Key Takeaways:
- Artificial intelligence is a field of computer science that focuses on creating intelligent machines that can simulate human intelligence and problem-solving skills.
- There are four different types of AI, including reactive, limited memory, theory of mind and self-aware.
- Some disadvantages of AI include privacy concerns, ethical dilemmas and potential job displacement, while some advantages include efficiency, accuracy and personalization.
Artificial intelligence has taken the world by storm. It can be found in so many different facets of everyday life, including in healthcare to collect patient data, chatbots for customer service, transportation for self-driving cars and more. Yet, there is so much more that is emerging.
This article provides a brief introduction to artificial intelligence and how it works. It also dives into the four types of AI and the advantages and disadvantages of AI. Finally, it outlines resources to learn more about AI.
What Is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a scientific field that focuses on building computers and machines that can learn, reason and act in a way that mimics human intelligence. AI is also commonly referred to as “machine learning” because of its capability to learn about human intelligence as a machine.
When Was AI Created?
While AI has recently gained significant traction, the first form of AI came to fruition in 1951 in England. Alan Turing, a British mathematician and computer scientist, is often credited as the creator of the first-ever AI technology with his published “Computer Machinery and Intelligence.”
Another prominent individual in the creation of AI is John McCarthy, an American computer scientist who coined the term “artificial intelligence” in 1956. McCarthy also organized the Dartmouth Conference, often called the birthplace of AI, where he and other researchers discussed the possibility of creating machines that could simulate human intelligence.
How Does AI Work?
AI can be complex in what it does, but according to the basics of AI, it works by using progressive learning algorithms and data to do programming. To understand AI, think of it as the information center, similar to the human brain. It can think, learn and make decisions by relying on data and algorithms. Depending on the AI software, the more it is used, the more it gathers about the user and what they are looking for, similar to human brains understanding more and more about topics as it gathers more information.
While AI is not perfect, and mistakes inevitably arise, it continues to advance each day. It is crucial for developers to continuously improve and monitor such AI systems to ensure they work as intended and in an ethical way. Tinkering more with AI software will help further the future of AI, which can positively impact sectors like healthcare, education and cybersecurity.
What Are Four Types of AI?
AI is categorized into at least four unique types differentiated by capability: reactive, limited memory, theory of mind and self-aware. Now armed with an introduction to AI, let us dive into each of these four types of AI and the differences between them.
1. Reactive
This type of AI is the simplest form created. Even though it is simple, it can still perform complex tasks. Reactive AI operates on predefined algorithms and cannot store any of its experiences. For that reason, it is unable to learn from its experiences. With this being said, Reactive AI is great for simple tasks that do not require modifications as time goes on, as it cannot adequately adapt.
2. Limited Memory
Limited Memory AI is the next step forward in complexity, with expanded capabilities that can inform decision-making. Limited Memory can learn from past experiences, which can assist this type of AI in gaining more advanced thinking abilities. While it cannot store an infinite amount of past data, it can store enough past data to more effectively inform future decision-making.
3. Theory of Mind
Theory of Mind is a hypothetical version of AI that is much more advanced than the previous two types of AI. This type tries to understand human emotions, beliefs, intentions, thought processes and more in order to function. This enables Theory of Mind AI to understand human behavior and also potentially predict future behaviors in certain situations. On the surface, this type of AI can bridge the gap between humans and machines, as it can understand both of these groups.
4. Self-Aware
The most advanced type is Self-Aware AI, which possesses consciousness, self-awareness and emotions all similar to those that humans experience. Because it is complex, it has a variety of capabilities to comprehend not only the environment it is but also emotions and feelings to certain situations. While Self-Aware AI is still being refined more each day, it remains the most advanced version of AI that individuals across the world use most widely.
Advantages and Disadvantages of AI
AI is positively changing how we live daily and can be used in a variety of applications, including smart manufacturing and language translation. However, using AI still has some drawbacks. The following is an introduction to some of the advantages and disadvantages of AI.
Advantages
- Efficiency: AI enables the automation of repetitive tasks, freeing human resources to focus on more complex endeavors. This leads to increased productivity and efficiency in many different processes.
- Accuracy: AI can quickly analyze large amounts of data to produce reusable solutions for users, which enhances overall accuracy.
- Personalization: Through understanding individual preferences and needs, AI can help deliver targeted information to users.
- Innovation: The capabilities of AI fuel innovation through developing new products and services that otherwise might not have been attainable.
Disadvantages
- Job displacement: There is the potential for job displacement as automation from AI takes away previously human-operated positions.
- Bias issues: After AI machines store past data, they can develop bias issues from the data they are trained on.
- Privacy concerns: AI machines collect, store and analyze sensitive information and data, which can pose risks to individual privacy rights.
- Ethical dilemmas: AI machines can create ethical dilemmas in autonomy, accountability and fairness.
Where to Learn More About AI
AI is an increasingly powerful tool that is becoming more integrated into our daily lives. There are a wide variety of resources available online if you are interested in learning more about AI and its capabilities in the real world, including the following:
And, to learn even more about AI, including a further introduction to AI and the basics of AI, follow entrepreneur Robert F. Smith on LinkedIn.
