Summary

  • Artificial intelligence (AI) powers driverless car research, helps spot diseases, enables voice-activated consumer devices, and lets people unlock their phones with their faces.
  • AI’s current boom is thanks to breakthroughs in machine learning, particularly a technique called deep learning, which involves training computers with examples, not programming them.
  • However, AI has been criticized for potentially augmenting human problems such as racism and sexism, as well as using large amounts of energy.
  • There is concern that AI could harm workers by competing with them instead of augmenting their strengths.
  • Nonetheless, AI has many beneficial applications and could improve, or even extend, people’s lives.
  • As machines get smarter, so must humans.

Original Article