Artificial intelligence is a subject matter many people have heard about, but not many people fully understand. In essence, it can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. But in a world where technology is replacing human-to-human interactions quite quickly, it’s important that you know exactly what Artificial Intelligence (AI) really is, and how it can benefit our existence. Unfortunately, with every potential blessing comes a potential curse, and so we’ll not only talk about how AI is reshaping our world in a positive way, but also how AI may pose a very real threat to the world around us.

By definition, AI is a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behavior in computers. (i.e. The capability of a machine to think and interact intelligently, like a human.)

As you can imagine, this sort of technology could be extremely useful to enhance our lives on earth, as well as help us get to places we may have never been able to get to without it. For instance, at the most basic level, an artificially intelligent machine may be able to learn menu items at a restaurant and cook said recipes accordingly, so as to eliminate the need to hire a chef. This can be both cost efficient and time-saving for the restaurant owner — although not very convenient for the chef himself.

Some of the most intelligent human beings have also publicly warned us about the potential hazards AI can pose to our civilization, in terms of warfare and robotics. They advise us that, whatever technology the good people have access to, so do the bad people. And they make a great point. Which is why we must closely monitor and understand the impacts of AI, and also help us understand why some of the world’s leading technology firms are investing so heavily in to it.

Whether you know it or not, AI has already found it’s way in to commerce. For instance, The Grid is a self-building AI platform that allows anyone to upload images, videos, and written content, as the platform itself begins to build your website based on what you’ve provided. In other words, your website will design itself.

Facebook has even implemented a form of AI in to their social network, recognizing your face in images, as well as your patterns over time. Although Facebook claims this is strictly for marketing, it gives us an idea as to how technology firms may be integrating AI in to their systems and enhancing interactions.

Bill Gates, one of the founders of Microsoft, and also one of the richest men alive, has warned that AI could quite possible wipe out the human race. And he isn’t the only brilliant mind to predict so. Famed physicist Stephen Hawking, as well as Space X CEO, Elon Musk, both follow suit — alerting us that, if we’re not careful, such technological advances could replace, and even destroy (or at best, overpower) the human race.

Although this sounds like the stuff of science fiction, it’s actually quite real. Educating yourself as to the benefits and risks, therefore, could help save us from a potential disaster, as well as help us utilize such technology for the better. Soon enough, all industries, even those in the farthest corners of the world, will have the opportunity to adopt the kind of powerful technology we call artificial intelligence (AI). Are you ready for the new wave?

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