The world is constantly changing, but the recent development in artificial intelligence has fueled the change more than ever. Al has affected every field globally, some more, some less. The global AI market is rapidly increasing; in 2020, it was valued at approximately $39.9 billion, and it is projected to reach $733.7 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 42.2% from 2020 to 2027. According to a McKinsey report, AI can potentially create $13 trillion in additional global economic activity by 2030.
However, you will see something else when you flip the coin. For example, many experts thought machines would replace human jobs during the industrial revolution, but the reverse happened. Machines have created more jobs than ever. Similarly, many IT experts are saying the same. But this time, the game is different. AI might replace human jobs and make many humans irrelevant. Before explaining all these, you need to know a brief history of artificial intelligence and its impacts on the modern world.
History of Artificial Intelligence
The term “artificial intelligence” was coined during the Dartmouth Conference (1956), marking the birth of AI as a legal research field. Pioneering researchers, including John McCarthy and Marvin Minsky, gathered to explore the possibility of creating intelligent machines. Initially, the focus of AI research was on symbolic reasoning and problem-solving. However, during the 1960s and 1970s, AI research shifted towards building expert systems that could mimic human expertise in specific domains. The introduction of rule-based systems, such as MYCIN for medical diagnosis and DENDRAL for chemistry, showcased the practical applications of AI.
Additionally, big data, machine learning, and deep learning emerged during the 1990s and 2000s. Many researchers focused on developing algorithms to learn from data and improve performance over time. Similarly, the exponential growth of data and computational power paved the way for advancements in deep learning. But the real revolution in AI has occurred in the past few years. The change is fueled by the availability of enormous amounts of data and the advancement of hardware, software, and algorithms.
The basics of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is a hot topic. You will hear this word many times a day, but you need to learn the basics of it to avoid being left behind in the race. AI refers to developing computer systems that can perform tasks that require human intelligence. AI aims to enable machines to mimic cognitive functions such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and language understanding. Following are some additional areas of AI that you need to explore.
Machine learning
It is a powerful tool that enables machines to learn from data and improve performance for a specific task without being programmed. The data given to the machine automatically identifies patterns, makes predictions, and takes action. Machine learning has three main components: data, models, and optimization. Data is the information given to the machine to train the ML model. It consists of input examples and their corresponding output labels.
On the other hand, the model learns from this data and works like a mathematical function. The model aims to capture patterns and relationships between the input data and output labels. Similarly, the optimization algorithm adjusts the model’s parameters during training to minimize the difference between the predicted and true outputs in the training data.
Deep learning
The only difference between the computer and the human brain is that the human brain can solve complex problems. However, deep learning has made that difference negligible. Deep learning mimics the human brain’s structure and functioning to solve complex problems. Like neurons in the human mind, DL uses artificial neural networks and interconnected layers of nodes to process and understand data. The neural network learns to recognize and classify patterns in the input data by adjusting the connections between nodes. For example, it can identify objects in images, understand spoken language, or generate human-like text.
Impacts of AI on different fields
You will hardly find a field in which AI has not been influential. Each field uses AI intelligence for better results, from healthcare to finance, manufacturing, agriculture, and customer service which means future belongs to these emerging technologies.
AI and healthcare
According to an estimate, the global AI healthcare market will reach $45.2 billion by 2026. This will save potential labor and money for governments and institutions. For example, Juniper Research has estimated that AI-powered medical chatbots have the potential to save the healthcare industry $3.6 billion annually in labor costs in the United States. It will not only save money but also improve patient outcomes. AI will be used to diagnose diseases, identify treatment options, and personalize patient care. It can even detect and predict diseases in patients, helping them to cure them before they have a bad impact on the body.
AI and finance
Finance is one of the major areas impacted by AI. Artificial intelligence is used to reduce costs, save time, and improve efficiency in the finance field. Additionally, it is used to automate each task and optimize trading strategies, giving a company more benefits than its competitors. According to the JPMorgan Chase Institute, algorithmic trading driven by AI technologies accounts for over 50% of the total trading volume in major financial markets. Furthermore, if you fear fraud or taking risks, AI detects and assesses your risks. It can help you deal with customers through personalized customer service.
AI and manufacturing
The manufacturing industry is leading the race in terms of gains because of AI. According to Markets and Markets, the global market for AI in manufacturing is projected to reach $16.7 billion by 2026. AI helps to enhance automation and enable predictive maintenance in the manufacturing industry. The assembly and packing of things can be easily automated with the help of AI-powered robots. Additionally, AI can help detect product defects and improve quality. Furthermore, predictive maintenance can also reduce equipment downtime and improve efficiency.
AI and agriculture
IA has revolutionized the agriculture field. It helps improve and enhance crop yield and monitors plant health, helping farmers gain more from fewer crops. Recently, the World Economic Forum released data that says that AI-based precision farming techniques can increase crop yields by up to 25% while reducing water usage by 30% and pesticide usage by 20%. Additionally, AI optimizes resource usage. How does AI do this? Using AI-powered tools that can analyze data from sensors and drones to provide insights into crop growth and identify areas for improvement. Forbes shared a report that claimed that AI-enabled drones and robots could monitor crops and identify potential issues with an accuracy rate of up to 95%, allowing farmers to take proactive measures. AI-powered solutions that identify and treat specific pests can also improve pest control.
