If you think AI doesn’t concern you, think again.
Why AI is no longer just for PhDs in computer science.
AI is a science at the crossroads between computer science and neuroscience. It is inspired by the way we, humans, use our brains to learn, memorize, reason and take action. The goal is to recreate human intelligence in a computer program.
What was once an obscure academic field in the 1950’s, has slowly found widescale commercial applications and become ubiquitous in our daily lives. If you’re not sure look again: AI is everywhere.
In our streets:
In our living rooms:
and in our workplace:
Whether you’re an early adopter or a “late to the party” type, you are already using products that rely on artificial intelligence to improve your experience as a user. And its applications are bound to grow and expand in cross-disciplinary manners.
It is fascinating to see that a subject that used to be reserved to an elite group of mathematicians and scientists has now proven to be completely game-changing for humanity that it is stretching outside of its initial circle of influence, onto the rest of the world.
As the physicist Feynman once said about the universe,
“It’s not complicated, it’s just a lot of it”.
Anyone with high intellectual curiosity and an appetite for learning, can now understand the basics of AI, and experiment with it, to produce real life applications.
Movie star and film director Kristen Stewart surprised the AI community by publishing a paper on a machine learning technique used in her short movie Come Swim.
Talented musician and recognized composer Ed Newton-Rex went on to start AI startup Jukedeck, that uses AI to create unique soundtracks from scratch.
Whether you’re a PhD in computer science, an artist, a knowledge worker, or a teenager with no idea of what you’ll grow up to do, one thing is certain AI will affect you during your lifetime. Yet, most of the knowledge about AI is concentrated in specific geographical areas and is held exclusively by researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs.
How can AI not be a subject of interest?
With AI influencing every aspect of our personal and professionals lives, why is it that people still act like it’s far off? During the French presidential elections for example (close to my heart- but I can’t even begin to talk about American politics!) not a single candidate mentioned the One Hundred Year Study on Artificial Intelligence, despite the fact that the societal transformation it touches on will affect every single voter in the next 5 years.
This initiative from Stanford University (Rated #2 best computer science university in the world) is driven by a group of AI experts assembled by Erik Horvitz, and aims to form a new study panel every five years for the next hundred years to assess the current state of AI. The findings are intended to help governments make more informed decisions about the profound upcoming changes AI will bring
AI is revolutionizing our society as we know it. That’s why it concerns you too reader. While in Silicon Valley this topic entered the private spheres of Sunday BBQ’s long ago, it concerns all of us. Yes, you too! It is no longer something we can just brush-off to the side, or think we can address later when we have more time. The time is now for you to read up, and prepare yourself for the new world of work.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” — Nelson Mandela
Here’s a list to get started:
I’m the CEO and cofounder of aiden.ai (built with PJ Camillieri) If you think this article is interesting, please don’t hesitate to recommend it by clicking the 👏 button below.
