In my teens, I read ‘Ulta Vriksh’, a novel of the 1950s, by Krishan Chander; a satire on an autonomous society where even self-driven motors and unmanned shops was a spectacle.
Toying with the idea of automation, the lead character named ‘001’ lays off his fingers at his father’s behest, retaining his thumb only. “What is the need for fingers, here all the work is done by pressing the button, and for this, only the thumb is enough!”
The author emphasizes “Machine is for man, man is not for machine”.
What a coincidence! Just the same time, ‘Artificial intelligence’ (AI) was taken up as an academic discipline.
The idea of “a machine that thinks” dates back to ancient Greece.
“If shiny then diamond”- “If diamond then pick up”. Fuzzy logic assigns a “degree of truth” between 0 and 1. It is a mathematical method in artificial intelligence (AI) that mimics human reasoning and cognition by using degrees of truth instead of the traditional binary true or false values.
- Machine perception is the ability to use input from sensors such as cameras, microphones, and wireless signals.
The machinery can be trained in many ways:-
‘Supervised learning’, is the simplest for the machine.
‘Reinforcement learning’, by trial-and-error.
‘Transfer learning’ uses knowledge gained through one task on another related task.
‘Deep learning’ utilizes artificial neural networks; mimicking the structure and function of the human brain.
- AI is a field of science concerned with building computers and machines that can learn and act; even mimic human reasoning. It is about making the mechanism understand and translate spoken and written language.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going through cycles of optimism:-
‘Artificial “narrow” Intelligence’ can perform only narrow sets of actions based on its programming and training.
‘Limited-memory artificial intelligence’ is the one that improves over time by being trained with new data.
‘Generative Artificial Intelligence’, “gen AI” can create realistic video or audio and more.
‘Explainable AI’ enables human users to interpret comprehend and trust the results and output created by an algorithm.
‘Robust AI’ effectively handles exceptional conditions, such as abnormalities in input or malicious attacks.
‘Automation AI’ can work independently and autonomously from a human team.
Expectations are even more. Though not in existence, the fantasied AIs may be in the offing.
‘Artificial general intelligence’ (AGI) would be the ability for a machine to “sense, think, and act” like a human, and simulate human emotion and mood.
‘Theory of mind AI’ may imitate the human mind with emotions, reacting in social situations as a human would.
‘Self-aware AI’ describes a mythical machine aware of its existence and has the intellectual and emotional capabilities of a human.
Looking for even more; an ‘artificial super intelligence (ASI)’, in which the machine would be able to function in all ways superior to a human.
- Generative pre-trained Transformers (GPT) like Chat GPT GPT-4 and AI Art are today’s creative AI tools. A Chatbot that can answer questions, write text, and have conversations. High-profile applications of AI include Google Search, YouTube, Amazon, and Netflix.
AI can process more information more quickly than a human.
Natural language processing (NLP) enables programs to read, write and communicate in human languages such as English.
With automation of repetitive tasks, enhanced decision-making, fewer human errors and reduced physical risks AI works miracles.
Robots are often used to perform “dull, dirty, or dangerous” tasks.
In agriculture, AI may help identify areas that need irrigation, fertilization, pesticide treatments or increasing yield. Operate robots and automate greenhouses.
In astronomy AI is used to discover exoplanets, forecasting solar activity as also for space exploration.
In healthcare, AI-guided surgical robotics enable consistent precision.
AI may help in animal control, handling explosives, and performing tasks in deep ocean water, high altitudes or in outer space. As AI becomes more integrated into the workplace, it can disrupt the workforce.
- AI-powered devices and services may collect personal information leading to a loss of privacy. Current GPT models can process data such as images, videos, sound, and text. However, they are prone to generating falsehoods called “hallucinations”.
The intersection of AI and privacy is a complex issue. Necessary evil for some, is unethical and a violation of the right to privacy for others.
Granting rights to AI systems would exaggerate the importance of human rights, and that legislation should focus on user needs rather than speculative futuristic scenarios. Uncontrolled AI can play a devil.
*Suchir Balaji, an OpenAI researcher-turned-whistleblower, was found dead after he spoke to ‘The New York Times’ about the unfair practices of the artificial intelligence (AI) firm behind the ChatGPT Chatbot .
God give peace to the departed soul.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
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Prof. (Er.) Chander P Mahajan is an art critic & a free lance journalist. The Environmentalist stays in Shimla and Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh, India.
