Where Next for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics?
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, and Robotics have been spoken about for quite some time, and have been the stuff of science fiction, until now.
To most of us it seemed a bit confusing, as not knowing which was which, or did they both mean the same?
There is a very clear difference, although the two can and often do, work together.
As a very simple explanation, Artificial Intelligence works on the data collected from the information, processing and reasoning of human intelligence. When called upon to do so, it uses algorithms to search out the appropriate information and consequently can produce a piece of work which would normally have been researched, collated and written by a person.
(This blog could have been written in a few minutes had I fed in the relevant key words and overall objective into the appropriate software). The end result is faster, possibly more accurate and can therefore cover a large amount of work requiring fewer people. It only requires the key ingredients of the finished article to be fed in, so is largely computer generated.
Robotics on the other hand, is part of engineering and computer science, which design and create robots to carry out physical tasks such as lifting, moving and handling and motor skills, but cannot `think` for themselves.
However, often robots require computer coding and Artificial Intelligence in order to activate a procedure which would require a `thought` process or `reasoning`.
We have been dabbling at the fringes of both for a number of years as more and more is done automatically through technology.
Essentials such as banking, setting up of mortgages, insurances and monthly payments are almost all managed online which cuts out physical journeys, letter writing and phone calls.
Items are bought and sold online, holidays are not only purchased and paid for online, but arrangements to airports and ongoing travel are also planned, doing away with lengthy consultations.
More recent innovations have included inroads into education and health, including surgical procedures, largely spurred on by the Covid pandemic.
Many have an `Alexa` in the home, keeping track of household management and saving on physical tasks.
Automatic lawn mowers and vacuum cleaners are becoming more popular.
Self drive buses are going on trial in the U.K.
The list goes on, and gets much more complex and far reaching.
At the moment we all appreciate the benefits of some of the literal `heavy lifting` of rather mundane tasks being either done automatically or simplified, as it gives us time to do other things, and not waste it on these tasks.
We are now on the brink of both Artificial Intelligence and Robotics having a much wider scope affecting our daily lives.
It stands to reason that the more that can be done by both these outside forces, the less is going to be done by humans.
Whilst having beneficial effects, they also have negative, consequential ones.
Fewer people will be required to carry out jobs requiring administration.
This will affect many thousands of jobs in all sectors from government to small businesses.
Robots are already being designed to take over all sorts of jobs requiring manual input, so large labour groups will be a thing of the past.
It equates in many ways to the Industrial Revolution, with firstly the introduction of steam followed by electric machinery in the 1800 and 1900s which took over from a highly concentrated male and female work force, and resulted in new employment models having to be introduced.
From a positive point of few there are some fantastic pluses to be had.
More free time for family and activities.
More efficient use of time for those who have to work.
Having an end product without having to do much or any of the research or physical application.
Being able to access world wide information which was previously unavailable.
Alongside this positive news, there has to be a note of caution.
From an employment point of view, how will many who will no longer have a job earn a living? Will there be opportunities to retrain?
How will people deal with so much free time?
There will be many situations where Artificial Intelligence will be used in the wrong context.
Springing to mind, would be exam content and anything that would have previously required human intelligence to research and retain the information for a specific purpose.
Wrong information could easily be generated for a number of reasons and disseminated into the wrong arena as fake news and images.
From a socio-political point of view this could have disastrous consequences.
For long term strategists, this new world full of opportunity and progress has been gathering pace, and is largely unregulated.
Recent statements by two leading names in the field, along with an increasing number of scientists, should give us pause for reflection and consider that a monster may have been created with its progress unable to be halted.
Elon Musk of world wide fame, and a long time supporter and contributor to AI, has called for a halt in progress, as he feels that some aspects may get out of hand and could lead to untold world damage if AI `out thinks`us.
Dr Geoffrey Hinton, known as the Godfather of AI, has resigned from his post in order to speak out on his concerns of AI becoming too powerful, especially in the wrong hands.
As with so many things in the 20th and now the 21st centuries, we have rushed ahead at such a pace, unknown to previous generations.
We have achieved many great things which have changed daily lives and working practices out of all recognition, but may be throwing out the baby with the bath water should we ever want to keep some skills alive, in case we ever need them.
Other highly developed civilizations throughout history have burned themselves out for one reason or another, often through political, social and financial instability or cultural and environmental changes.
Let us hope that we have the common sense to keep control of at least some of our own destiny as we move relentlessly on.
