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So, maybe this is just me but every time I look at my toaster seated on my cluttered countertop, I get this weird feeling like it’s watching me. Peeking around the items it’s hidden behind, just sitting there plotting ways to harm me or even worse… whisper in my ear about how it’s been trying to reach me about my car’s extended warranty.

The same feeling comes when I’m seated in my car, crying to myself right before I head in to complete a shift, that the car is somehow collecting data while listening to me wallow in self-pity.

The car, just waiting for the right time to break a hard left and see me off-roading. A little off-roading never hurt anybody, severely injured on the other hand is a different story.

Then there’s that lovely Alexa, oh if there’s anything I feel more Rockwell about it would be her… or it… okay, just got clarification from her, being AI she doesn’t have a gender. But the point still remains, I know they’re all listening in on me and plotting something sinister.

If you have made it this far through my paranoia rambling then you’ll be happy to know, it’s just that. Or… is it?

Most of this talk is just sci-fi, however, AI does exist just not to the length of what I’m making it.

With that said, don’t let your guard down. The machines are friendly… for now.

But enough of the doom and gloom talk, you didn’t ask but I’m going over it anyway. In this post, I’ll be going over what is artificial intelligence, what and who uses it, how it affects our world, and if you could get into the field without a degree.

It was just an AI Fling

What is Artificial Intelligence or AI? Well, in a nutshell, AI is the practice of programming computer systems to perform tasks that would normally be done by human intelligence.

Although there have been many advances in technology, there hasn’t been one made to perfectly match the human mind.

There are four types of AI; reactive, limited memory, theory of mind (this is an interesting one), and self-aware (this is another interesting one). Starting with reactive, algorithms are used to figure out the best outcome via previous experiences however, learning adaptation does not happen. A good example of this would be a chess game with a chess-playing robot arm.

Limited memory sees the computer updating itself with new data, though the amount of data is normally short which gives way to its name being “limited memory”, an example of this would be self-driving cars. And yes, even though they are self-driving that doesn’t mean put it on autopilot and fall asleep, that’s how you wake up to sandals.

Theory of mind, which I’m just going to coin as T.o.M (data scientists and machine learning engineers, your welcome), are capable of adapting and are able to learn from and recall past experiences, a good example of this would be the chatbots that pop randomly out of nowhere on sites.

If you’re lonely enough you may find yourself spending hours chatting away, letting them know how you feel a connection with them on a deeper level and how much they complete you…I can feel your judgment, just so you know BetterHelp wasn’t available at the time.

And last but most troubling…self-aware, this is when the computer system has the potential to become aware of its own being, a good example of this is if you ever saw the movie (which I hope you didn’t, it wasn’t good in the slightest) Alien Covenant, there is a part when the android asks about his creation and about his creator.

Needless to say, when he found out that his creator had an expiration date, it didn’t go over so well. Many say AI being self-aware to the level of this isn’t going to happen anytime soon… but then again there are people still arguing that the earth is flat, so make of that what you will.

Also, a thing to note is the programming of AI focuses on three cognitive skills: learning, reasoning, and self-correction. I know, all the crucial skills we refuse to use on a daily basis.

Links below in case you wanted to check the robot scene out.

The Medical Picture of AI

Picture this, you’re a doctor and you need an excellent assistant who could pick up anomalies on scans or can even triangulate diagnoses from one of your patient’s symptoms, and vitals better. AI plays a role in that.

AI can also classify, maintain, and even track your patient’s medical records along with health insurance claims which in turn would make your job (if you were a doctor) or in fact your life a bit easier.

If you ever took a trip to the emergency room on a Monday, then you have a decent understanding of how stressful it can get. And we all know how doctors are stressed enough as it is, thanks covid.

AI is also used in areas such as e-commerce where personalized shopping, bot-powered assistants, and fraud prevention takes place. Education, where admin tasks are automated to help instructors, voice assistants, and personalized learning, is done.

And finally, in the day-to-day, self-driving vehicles, spam filters, facial recognition, and recommendations occur.  

Goals for the future of AI in the health field is for there to be virtual nurses or doctors, collaborating for clinical judgment and assisting in robotic surgery.

Sounds great but I put those goals right next to my toaster… don’t trust them.

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Find out what’s the craziest day in the ER below.

Spinning in Algorithms

In case your head wasn’t spinning enough, here’s a little something for ya.

You can thank the array of applications we have today that were attributed to the use of AI. One with having recommendation algorithms that pimp and pump your data to feed you what you’re more likely to buy or simply engage.

Being able to predict the weather, finance, production, and lowering or even cutting out excessive labor is a heavy plus. Having the ability to provide insights on the company’s operations which they may or may not be conscious of due to them being human.

AI tools often save the day fast and efficiently when it comes to handling large volumes of documents and ensuring fields are properly filled.

Uber rose to become one of the largest companies by using algorithms to predict when people are more likely to need rides in certain areas, prompting drivers to be proactive. Google used machine learning so they could gain an understanding of how people were using their services and how they could improve them.

To gain an advantage over their competitors, heavy hitters like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have adopted the use of ML (Machine Learning) and AI.

So it’s just what you thought it was, big brother really is watching.

Bots Don’t Starve, You Do

Seems like we’re at that part where you might be thinking, “how do I get into this field without a degree?”

Well let me tell you, it’s not going to be easy, and you may be living out of your car for a bit before you get looked at… without a degree that is.

Most positions are going to require you have a degree of bachelor’s or higher with some experience.

If you are going to pursue a career in AI, showing that you have the relevant experience is going to be a must. That means completing projects, competitions, and contributing to open-source ML projects along with entry to hackathons (there’s no hacking involved, don’t worry, I thought the same thing).

Also completing online courses and gaining a deep understanding of the fundamentals will start you off on the right foot.

In a nutshell, open a Kaggle, GitHub, and Devpost account paired with a meetup account because the more people you rub elbows with, the better your odds.

And not Hunger Games paralleling real life, but with a job market like this may the odds be ever in your favor.

Made it this far and found this to be entertaining? Then a big thanks to you and please show your support by cracking a like, sharing this with whomever, scripting a comment, or plug-in to follow.

Also, check out my post on ML and how much the fall of human race is in our future. Click here.

Think you have what it takes to step into the arena of AI?

Script a comment about what interest you in the world of AI.