Artificial Intelligence (AI) tends to be big news whenever there’s a big or interesting breakthrough, such as advances in self-driving car technology. There are also plenty of ways AI is influencing the future in subtler ways. Here are six ways AI is changing the future.
- Complex Computations
AI is a fantastic tool for performing complex computations quickly. One of the best examples of this use is fluid dynamic scale. Fluid dynamics is a physical phenomena used to predict weather patterns, among other things. The issue is that the equations needed to model fluid dynamics can be incredibly complex and require physical models in order to demonstrate properly. With an AI program, it can become much easier to create the model to your exact specifications in cyberspace and solve the complex equations at the same time.
- Transportation
Many people are enamored with the concept of the self-driving car, and technology is heading in that direction. There are several prototype self-driving and assisted-driving automobiles being tested. However, there are several other transportation augmentations AI can provide besides completely taking over control of vehicles. AI can contribute to better navigation and situational awareness, making it so people can get to their destinations with as few complications as possible and are less likely to get into accidents. AI can also be a useful component in supply chains, keeping delivery personnel in contact with their sources and destinations.
- Task Automation
AI is currently a popular option for task automation in the workplace. It can help office workers to free up their schedules by taking over scheduling and data entry tasks. It can also help those in scientific and math-related fields to solve more complex problems. By contrast, many people worry that AI may take over their jobs entirely, such as assembly work and technological or mechanical maintenance. In actuality, AI is well-suited to take over dangerous tasks such as mining so workers are at less risk of injury. There’s also plenty of room for task automation outside of the workplace, too. For example, virtual assistants are currently capable of shopping online, looking up information and turning lights on and off. Eventually, they may be able to help people do chores such as laundry and lawn mowing, or reach things on high shelves.
- Efficiency
The main benefit of AI and machine learning algorithms is that they increase efficiency and accuracy. AI makes it easier for people to model and solve complex computations, but there’s a misconception that eventually AI will be capable of doing every task without any human input. AI is meant to assist and support human employees. For example, a human could spend more time creating blueprints and models if an AI program was capable of quickly solving related equations for him or her.
- Cybersecurity
Due to their speed, accuracy and efficiency, AI and machine learning programs are effective tools for supporting and improving cybersecurity. These algorithms are capable of learning and adapting much more quickly than human cybersecurity engineers, no matter how well trained they may be. This means that an AI can witness a cyberattack, figure out what aspects of its security programming and adapt accordingly very quickly. By contrast, a human engineer requires that cybersecurity software catches and contains the attack and then must take time to study the new attack strategy and designing a software patch to counteract it, by which time the hacker will have advanced even further. Additionally, if the regular security software doesn’t catch and contain the threat, the engineer must do damage control. This is a much less likely scenario when AI is covering cybersecurity.
- Augmented Workplaces
AI is a key player in the creation of augmented workplaces and virtual offices. These algorithms can improve communication, bandwidth access and the security of wifi connections. Eventually, AI may be capable of allowing people to telecommute and collaborate through holograms or 3-D avatars rather than via webcams and screens. And telecommuting isn’t the only workplace augmentation that may take place. AI is capable of enabling people to remotely operate computers and machinery. As remote operations technology continues to develop, people may be able to operate computer systems and factory machinery entirely from offsite.
It’s important to note that AI is just a tool. Whether it instigates positive or negative changes on your organization or in the world at large truly depends on how it’s implemented and the reasons people have for choosing to implement it.
