Artificial Intelligence

by Basim Khan

Artificial Intelligence is a new technology that is developing at an extremely accelerated pace and is spreading through different mediums. In simple terms, Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is creating efficiency by simulating human activities. This is most common in the business world and is done by replacing humans with computer systems. Some of the main topics of AI that I will focus on are advancements in healthcare, enhanced efficiency, and innovations regarding self-driving technology. All of these subtopics evidently relate to our society and directly impact us. There are also perceived negative effects of AI which will also be covered. In the healthcare industry, efficiency is of the utmost importance. Large organizations like Wellstar and Northside, which are strong medical forces in Atlanta, GA, spend lots of money to incorporate AI technology into their facilities. When visiting a doctor or the hospital, the patient most likely has an urgent request, and the medical organizations need to address this as urgently as possible which is where AI helps play a role. According to an article published by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care titled, “4 Advancements from Artificial Intelligence in Health Care,” many specific advancements have been made to maximize efficiency. The article reads, “AI is also capable of more complicated medical tasks, such as analyzing and streamlining radiology scans and findings.” Radiology is used commonly in the health care industry, and by increasing efficiency, these organizations can serve more patients and keep the community healthy. Expanding on the idea of efficiency, AI has helped many large firms create new ways to reach and accommodate a larger customer base. It has also helped cut down overall human labor costs by converting as many processes as possible into digital processes. Large firms that provide services and products especially need to focus on creating efficient processes. An article by Hanna Kleinings titled “7 Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Business,” gives great insight on this topic. One of the key points of the article states, “Data analytics allow organizations to gain insights that were previously inaccessible by discovering new patterns and correlations in data.” This sentence relates best to investment markets since analytics play a vital role in efficient timing. AI has also been known for being highly successful in fraud detection, especially in the banking industry. Regarding self-driving technology, it is still a relatively new innovation that isn’t fully error-free. This is concerning considering that many of us commute every day. The technological advancements that have been made took years of research and mainly rely on a mixture of sensors and cameras, as well as mapping technology to regulate speed limits and traffic patterns. These are all inputs of human interaction that are now computerized. Some of the main concerns to society regarding this technology include data tracking and fatal accidents. This innovation was introduced at a large scale to communities in an effort to reduce carbon footprint and create a more convenient commute. Although Artificial Intelligence has helped our communities in numerous ways, there are also some downsides. One of the main issues is surrounding privacy concerns. AI technology stores lots of personal data in systems that could be used for creating user-targeted advertisements. For example, many people today including myself use facial recognition to unlock our phones. This data is stored away in a server somewhere and may be used without our consent. Unemployment and loss of certain jobs is also a major problem for the future workforce as more positions keep being converted into automated processes. In conclusion, AI technology will continue to transform our communities for decades to come. As the years go on, innovators will continue making steady investments and innovations into Artificial Intelligence to maximize efficiency to save time. The healthcare industry has seen the most usage of this technology. The community seems to be in a consistent time-crunch which explains the need for all of these advancements. Greater privacy protection is needed to gain the trust of all users and to relieve them of any concerns regarding the issue. All of these topics refer back to the principle of saving time and maximizing efficiency to increase output.