Artificial Intelligence

May 24, 2023

Artificial Intelligence was created with the aim of helping tasks that could be automated. Over time, this technology began to assist in solving mathematical problems, identifying patterns and even driving cars. In 2022 there was a ChatGPT boom and since then, the doors of knowledge have been opened regarding what exactly Artificial Intelligence is, how it can support the various day-to-day problems and how useful it can be.

After all, what is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence is usually described as a computer science, which in turn creates intelligent machines capable of performing tasks that would normally be performed by humans. Essentially, AI is an area of study and development that seeks to create systems capable of performing tasks that would initially require human intelligence, such as: learning, reasoning, perceiving and interacting.

Artificial Intelligence is increasingly becoming an integral part of the routine of the most diverse business areas.

Artificial Intelligence learning takes place through the processing of large volumes of unstructured data, whose manipulation and management will result in structured data, which can lead to patterns, forecast formulations and probable scenarios for the future. Thus, it becomes a powerful technology, whose purpose is also to ensure reliable information for decision-making. Naturally, as Artificial Intelligence becomes more complex, with processes increasingly developed, close human supervision of all this disruption is also necessary, as it reinforces good decisions and mitigates the possibility of bad ones occurring. However, there are cases where this process is completed by the systems themselves.

For a deeper understanding of this topic, it is essential to distinguish this technology into two parts. Weak and strong Artificial Intelligence. The first refers to systems that are designed to perform specific and limited tasks. These systems are trained to perform a single function or a specific set of functions, with human-like or better performance. Some examples of this type of Artificial Intelligence include voice recognition, machine translation, email spam detection and computer games. On the other hand, strong Artificial Intelligence is a level where a system is capable of matching or surpassing human intelligence in virtually all cognitive tasks. Thus, it would be able to understand, reason, learn and adapt to different contexts in a way that is very similar or superior to a human being. However, so far, this type of intelligence remains more of a theoretical concept than a practical reality, as there is no consensus on whether it is feasible or how it could be effectively achieved.

Are there different types of Artificial Intelligence?

There are four distinct types of Artificial Intelligence. The reactive or reactive AI, in which algorithms are used to optimize outputs based on the set of inputs. For this, we have the example of chess games, which are usually static, not being able to learn or adapt their response, that is, they will always produce the same solution.

Artificial Intelligence with limited memory, which can adapt or update based on previous experiences (new observations or new data), however, with limited memory and capacity.

The third type, AI-Theory-of-mind, is completely adaptable and has the ability to learn and retain information from previous experiences. This type of intelligence can pass the Turing test, that is, it can manipulate a person's perception, making it believe that this Artificial Intelligence comes from a human being. It is important, however, to note that despite being very advanced, it lacks self-awareness.

And finally, there is Artificial Intelligence, self-aware of its own existence, although this type of progress is still very much in the realm of science fiction.

What is the purpose of Artificial Intelligence? And in what areas can it really makes difference?

The basic essence of Artificial Intelligence is based on the premise that it is capable of performing more advanced tasks, compared to those it already performs, and that it manages to achieve independence and surpass the human being in terms of cognitive ability, such as the decision-making process and solving complex problems.

It is currently used in various sectors. In corporate environments, for example, it is possible to support human resources in a faster decision-making process, mitigating possible errors, while optimizing the workflow and management of all information. In health, a more accurate and earlier diagnosis is possible, together with the hope that, in the future, advances such as robotic surgery and contact with virtual nurses and doctors will be viable.

Currently, AI is used at different levels, with several applications that can improve the services we know, making them more efficient and facilitating our daily lives.

What is its origin?

Artificial Intelligence, in its early days, was created during the Second World War (1939-1945) with the development of the basis of what is now known as modern computing, with the aim of helping to decrypt messages, whose progress turned out to be decisive for the outcome of the war.

Such a feat was attributed to Alan Turing, who despite not having used the term Artificial Intelligence itself, was the one who established the concept, starting the advances in technology to the point as we know it today.

The term can, however, be given to John McCarthy, due to the construction of a computer capable of performing tasks that were previously performed by humans, as they required a high level of intellectual capacity, such as perceptual learning, memory organization and critical thinking.

