One of the most significant impacts of AI, which is often met with disdain, speculation, and fear, is the sheer capabilities of what one can accomplish by asking a computer to complete tasks (simple or complex). Every time things become easier to do, competitive advantages are lost, innovation ensues, and new advantages are derived.
AI has the propensity to level the playing field, and help speed up our ability to accomplish more than we ever imagined possible.
It replaces many manual tasks, the same way a mouse, a keyboard, an interface design, or a touch screen changed our interactions with computers.
This is why we created computers, to do the heavy lifting of repetitive tasks and problem-solving for us.
The fear response is rooted in having our crafts replaced, but a small change to our mindset can unlock countless possibilities.
We will see some of the greatest innovations of our life over the next few years because we can now have servers perform millions of operations per minute to help derive a desired outcome.
Instead of thinking, oh, I'll never be able to understand javascript, I can now prompt AI to write code that does exactly what I need to do within a few seconds instead of scouring the internet for snippets of code.
ChatGPT currently serves as a generative compiling mechanism for solutions within its dataset and derived outcomes based upon datasets it's fed or has access to.
We can fear change, embrace it, or try to ignore it
Change is a constant in life, and it's something we all have to deal with. As I learned in High School from Mr. DeVries: Life is Flux
There are three main approaches to change: fear it, embrace it, or try to ignore it. The first approach is the most common, and it's easy to see why. Change can be scary, especially when it involves something we're used to, like our jobs or our way of life. But fear is not a fruitful response, it is an experience we each have in different areas of life, often caused by ambiguity or threats.
Embracing change can be a powerful way to grow and learn. When we embrace change, we open ourselves up to new opportunities and experiences. We can learn new skills, meet new people, and explore new horizons. It's not always easy to embrace change, but it can be incredibly rewarding.
Ignoring change is not a viable option. Change is imminent, whether we like it or not, and ignoring it only makes things worse. When we ignore change, we miss out on opportunities, and we risk becoming irrelevant. It's important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies, and to be open to new ideas and ways of doing things.
In the case of AI, we have a choice. We can fear it, and cling to the old ways of doing things. Or we can embrace it, and use it as a tool to help us innovate and grow. We can also try to ignore it, but again, that's not really an option. AI is here to stay, and it's only going to become more powerful and more ubiquitous. The best approach is to embrace it, learn about it, and use it to our advantage as humanity to solve our greatest problems. We can use AI to help us solve complex problems, to automate tedious tasks, and to unlock new possibilities. With the right mindset, we can use AI to create a better future for ourselves and for humanity as a whole.
What can we expect over the next five to ten years when it comes to the impact of AI?
Whatever we expect, is often what we will gravitate towards, or shy away from for fear of failure or less than wholesome outcomes.
I for one expect life giving outcomes, numbered and in a breadth beyond our current comprehension as automated and more interactive AI applications/products or experiences are developed.
We can conservatively expect the following over the next five to ten years and beyond:
- Increased automation in industries such as manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare, leading to increased efficiency and reduced costs.
- More personalized experiences for consumers in areas such as content consumption, product design, healthcare, and education.
- Improved accuracy in data analysis, allowing for more informed decision-making in areas such as health, finance, agriculture, business, and nearly every industry
- New job opportunities in areas such as data science, AI development, and robotics.
- Increased use of chatbots and virtual assistants for customer facing services
- Improved cybersecurity through the use of AI-powered threat detection and response systems.
- More efficient and effective use of energy and resources through smart grid systems and predictive maintenance.
- Improved accuracy and speed in medical diagnoses and treatment planning through the use of AI-powered medical imaging and analysis.
- Increased use of AI in agriculture for precision farming and predicting crop yields.
- Improved accessibility for individuals with disabilities through AI-powered assistive technologies.
- Continued development and refinement of autonomous vehicles, leading to safer and more efficient transportation.
- Increased use of AI in scientific research, leading to breakthroughs in areas such as drug/immunotherapy discovery and materials science.
- Increased use of AI in education for personalized learning and adaptive testing.
- Increased use of AI in government services for more efficient and effective public policy.
- Development of AI-powered creative tools for artists, writers, and musicians.
- Increased use of AI in sports for performance analysis and injury prevention.
- New ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI and its impact on society.
What happens if we become too dependent upon AI?
We run the risk of losing our ability to think critically and solve problems on our own. It's important to remember that AI is a tool, not a replacement for human intelligence. It's also important to consider the ethical implications of AI and to ensure that it is developed and used in a responsible and ethical manner. As with any technology, there are risks and benefits to using AI, and it's up to us to make sure that the benefits outweigh the risks.
AI is a tool, not a replacement for human intelligence.
Let's go forth and solve the worlds problems, together. ❤️
