Artificial intelligence is no longer something that provides high-concept drama in sci-fi movies, but it is something that is having tangible benefits in everyday life.
Movies such as 2004’s I, Robot may have attached scarier connotations to the idea of AI, but the reality is that AI is much more subtle (and much more useful) than a bunch of robots running around causing havoc.
We are already seeing the positive effects of AI in key areas such as business, healthcare, and transportation. Here are some examples of how AI is improving the quality of life around the world, with a look at the potential for further AI integration.
Business
askSpoke lists 21 ways that AI has transformed the workplace; this includes transcribing meetings, assisting with internal communications, and translating video calls in real time. AI solutions are not designed to replace office workers. Instead, they help staff better manage their workload, allowing them to focus on the most important aspects of their job.
AI is changing the way that businesses provide customer service, with carefully designed bots able to respond to a range of online queries. This enables companies to provide 24/7 customer service, as the bot can operate at all hours to cater to customers in different time zones or on different schedules. In the future, expect AI-driven customer service to be able to respond effectively to unique customer queries or complaints, rather than answering a predetermined range of questions.
Healthcare
AI could potentially play a transformational role in tackling some of the world’s biggest health challenges. Tej Kohlibelieves that biotech solutions and AI can dramatically improve human life, with the use of AI in organ transplantation giving credence to that belief. Algorithms are used to match suitable patients and donor, with AI so far assisting with setting up around 6000 kidney transplants.
That number will increase significantly if AI can be given more patient data to work with, with doctors able to not only identify organ matches but also establish which patient requires more urgent treatment. AI can also enhance existing methods of disease detection, with new AI tech deployed on premature babies to identify those at risk of going blind. Human identification of this eye disease was flawed and contentious, but AI’s ability to process vast quantities of data allows for a more informed decision.
Transportation
When we think about AI in transportation, it is only natural that the mind is drawn to one concept in particular: self-driving cars. Some may find this idea to be unfathomable, while others may relish the notion of relinquishing driving to AI. Self-driven taxis have already been trialled in Tokyo, while ATBS has explored the progress towards autonomous trucks in the United States.
The most significant consequence of AI in transportation for most people may be more discreet than a self-driven vehicle. AI could revolutionize the way that authorities approach traffic management, with the ability to process large swathes of data again making the difference. By analysing big data, AI can help authorities to control the flow of traffic and can inform drivers of potential congestion or alternative routes.
There has already been considerable progress in the development of AI, but, given its proven ability to improve people’s quality of life, that progress is not about to slow down. From its streamlining of office routines and traffic management to its literally life-changing potential in healthcare, AI is providing a future that should be embraced.
