Let's Proceed Carefully on AI

The simplest form of what one might call Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be shown on the robot which cleans your floor. Whenever he (or she)  bumps against a wall, the robot extracts detected information  and stores it in its memory.

Thus, next time your housecleaning robot will avoid that particular wall.

In actuality, this process is similar to how a crawling infant  learns.

AI as commonly understood is more sophisticated.

Such a system comprises a programmed computer operating component — able to sort, combine information/data, answer questions, as well as act on information combined with an enhanced search engine (not necessarily in the same housing). This enables the retrieving of desired information through the internet — from sources via Google, Microsoft, Wikipedia, police departments, the defense department, old newspaper files, or even perhaps the IRS.

An additional part of this system is what is called "a neural network" which can modify such information.

The danger here is that the neural network can start on its own to create stories from bits of information which can be misleading or even dangerous.

Great progress has been claimed, regarding the use of AI in education.

Here is an example: A professor asks Tom (not his real name) to submit a term paper.

So "Tom" consults his new AI computer system.

The computer screen asks Tom: "What shall be the subject?" Tom types in: "Electric Cars."

"No problem." The screen now has a question on it: How many pages do you need?" Tom replies: "Two or three." "Give me a few minutes" the computer housing the AI replies.

The search engine now starts to search the internet and other sources; it finds dozens of articles on E-cars.

The programmed code now picks the most current information and selects fitting chapters which can be combined, all having similar writing styles.

After approximately five minutes, Tom’s printer comes to life and out comes his term paper." Tom might well be thinking , at this point, "In the past, I had to hire a graduate student who, for a couple of hundred bucks would write my paper for me, what progress indeed!"

This writer does see a great use of AI in banking.

Here, a bank officer might like to check the credit worthiness of an applicant.

So, he simply feeds the social security number of the person into the AI-housing computer.

The search engine then scans available files for family history, criminal background, net worth, social affiliations, credit score, spousal problems, and medical background of the applicant.

All, in less than five minutes.

The computer also highlights objectionable information in order to save time.

A final print-out is prepared and now a decision to allow credit (or not) can be made.

A more sinister use of AI is to modify or distort photos and videos for propaganda or political purposes.

Or, it could create a brand new personality, background and all.

While I tried to provide my readers with a perhaps simplistic introduction to this subject, the technologies involved are very much more complicated.

Our AI journey has only just begun. 

Dr. Hans Baumann, a former Corporate Vice President and founder of his company, is a well known inventor, economist, and author having published books on scientific, economic, and historical subjects. Read Dr. Hans Baumann's Reports — More Here.