Despite all the advances that our age has witnessed on this totally disruptive concept, AI, in fact, well its existence dates back to the most ancient times, marked by the deep thought of Greek philosophers.

Can machines think?

This is, in fact, a complex subject, even becoming something philosophical, which has been debated for decades. The ability of machines, to think, to have consciousness and subjective experience, is an open question. It is a fact that machines do not have the ability to think like human beings, whose thinking is composed of a combination of a rational and an emotional side. Current Artificial Intelligence is based on algorithms and data processing that allow machines to perform specific tasks efficiently. However, it does not have the understanding and awareness that humans have. However, Artificial Intelligence has significantly advanced in several areas, whose new developments have allowed machines to perform tasks that were once exclusive to humans, such as: winning complex games, translating languages and diagnosing diseases.

Thus, although machines are capable of performing complex tasks, the question of whether or not they think remains open and is the subject of debate and speculation.

Can Artificial Intelligence replace human intelligence?

Unlike humans, machines do not have emotional intelligence and therefore, without this ability, systems, however advanced they may be, cannot replace human intervention, due to the lack of characteristics inherent to their existence, such as intuition and empathy.

Artificial Intelligence is based on analytical behavior, devoid of any kind of emotion and originality in the search and consideration of alternative scenarios. It was thus developed to carry out tasks with the greatest possible precision, without errors. Likewise, it does not find alternative paths, only the one that allows it to fulfill its function in the most efficient way.

Human creativity continues to be one of the attributes that makes us stand out. As a consequence and as a symptom of this characteristic, human curiosity is the element that still cannot be replicated or recreated by machines.

What are the real advantages of Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence offers numerous advantages and can therefore be decisive in several areas, including:

Automation and efficiency

AI makes it possible to automate repetitive or low-value-added tasks. In practice, it means that human beings are more predisposed to focus on more complex and creative activities, where human intervention can really make a difference.

Decision making

Artificial Intelligence can analyze large volumes of data, including identifying patterns, trends and insights that can be difficult for humans to recognize. It may, therefore, be a key factor in helping to make informed and strategic decisions in various business sectors.

Personalization

Based on algorithms, Artificial Intelligence makes it possible to analyze individual behavior, preferences and characteristics to provide personalized recommendations and experiences. Such a feature is widely used in platforms of streaming music, video, e-commerce and others.

Medical diagnosis

One of the biggest disruptions achieved by AI was, and continues to be, its potential to diagnose diseases early, analyze medical tests, identify patterns in data and suggest treatments. With this, it is possible to achieve greater accuracy of diagnoses, speed up the response time and increase efficiency in the necessary health care.

Improved security

This technology can also be used to identify cybersecurity threats and therefore identify and prevent possible attacks on systems and improve the overall security of infrastructures.

Virtual Assistance

Virtual assistants based on Artificial Intelligence can interact with users in a natural way, providing support, answering questions, helping with navigation and generally improving the entire customer experience.

Environment

The environment is one of the main concerns of our age and it is an area where Artificial Intelligence can also make a difference. It could thus provide a path to energy efficiency, environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, forecasting and mitigation of natural disasters, among others. It thus has an active role in contributing to the reduction of energy consumption, environmental conservation and the sustainability of our planet.

What challenges can Artificial Intelligence represent and face in the future?

No progress in history, be it more or less technological, has happened without some disadvantages. Artificial Intelligence is no different.

Despite its many benefits, it also presents some challenges, which we must be aware of both for the present and for the future. If, on the one hand, the issue of restructuring workspaces is present among the discussions on this area, speculating on the potential phenomenon of unemployment that automation may cause, on the other hand, concerns about privacy and security, the lack of transparency and over-dependence also gain prominence and serve as starting points for studies and debates on this innovative area.

It is undeniable that we are just witnessing the beginning of a transformative phase, full of opportunities and challenges, which will shape the future and redefine the limits of what is and is not possible, expanding our creativity and knowledge, enabling a new phase of discoveries and human achievements.

In the binomial man and machine, Artificial Intelligence promises to pave the way for a collaboration in synergy, where the human mind joins the computational capacity of the machine, unveiling a future of innovation and progress never imagined.