Artificial Intelligence is not new
So, why is AI so hot? What is driving the market? What has changed (As an undergraduate engineer in Trinity College Dublin in the early 80s I was learning LISP and writing programmes in Pascal to do basic image recognition (limited to recognising geometric shapes))? We have had Natural Language Processing solutions and Robotics since the 1950s, Computer Vision solutions since 1960s and Expert Systems since the 1970s.
Machine Learning through to Generative AI
Machine learning (building systems that can learn from data) initially emerged in the 1950s. Within this field there has been very significant progress through the last 60 years in neural networks (designed to mimic neuron structures of the brain) and more recently in processing power to support their deployment. We have seen largescale deployment of neural networks within various AI solutions (including NLP, Computer Vision, Expert systems and Robotics). In the last 18 months the excitement has centered on Generative AI solutions, creating new data – text, image, sound – based on training data sets.
AI for everyone
When I was learning LISP artificial intelligence seemed to be something limited to programmers. Now people have ChatGPT on their phones – with a simple to use interface, access to limitless amounts of information and processing power to deliver real time answers.
I remember concerns when internet access was being rolled out in corporates – how will we prevent people spending all their time scrolling though websites. Web2.0 brought even more concerns with social media platforms and the read/write web. As a consultant and a CIO I was often pulled into discussions about ‘shadow IT’. Now we have ‘shadow AI’ – ChatGPT and its competitors being used widely.
How do we leverage AI without throiwing out the baby with the bathwater?
We are putting together a number of posts re Artificial Intelligence to provide background information, context and a framework for evaluating modern AI’s relevance and potential deployment in your organisation. Like the internet, it’s not going away. But what are the things in your business that you might do differently, better, more efficiently using some of these tools and platforms? And how will you do this without damaging your business or your team?
Other AI posts:
Human centered AI – Dr Fei-Fei-Li
Artificial General Intelligence – are we seeing it now?
Hinton on AI and the existential threat
