Artificial Intelligence
| With Google, IBM, Microsoft and others investing billions of dollars into artificial intelligence, does this mean the everyday investor should follow along? |
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Artificial intelligence is arguably already one of the most important industries in the world, and as most futurists predict, it is growing in importance everyday. You should invest not only your money, but your time in understanding some of the important implications of the technology.
As Steve Omohundro points out, the field of artificial intelligence is at an inflection point of huge opportunities, great disruption, arms races and even dangers.
Here are some of the major factors why AI should weigh heavy on you as you plan for the future.
1. Major Companies Are Investing Big Money in AI
IBM has long been known for pioneering work in artificial intelligence research. From Deep Blue's defeat of chess champion Gary Kasparov in 1997, to the continuing development and expanding application of Watson into new business areas. Included in this is a new partnership with Apple, that will conceivably bring the power of Watson to Siri in the not-to-distant future.
The Financial Times also reported recently that IBM is pushing artificial intelligence even more going forward.
Google, Microsoft, Baidu, Ebay, Yahoo and Facebook also have multiple large active AI developments underway, and the race seems to be on to acquire systems, and the creative minds behind them, by these companies.
Google, for instance, has expanded the company's Knowledge Graph work and is now leading in image recognition, with the help of Geoffrey Hinton and the DNNresearch Inc team that Google acquired in 2013.
The company also acquired Deep Mind recently. Deep Mind has indicated that it has made significant developments in machine learning, including a system that plays video games.
Peter Norvig, a director of research at Google, estimated that his company already employed “less than 50 percent but certainly more than 5 percent” of the world’s leading experts in machine learning, the wider discipline of which deep learning is the cutting edge.
Facebook has headed up it's AI efforts with Yann LeCun, a well-known researcher in neural networks and deep learning.
Microsoft has also had a long commitment to AI development, some of which is now emerging in the release and continued development of Cortana, a digital assistant which is said to be much better than Apple's Siri. Microsoft has also wowed crowds recently with demonstrations in translation and image recognition.
Without a doubt, large companies have a huge stake in the progress of AI, and any investment in them represents an investment in artificial intelligence.
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| Image Source - World Transhumanist Association |
2. Artificial Intelligence Is Rapidly Advancing
Pushed along by Moore's Law, artificial intelligence is only just starting to fulfill it's long-hyped potential. Much of the theory behind machine learning is decades old, and only in the last few years has the hardware made application of the theory possible.
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The costs of hardware are also falling rapidly. Only released in 2007, GPU
's are increasingly becoming the tool of choice for artificial neural networks. Using these high-speed graphical processing units networks can now correctly recognize about 88 percent of the words spoken in normal, human, English-language conversations, compared with about 96 percent for an average human listener. They can identify cats and thousands of other objects in images with similar accuracy and in the past three years have come to dominate machine learning competitions.
GPU-accelerated computing offers unprecedented application performance by offloading compute-intensive portions of the application to the GPU, while the remainder of the code still runs on the CPU.
's are increasingly becoming the tool of choice for artificial neural networks. Using these high-speed graphical processing units networks can now correctly recognize about 88 percent of the words spoken in normal, human, English-language conversations, compared with about 96 percent for an average human listener. They can identify cats and thousands of other objects in images with similar accuracy and in the past three years have come to dominate machine learning competitions.GPU-accelerated computing offers unprecedented application performance by offloading compute-intensive portions of the application to the GPU, while the remainder of the code still runs on the CPU.
The Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI) recently investigated the current size and past growth of the AI field, and found that as much as 10% of all computer science research is currently directed towards AI.
Steve Jurvetson has also commented recently that the price is coming down so fast that artificial intelligence will increasingly become a cottage industry, with hardware costs no longer being a barrier to entry.
3. Arguably the World's Smartest People Are Working in AI
While they might not be on the list of the people with the highest IQs in the world, the field of artificial intelligence boasts some of the smartest people in the world working on solutions. Many of these individuals are considered geniuses by multiple standards.
Among them (in no particular order) are:
Among them (in no particular order) are:
- Marvin Minsky - In 1959 Minsky and John McCarthy founded what is now known as the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Minsky is the grandfather of artificial intelligence, and is still working in the field.
- Ray Kurzweil - Kurzweil is an inventor, author of multiple books including The Singularity Is Near and How to Create a Mind
. He is well-known for developing the idea of the technological Singularity. Kurzweil is now Director of Engineering at Google
- Demis Hassabis - Hassabis was a child prodigy in chess, and a master by age 13. He has studied both computer science and neuroscience and is one of the founders of Deep Mind, a company recently purchased by Google that uses machine learning and systems neuroscience to build powerful general-purpose learning algorithms.
