Look at the image above. Do you remember him. I recall him being completely useless. However 30 years later we have moved way beyond him. In recent years we have been unable to get away from discussions centred on AI whether it be apocalyptic or something that will benefit humanity. In the meantime AI is quietly reshaping daily life in ways that range from subtle conveniences to major shifts in how we work, shop, learn, and stay safe.
Some of the stuff is in your face unavoidable.Predictive text, autocorrect (they have been around a while but AI has improved them), and voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant use AI to streamline communication and even for UK users their humble SkyQ box. AI-enhanced cameras can adjust lighting and focus automatically and we have gone way beyond biometric thumbprints with AI facial recognition technology which among other things can be used to unlock devices securely.
We have been surrounded by algorithms since the advent of online shopping and AI has taken this even further with platforms like Amazon and Allegro using it to suggest products based on browsing history and purchasing behavior. AI can also create an online ecosystem that generates dynamic pricing algorithms to adjust costs in real time depending on demand and user interest.
Concerning your social media AI filters your feed to show posts, reels, or videos you're most likely to engage with. This too has a dark side, especially when viewing extreme content as those same filters mean that you end up watching more of the same and become more attuned to the extreme stuff. Not a problem if you are watching cat videos. One frustration is that although AI can flag harmful content and spam it is indiscreet in doing so. Much content that shouldn't get through does and vice-versa. It is also key to creating fake content.
Another obvious area where AI has had a major impact is travel and especially SatNavs that are now using dynamic maps rather than static ones (I guess you could consider it as moving on from Encarta - if anybody remembers it - to Wikipedia). As such AI can now suggest alternate routes, and estimate arrival times and it is not just limited to your car. Even airlines and booking platforms are using AI nowadays for dynamic pricing and personalized travel suggestions.
I touched on this the other day (in my BLIK article I think) but AI has developed (and continues to do so) superb fraud detection systems to monitor transactions for suspicious activity. However, this can be problematic at times as it can also block perfectly legitimate transactions. I had an experience once when I informed the bank on their e-messaging system of my intent a few days before and even dropped into branch to inform them and then went through the whole online platform's 2FA (to login and to authenticate) and it still blocked me. You might remember me complaining on here about it. AI is frequently used for advice when it comes to managing investments based on user goals and market trends and as mentioned above and elsewhere. in Poland, tools like BLIK and mobile banking apps rely on AI for secure, real-time transactions.
Even our health is under the guidance of AI. Very often our first port of call is a chatbot which assists with appointment scheduling and symptom checking, but beyond that AI helps doctors analyse scans, predict disease risk, and personalise treatment plans.
Within teaching AI tutors adapt to student performance, offer personalised exercises especially when using language apps like Duolingo to adjust difficulty and track progress.
So all in all the world is changing and becoming more integrated with AI on a daily basis. Is this a good thing? For now sure, but only time will tell and maybe the "apocalyptists" (I just invented that word I think!) were right all along.
As always stay safe and stay well my friends.
