For Better or Worse
It’s clear that artificial intelligence has a grip on our world. Whether you hate it or love it, these robots are certainly impacting our world. Here are 20 interesting things AI brings to the table, some which you probably aren’t even familiar with. Either way, it’s clear to see that we’ve bounded toward the future.
1. Food Security
AI is being used to help farmers mitigate risks such as climate change and disease by providing data-driven insights and recommendations. In India, sugarcane farmers are using AI-powered tools to analyze weather, soil, and satellite data to make informed decisions about when to water, fertilize, and carry out other farming activities, in a bid to maximize crop yields and practice sustainable agriculture.
2. Identifying Criminals
AI can be implemented to find criminals, by means of facial features and characteristics. This artificial intelligence system may help in recognizing a potential or an actual criminal to ensure a better quality of security, by identifying a set of faces of the people with a history of criminal or illegal activities.
3. Self-Driving Vehicles
Autonomous vehicles are a form of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled transportation that are designed to enhance safety, efficiency, and accessibility. They rely on AI algorithms to interpret data from sensors and cameras to navigate roads accurately and respond to traffic situations promptly. Autonomous vehicles have the potential to revolutionize transportation by reducing accidents and making travel more accessible to everyone.
4. Enhanced Diagnostics
AI has been used to analyze medical images, including X-rays and MRIs, with high accuracy. This ability to detect even subtle abnormalities in images is helping to facilitate earlier diagnosis of conditions like cancer and neurological disorders. This can lead to more accurate and effective treatment planning and improved patient outcomes.
5. Disaster Response
AI is being used to help with disaster response efforts. It helps by using satellite imagery to identify damage to properties and other structures as a result of flooding, earthquakes, and wildfires. The information is shared with first responders from Microsoft’s AIforGoodLab to make sure that help and resources are prioritized in a timely manner. AI helps in ensuring that decisions are reached faster and are well-informed during disaster responses.
6. Monitoring Ecosystems
AI is assisting conservationists in tracking and safeguarding biodiversity by processing information from satellite imagery, camera traps, and bioacoustics. For example, in the Amazon rainforest, initiatives like Microsoft’s Project Guacamaya utilize AI to rapidly identify deforestation trends. This enables quicker action to protect vulnerable habitats and maintain healthy wildlife populations.
7. Fraud Detection
AI can revolutionize the way security and fraud detection systems work. Financial algorithms powered by deep learning can be fed a continual stream of financial data, automatically identifying suspicious patterns in near real-time. AI can be trained to spot these emerging threats and help you catch fraud before it starts, keeping your money safer.
8. Virtual Fitting Rooms
AI-driven virtual fitting rooms take body measurements and scanned photos to suggest well-fitting clothes and accessories. The virtual shopping experience usually involves an augmented reality function that allows the customer to try things on at home. This elevates online shopping to a more personalized and interactive experience.
9. Weather Forecasting
Microsoft Research's artificial intelligence (AI) weather model called Aurora is providing sharper, more flexible weather forecasts. It's accurate even in remote or data-sparse regions, and because it requires less compute than previous models, brings critical weather and climate data to developing countries. Aurora also can predict air pollution and forecast weather from minutes to years into the future, so communities can better prepare for extremes.
10. Accessibility
AI can also improve accessibility and inclusivity by supporting students with disabilities and learning differences. For example, AI-powered tools such as text-to-speech and speech-to-text can help students who struggle with reading or writing. Moreover, translation tools powered by AI can help students who are non-native speakers of the language of instruction overcome language barriers.
Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
11. Search and Rescue
AI drones are also proving to be an essential part of the search and rescue world, as they can provide immediate live video footage of the area you are working in during a disaster situation. AI can then analyze huge swaths of data and imagery to help find and identify missing people in a fraction of the time that it would take humans to do it.
12. Assisted Surgery
1AI-controlled surgical robots are providing new capabilities for complex procedures. These robots have precision and dexterity that are difficult for human surgeons to achieve. Minimally invasive surgeries are becoming more common with the help of surgical robots, which lead to faster recovery and fewer complications. A study at Johns Hopkins found that some AI-guided surgeries have outperformed human doctors.
13. Recruitment
AI is beginning to automate recruitment processes like hiring and HR analytics. It is making employees' workloads much easier and speeds up the process in many cases, streamlining HR functions. However, employees are reporting negative effects from using AI in recruitment. It makes them feel dehumanized or passed over for personal interaction.
14. Classroom Management
AI can take care of manual and repetitive tasks such as taking attendance and grading exams, so that teachers do not have to spend hours on these mundane activities. It can also help in identifying students who are struggling and need additional support, so that they can be helped at the earliest. This makes it a useful tool in supporting classrooms.
15. E-Commerce
AI algorithms in recommender systems offer smart suggestions based on consumers’ shopping behavior, past purchases, and previous browsing history. This helps customers find products that are aligned with their preferences and discover new items. Therefore, AI makes online shopping a more personalized and streamlined experience.
16. Image Generation
AI-based deep learning networks can be used to create realistic images, turn day into night, and fill colors between edges of objects, which may have application in creative design. The technology also opens up new opportunities for art, entertainment, and virtual worlds. However, it also brings up ethical issues surrounding authenticity, copyright, and misuse of AI-created imagery.
17. Robo Advisors
Robo-advisors are financial planning services that use algorithms to automatically allocate and manage investments. These tools consider factors like risk tolerance and financial goals to recommend a customized portfolio. They use algorithms to optimize the allocation of assets based on the user's goals and risk appetite.
micheile henderson on Unsplash
18. Traffic Management
AI-controlled traffic systems will help decrease gridlock and urban congestion. These smart systems will provide real-time traffic information and optimize traffic flow. They'll automatically adjust traffic signals, recommend alternative routes, and enhance public transport schedules.
19. Music Composition
AI is being employed to compose music, including Aiva, which is an AI trained to write classical music. The music created by this AI is original and is being used in films, advertising, and video games. While this demonstrates AI's potential for creativity, ethical concerns exist regarding authorship, creativity, and the impact on human musicians.
20. Digital Assistance
Digital assistants such as Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, and Microsoft's Cortana can help users with a variety of tasks, from scheduling meetings to controlling other software applications. They use machine learning algorithms to process and learn from information with each interaction, so AI is key to these assistants. These intelligent assistants are becoming indispensable companions for the busy digital consumer who wants to live a convenient and productive life.