- Steve Omohundro - Omohundro is known for his research on Hamiltonian physics, dynamical systems, programming languages, machine learning, machine vision, and the social implications of artificial intelligence. He is featured in James Barrat's Our Final Invention
.
- Ben Goertzel - Goertzel started college at age 15 and has been involved in many artificial intelligence and transhumanist projects. His research work encompasses artificial general intelligence, natural language processing, cognitive science, data mining, machine learning, computational finance, bioinformatics, virtual worlds and gaming and other areas. He is mainly involved with OpenCog, an open-source software initiative aimed at directly creating Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
- Jeff Hawkins - Hawkins was the founder of Palm Computing (where he invented the Palm Pilot) and Handspring (where he invented the Treo).Since then, he returned to school, studying neuroscience. He then founded the Redwood Center for Theoretical Neuroscience. With Dileep George, he founded Numenta in 2005 and published the book On Intelligence
which describes his memory-prediction framework theory of the brain.
- John Zakos - Zakos created his first artificial intelligence chat robot when he was only 14 years old. Since then his fresh vision for interactive, humanized computing has resulted in world-leading innovation. His company, Cognea, was recently acquired by the IBM Watson group. He is now Program Director and Manager, Virtual Agents at IBM.
- Alexander Wissner-Gross - Wissner-Gross was the last person in MIT history to receive a triple major, with bachelors in Physics, Electrical Engineering, and Mathematics, while graduating first in his class from the MIT School of Engineering. Now a Ph.D., Wissner-Gross claims to have developed a single equation to explain intelligence, what he calls, "the closest thing to an E=MC2 for intelligence."
- Shyam Sankar, Director of the Silicon Valley company Palantir, Sankar is a recognized expert in artificial to analyze large amounts of data intelligence. Sankar advocate of J.C.R. Licklider's "intelligence augmentation" (IA) approach, where algorithms and brains work together to solve problems.
- Jürgen Schmidhuber - Schmidhuber is a computer scientist and artist known for his work on machine learning, Artificial Intelligence, artificial neural networks, digital physics, and low-complexity art.
- Paul Allen-Allen is on the list of the smartest people in the world with an IQ of 170, to go along with his net worth of over 14 billion dollars. In 2013, Paul Allen announced the expansion of Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, a new research institution that will be modeled after his Allen Institute for Brain Science
- John Platt - Started his PhD at Caltech at age 18. He is currently Deputy Managing Director, Microsoft Research Redmond Labs and is working on deep learning.
- Yann LeCun - LeCun's contributions in machine learning, computer vision, mobile robotics and computational neuroscience are well known as is his work on optical character recognition and computer vision using convolutional neural networks. He is currently the Director of AI Research at Facebook.
- Andrew Ng - Ng is the Director of the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab. He is chairman of the board of Coursera, This year, Ng joined Baidu as Chief Scientist, working on the Baidu Brain project.
Another list of prominent AI researchers has been compiled by Dataconomy.
- Geoffrey Hinton - Hinton is a computer scientist and psychologist, most noted for his work on artificial neural networks. He now divides his time working for Google and the University of Toronto.
4. There is Still So Much Room For Improvement
Just try talking to Siri or Google Now, and you will soon be confronted with the limitations of the software. Undoubtedly artificial intelligence development has come a long way, but there is a lot of work to continue. This represents an opportunity space for people who can identify the trends and the organizations that are making the biggest leaps.
Yann LeCun hints that in the future artificial intelligence will power “vision systems that can drive your car, a vacuum cleaner robot that will recognize your furniture and if there’s dirt on the ground, an autonomous lawnmower that will mow your lawn and not take out your flowers.” There is a lot of room left for AI to make a difference, so it follows that as the systems become better, their application spaces will continue to enlarge.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is also a fertile ground for artificial intelligence. The development team at Viv, who were among the key developers of Siri, are counting on a future when AI will be embedded in countless Internet-connected everyday objects. Viv's founders claim you will use the artificial intelligence system as a utility, the way we currently use electricity. Simply by speaking, you will connect to what they are calling “a global brain.”
Yann LeCun hints that in the future artificial intelligence will power “vision systems that can drive your car, a vacuum cleaner robot that will recognize your furniture and if there’s dirt on the ground, an autonomous lawnmower that will mow your lawn and not take out your flowers.” There is a lot of room left for AI to make a difference, so it follows that as the systems become better, their application spaces will continue to enlarge.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is also a fertile ground for artificial intelligence. The development team at Viv, who were among the key developers of Siri, are counting on a future when AI will be embedded in countless Internet-connected everyday objects. Viv's founders claim you will use the artificial intelligence system as a utility, the way we currently use electricity. Simply by speaking, you will connect to what they are calling “a global brain.”
