AI FAQs

Concise answers to your common questions on AI

What exactly is AI ?

 

AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is the ability of machines to mimic human intelligence. Think of it like a super-smart robot that can perform tasks like recognizing speech (like Siri or Google Assistant), driving cars (like Tesla’s Autopilot), or even beating world champions at chess or Go (like DeepMind’s AlphaGo). AI doesn’t “think” like humans but uses complex algorithms to achieve similar results.

 

How is AI different from regular software?

 

Regular software follows a fixed set of rules. Imagine a calculator—it’s programmed to perform arithmetic operations, and that’s it. AI, on the other hand, learns from data. For instance, Netflix’s recommendation engine doesn’t follow just one rule. Instead, it looks at what you’ve watched, compares it to other users’ behaviors, and suggests shows or movies you might like based on that data.

 

What are some common uses of AI today?

 

AI is everywhere! Here are a few examples:

Virtual Assistants: Siri and Alexa help with tasks like setting reminders or controlling smart home devices.

Healthcare: AI analyzes medical scans to help doctors detect diseases like cancer earlier.

Transportation: Uber uses AI to predict ride demand and suggest optimal routes for drivers.

Social Media: AI curates your feed on platforms like Facebook or Instagram by learning what posts you engage with the most

 

Is AI the same as machine learning?

 

Not exactly. AI is like the umbrella term for making machines “smart.” Machine learning (ML) is one way to achieve that. For example, in self-driving cars, AI encompasses everything from navigating roads to avoiding pedestrians. But the car “learns” to recognize objects like stop signs and traffic lights through machine learning, by being trained on lots of images and scenarios.

 

Can AI replace humans in jobs?

 

I is more about enhancing human work than replacing it. Take customer service, for instance. AI chatbots can handle routine inquiries, like tracking orders or answering FAQs, but complex customer problems still need human intervention. In factories, robots may assemble parts, but humans oversee quality control and design improvements. Eventually humans with AI skills may replace humans with AI skills

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AI obviously is a game changer. The tech space is rapidly evolving, hence there  is need for continuously learning to adequately take advantage of digital technologies like Artificial intelligence and machine learning.

– JC