Ways Artificial Intelligence is Being Applied in the Real World

by Staff & Contributors on July 13, 2020

in Gaming

When artificial intelligence is mentioned, many people still think about science fiction. From humanoid androids in Blade Runner to hyperintelligent machines that take over the world in Matrix, the concept still seems futuristic and far. But the truth is artificial intelligence is all around us. We use it almost every day without even thinking about it.

To Verify People’s Information

Lying about who we are is harder than ever. A few decades ago, good looks, a nice clean suit, and good manners could get you a job for which you were not qualified. Today, things are different. In just a few clicks, services like checkpeople use algorithms to find information on anyone. And these algorithms are, you guessed it, artificial intelligence at play. Within minutes, you can learn if someone has a criminal record, or if they are in financial trouble, or even their marital status.

Healthcare

Machine learning and artificial intelligence have already proven to be helpful in diagnosing certain diseases. For example, AI is already outperforming radiologists in diagnosing malignant tumors. There’s still a long way to go, but applications of AI in healthcare are endless and in constant development. Google, for example, is working with healthcare providers to develop prediction models from big data to warn doctors of high-risk conditions, such as heart failure or sepsis. IBM’s AI “Watson” has an important focus on precision medicine, especially cancer prevention and treatment. Also, many tech companies are already experimenting with nanotechnology for healthcare purposes (chips that are able to detect diseases or micro-robots that can fix an artery, for example).

Agriculture

With a population that never ceases to grow, the world will need to produce almost 50 percent more food by 2050. And the challenge is a big one: it also has to be environmentally sustainable. A great example of AI in agriculture is the startup Esoko, which leverages simple technologies such as SMS messages to send valuable information to farmers. Esoko’s model is data-driven and includes actions such as biometric registration and GIS (geographic information systems) mapping to promote social development among farmer villages worldwide. Other interesting examples of AI in agriculture include PEAT, a Berlin-based startup that has developed Plantix, an app that identifies nutrient deficiencies in the soil, and potential plant defects.

Finance

The financial world has relied on algorithms to predict market changes for a long time. Today, AI and machine learning are used to process huge amounts of data in order to determine future market patterns.

Gaming Industry

The gaming industry is one of the first that developed more and more sophisticated forms of artificial intelligence. Today, AI plays a major role in new game developments, new interfaces and challenges, and new forms of playing.

Space Exploration

Exploring the surface of Mars would not be possible without the help of AI. The International Space Station would not be possible to maintain without AI. Not only space exploration relies on data processing and predictions made by algorithms, but it also uses robots (Rovers) to go where people cannot travel yet.

The Internet of Things

There’s a large amount of five-year-old kids that ask Alexa to play their favorite music or tv shows. People ask Siri or Cortana, or Google for directions, or to make a call. Virtual assistants are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the internet of things. Homes are fully connected, doors can be opened or closed, gas leaks can be immediately detected, and you can even order food. Perhaps this is the most personal use of AI that we can talk about, as it permeates our privacy and collects data in order to offer specific services.

Law Enforcement

Facial recognition software is used by government agencies around the world for different reasons. It’s extremely helpful to identify and track missing persons, and it can also help recognize dangerous criminals a lot faster.

 

As you can see, AI is everywhere. From “proximity marketing” that sends signals to your smartphone when you are likely to buy something to apps that help keep us safe. But there are still many ethical implications that need to be discussed, as there is always room for mistakes. However, we can expect to see more and more instances of artificial intelligence in everyday life as technology continues to advance.

 

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