5. Narrow Systems Can Be Employed In Any Nearly Situation
Narrow, or weak AI, is used to describe artificial intelligence systems that operate in a limited domain. All current artificial intelligence, is considered AI. For instance, your Roomba is pretty efficient at vacuuming the floor, but it cannot clean the windows. Siri is narrow in terms of the questions 'she' can answer.
The catalog of narrow AI applications continues to grow and become impressive. Speech recognition, for example is really starting to reach levels where carrying out a conversation with a computer is becoming possible. Programs like Facebook's facial recognition is nearing human levels.
Development efforts for narrow AI and expert systems, probability and statistics, machine learning, self organizing machines and many less-discussed and some yet-undisclosed systems is underway in various areas.
While there are many examples of great narrow AI applications, we are only in the early stages of adoption, and this represents a great opportunity as more and more applications are able to take advantage of the technology, and gain from it's benefits. Companies and organizations will especially gain in terms of productivity and reduced labor needs.
The catalog of narrow AI applications continues to grow and become impressive. Speech recognition, for example is really starting to reach levels where carrying out a conversation with a computer is becoming possible. Programs like Facebook's facial recognition is nearing human levels.
Development efforts for narrow AI and expert systems, probability and statistics, machine learning, self organizing machines and many less-discussed and some yet-undisclosed systems is underway in various areas.
- - Pattern recognition
- - Optical character recognition
- - Handwriting recognition
- - Speech recognition
- - Face recognition
- - Artificial Creativity
- - Computer vision
- - Virtual reality and Image processing
- - Diagnosis
- - Game theory and Strategic planning
- - Video Game artificial intelligence and Computer game bot
- - Natural language processing
- - Translation
- - Chatbots
- and more
While there are many examples of great narrow AI applications, we are only in the early stages of adoption, and this represents a great opportunity as more and more applications are able to take advantage of the technology, and gain from it's benefits. Companies and organizations will especially gain in terms of productivity and reduced labor needs.
6. AI Will Be Incorporated More and More Into Other Software
Artificial intelligence will increasingly be made a part of other software programs. Imagine working with a CAD program, and asking a virtual assistant, similar to Siri, "How do I smooth this edge into this surface?" or working with a spreadsheet, you ask your computer, "How can I concatenate these cells?"
Smarter software will also help knowledge workers be more productive. Along with taking the drudgery out of some tasks, artificial intelligence enabled software will provide hints, examples and clear previews of processes that will speed up and maximize tasks.
Using the latest algorithms, such assistant software will also learn better; gaining insight into user preferences, common sub-tasks and other needs.
The licencing of AI systems by apps, software and operating systems represents a big way traditional software will change in the next few years. Along with breaking the paradigm of mouse and keyboard interaction, rich, accurate and meaningful AI interaction will bring new levels of productivity to digital work.
Working with natural language, users will be able to perform 'superfunctions' where the AI takes over and performs much of the 'grunt work.' Competitive advantage may be made for first movers, or for systems that employ better AI subsystems.
Smarter software will also help knowledge workers be more productive. Along with taking the drudgery out of some tasks, artificial intelligence enabled software will provide hints, examples and clear previews of processes that will speed up and maximize tasks.
Using the latest algorithms, such assistant software will also learn better; gaining insight into user preferences, common sub-tasks and other needs.
The licencing of AI systems by apps, software and operating systems represents a big way traditional software will change in the next few years. Along with breaking the paradigm of mouse and keyboard interaction, rich, accurate and meaningful AI interaction will bring new levels of productivity to digital work.
Working with natural language, users will be able to perform 'superfunctions' where the AI takes over and performs much of the 'grunt work.' Competitive advantage may be made for first movers, or for systems that employ better AI subsystems.
7. Robotics Is Also Developing Rapidly
Artificial intelligence is the brains for robotics. For the past several decades, industrial robots have taken on physically difficult, dangerous, or dirty jobs, such as welding and spray painting. These robots have been expensive, bulky, and unintelligent.
Globally, robotic sales are rapidly increasing. China is said to have increased robotic purchases by over 30 percent per year for the last three years.
Google has made several well-publicized robotics acquisitions lately, including Nest, Boston Dynamics, Industrial Perception, Meka Robotics, Redwood Robotics, Schaft and more.
Now, more advanced robots are gaining enhanced senses, dexterity, and intelligence, thanks to accelerating advancements in machine vision, artificial intelligence, machine-to-machine communication, sensors, and actuators.
