concise terms, AI sets up computers or machines to perform an incredibly long list of functions or processes, essentially imitating the human mind.
But other than search engines, when is AI generally used?
An example is a digital assistant, like Alexa or Siri. Ask it a question or direct it to perform a task and it’s taken care of. The number of times that is used on a regular basis is too high to count.
Another example is self-driving cars or those that have the lane protection feature or parking assist. Or smart thermostats that monitor residents’ sleeping patterns and tweak temperatures to reflect those habits.
In the business realm, too, the list is almost endless.
An example that can be a bit unnerving is social media. How many times has someone conducted a search for something, like a car model, only to have auto dealers pop up on a Facebook feed?
For a small business that does not have a writer on staff or the time to write a memo, there’s ChatGPT to help put “pen to paper.”
How about when someone goes to a website and a chatbot shows up to not only ask for questions but also delivers a quick response.
Businesses might need to consider whether they want to utilize AI in this manner because it can come across artificially attentively as well. Some people want to talk or chat with a real person. It can be frustrating at times when a user can’t find the right words or questions. For some type of businesses, though, that might be exactly what its customers want: No human contact or interaction.
Also, for a business it can be especially helpful for those tasks or processes that are conducted over and over.
Those are just a handful of examples but illustrates the point: AI is becoming more and more a part of what we do on a daily basis.
The question remains: Were the folks in Hollywood totally just dreaming in what they concocted for their movies or are they soothsayers? Will these devices continue to get smarter?
Hmmmm.
And just another word of caution: AI can take a simple image of a person and turn it into a full video, complete with the person talking, that appears very real. So, people who receive any type of video asking for money or personal information, even if they know the person making the request, should be mindful that it could be a scam.
