The term “artificial intelligence” has become widely used these days, to the point where some people fear it might lead to machines dominating humans and reducing the role of humans. However, the reality is still far from that scenario. So, what is artificial intelligence? What are its most notable manifestations? And how far has its development advanced?
Artificial intelligence is defined as the intelligence demonstrated by machines and software designed to mimic human cognitive abilities and functions, such as learning, reasoning, and responding to situations that have not been pre-programmed. It is also the name of an academic field focused on creating computers and programs capable of exhibiting intelligent behavior.
Leading researchers define artificial intelligence as “the study and design of intelligent systems that understand their environment and take actions to increase their chances of success.” John McCarthy, who coined the term in 1955, defined it as “the science and engineering of creating intelligent machines.”
In recent years, developments in artificial intelligence technology have experienced significant leaps, with “deep learning” standing out as its most prominent form. This technology is based on developing artificial neural networks that function similarly to the human brain, allowing them to experiment, learn, and self-improve without human intervention.
Deep learning has proven effective in recognizing images, understanding speech, translating between languages, and other capabilities that have drawn investment from Silicon Valley giants like Facebook and Google, despite warnings that advances in artificial intelligence could pose threats to humanity.
Concerns
In late 2014, the late physicist Stephen Hawking warned that the development of full artificial intelligence could pave the way for human extinction, emphasizing machines’ capacity for self-design.
Bill Gates, the founder and former CEO of Microsoft, expressed in 2015 that he preferred robots to remain somewhat “dumb,” saying, “I am in the camp that is concerned about superintelligence.”
That same year, American inventor and investor Elon Musk described artificial intelligence as one of the greatest risks to human existence, comparing it to “summoning the devil.”
Musk—who founded the commercial space company SpaceX and electric car manufacturer Tesla—has invested millions of dollars into researching potential risks associated with artificial intelligence and how to address them.
Slow Progress
Conversely, some experts believe that artificial intelligence technologies do not pose risks to humanity. Among them is Yoshua Bengio, a professor of computer science at the University of Montreal, who argues that there is no need to worry about intelligent technologies, as they require many years of slow, gradual development before reaching the levels feared by analysts. This progress relies on sciences and ideas that are still very much in their infancy.
Bengio asserts that achieving the anticipated form of artificial intelligence will not be sudden; it is not like discovering a magical formula, as he puts it. The creation of integrated artificial intelligence systems requires continued advances in current sciences and the innovation of new fields. In other words, no scientist will emerge with a groundbreaking technology that will change the world overnight, as often depicted in science fiction movies.
Future Leaps
On the other hand, artificial intelligence technologies are rapidly advancing and becoming more complex each year. Geoffrey Hinton, a researcher specializing in artificial intelligence at Google and the University of Toronto, believes that machines will match human intelligence within the next five years.
Hinton, who developed Google’s intelligent program “AlphaGo,” which defeated the world champion in the game of Go, does not believe we should fear artificial intelligence. He argues that any new technology can be frightening if misused, and the issue lies in how we manage it so it does not harm humanity.
Google and Facebook are considered pioneers in artificial intelligence technologies; these systems have greatly enhanced Google’s services. For instance, thanks to this technology, Android phones can understand user commands and instantly translate foreign language phrases displayed on road signs. It also powers Google’s search engine, one of the company’s flagship products.
As for Facebook, deep learning enables the social network to recognize faces in photos, select appropriate content, display it in users’ news feeds, support its digital personal assistant (M), and much more.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, believes that the era of smartphones is nearing its end, to be replaced by artificial intelligence that provides immediate access to essential information. Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, envisions that devices equipped with artificial intelligence will one day possess human senses like vision and feeling, even surpassing human capability.