Robots can be easier for workers to program and interact with. They can be more compact and adaptable, making it possible to deploy them safely alongside workers. This is the case with Baxter from Rethink Robotics. Baxter's compliant systems allow for the robot to work without a cage, at minimal risk to human co-workers.
These advances could make it practical to substitute robots for human labor in more manufacturing tasks, as well as in a growing number of service jobs, such as cleaning and maintenance. This technology could also enable new types of surgical robots, robotic prosthetics, and “exoskeleton” braces that can help people with limited mobility to function more normally, helping to improve and extend lives.
Globally, robotic sales are rapidly increasing. China is said to have increased robotic purchases by over 30 percent per year for the last three years.
Google has made several well-publicized robotics acquisitions lately, including Nest, Boston Dynamics, Industrial Perception, Meka Robotics, Redwood Robotics, Schaft and more.
Now, more advanced robots are gaining enhanced senses, dexterity, and intelligence, thanks to accelerating advancements in machine vision, artificial intelligence, machine-to-machine communication, sensors, and actuators.
Robots can be easier for workers to program and interact with. They can be more compact and adaptable, making it possible to deploy them safely alongside workers. This is the case with Baxter from Rethink Robotics. Baxter's compliant systems allow for the robot to work without a cage, at minimal risk to human co-workers.
These advances could make it practical to substitute robots for human labor in more manufacturing tasks, as well as in a growing number of service jobs, such as cleaning and maintenance. This technology could also enable new types of surgical robots, robotic prosthetics, and “exoskeleton” braces that can help people with limited mobility to function more normally, helping to improve and extend lives.
8. AI is Needed To Meet the Demands of Big Data
The shear scale of information growth has reached the point where humans simply cannot handle it without the aid of intelligent computer systems.AI could be the missing link for the companies struggling to get their arms around big data.
“The natural convergence of AI and big data is a crucial emerging technology space,” Dr. Jim Hendler, director of the Rensselaer Institute for Data Exploration and Application (IDEA), who leads the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute project to explore new uses and directions for AI technology told Forbes. “Increasingly, big businesses will need the AI technology to overcome the challenges or handle the speed with which information is changing in the current business environment.”
9. AI Development is Accelerating In Tandem With Breakthroughs in Neuroscience
There are two separate billion dollar projects now running with major focuses on computational neuroscience: the US BRAIN Initiative and the European Human Brain Project. Both of these projects, along with the countless other advances being made in neuroscience continue to impact the development of artificial intelligence.
One example of the relationship between neuroscience and artificial intelligence is the development of neuromorphic computing. Neuromorphic technology is flexible and aims to use power that is orders of magnitude less than traditional electronics.
Another factor that signifies that neuroscience is important to artificial intelligence development is that Jeff Hawkins, Demis Hassabis, and Nervana's Naveen Rao all have Ph. D. level education in the subject, which they are now applying to AI.
One example of the relationship between neuroscience and artificial intelligence is the development of neuromorphic computing. Neuromorphic technology is flexible and aims to use power that is orders of magnitude less than traditional electronics.
Another factor that signifies that neuroscience is important to artificial intelligence development is that Jeff Hawkins, Demis Hassabis, and Nervana's Naveen Rao all have Ph. D. level education in the subject, which they are now applying to AI.
10. If You Can't Beat Them...
Technological unemployment is a growing concern for nations around the world. As Andrew McAfee and Eric Brynjolsson point out in their books,Race Against the Machine
and, The Second Machine Age: Work, the choice to compete in the workforce against upcoming artificial intelligence may not be the best course of action.In a world where information is exploding at an exponential rate, we are all limited to being experts in increasingly limited domains.
As Shyam Sankar points out, working closely with machine intelligence, may be the best way forward. Sophisticated software tools can be used to augment the talents of highly skilled employees, and as more knowledge worker tasks can be done by machine, it is also true that some types of jobs could become fully automated.
The combinatorial effects of artificial intelligence are already being experienced in nearly every industry. As the systems continue to progress, the effects will increase dramatically.
Bonus- Your Future Could Depend On It
The existential risk of artificial intelligence is a big area of concern for many futurists. Nick Bostrom has outlined some of the big risks of AI in his new book, Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies.
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| Image Source: intelligence explosion.com |
One of the activities currently underway is to create so-called friendly AI, or advanced artificial intelligence that will not destroy humanity.
Funding AI, and organizations like MIRI can therefore potentially help in developing friendly AI, and may be the best investment in the long term.
With new breakthroughs in AI, though, we will have at our disposal nearly unlimited computing power to unlock the doors to how to cure disease or reverse the aging process or even to digital immortality.
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