What is artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence (AI) makes it possible for machines to learn from experience, adapt to new inputs, and perform human-like tasks. Most examples of AI you hear today – from computers playing chess to self-driving cars – are based on deep learning and natural language processing. Using these technologies, computers can be trained to perform specific tasks by processing large amounts of data and recognizing patterns in the data. The term artificial intelligence was coined in 1956, but artificial intelligence has become more popular today thanks to increased data volumes, advanced algorithms, and improvements in computing power and storage. Early AI research in the 1950s explored topics such as problem solving and symbolic methods. In the 1960s, the US Department of Defense took an interest in this type of work and began training in computers to mimic basic human reasoning. For example, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) completed street mapping projects in the 1970s. DARPA produced intelligent personal assistants in 2003, long before Siri, Alexa or Cortana were household names. This early work paved the way for the automation and formal reasoning we see in computers today; these include decision support systems and intelligent search systems that can be designed to complement and strengthen human capabilities. While Hollywood movies and science fiction novels portray AI as human-like robots taking over the world, the current evolution of AI technologies isn’t all that scary or quite intelligent. Instead, AI has evolved to provide many specific benefits in every industry.

Health Service

AI applications can provide personalized prescription and X-ray readings. Personal virtual health assistants can act as life coaches, reminding you to take your pills, exercise or eat healthier.

Production

Using recursive networks, a type of deep learning network used with sequenced data, AI can analyze factory data flowing from connected equipment to predict expected load and demand.

Retail

Artificial intelligence provides virtual shopping features that offer personalized recommendations and discuss purchasing options with the consumer. Stock management and field layout technologies are also developing with artificial intelligence.

Banking

Artificial Intelligence increases the speed, precision and effectiveness of human efforts. In financial institutions, AI techniques can be used to identify which transactions may be fraudulent, adopt fast and accurate credit scoring, and automate manual-intensive data management tasks.