How will AI affect your life in the next ten years?

We live in a world of «smart» objects; Smartphones, watches, cars are increasingly becoming the norm. But while the term «smart» originally referred to the additional features of these devices rather than their cognitive abilities, the term is beginning to change.

Before we start, what is artificial intelligence (AI)? In its broadest definition, AI refers to computer programs designed to perform complex tasks that have historically required human intelligence. This can be anything from speech recognition and decision making to visual perception. While the great dream of AI is one that meets or exceeds human capabilities in every field, companies like Google and Facebook are working to enable the present and future of AI. will be very practical.

Smart Mobile Experience

Even with status updates and selfies, text messaging is still the dominant use for mobile phones. And yet, so far, messaging apps have remained relatively simple. But a new messaging app called Emu aims to make text messaging more efficient. Essentially, the app comes with a built-in assistant that gives you the information you need based on your conversations. This is intended to save you the hassle of always copying and pasting information or constantly switching between other apps to complete basic tasks.

Windows Cortana

By now, most of us are familiar with Apple’s mobile assistant. Siri built into the latest iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. The groundbreaking service allows users to ask questions, search the web, and set reminders by asking Siri do it for them. Now Microsoft is trying to challenge Apple with an assistant on your own. Cortana named after the AI in the popular video game Halo, was specifically designed to get smarter the more people use it. Microsoft hopes to talk to Cortana it will be almost like talking to a real person. Users will be able to have subsequent conversations, and if Cortana makes a mistake, she will learn and adapt, offering more specific and accurate services in the future. And as you’ll see below, Cortana isn’t likely to be Microsoft’s end game in terms of artificial intelligence.

Advanced photo recognition

Like it your grandparents, social media is always here. And while new platforms are constantly being introduced to appeal to niche markets, older, more established titans are looking for innovative ways to make their services even better.

Facebook is not just about likes and shares. It employs a surprisingly large number of artificial intelligence researchers, some of whom are working on creating facial recognition software that is even more accurate at matching people’s faces than humans. Facebook facial software deep face performs a process called face verification. It does not match face names, but recognizes when two images show the same face. Soon, you’ll be able to quickly upload a photo and Facebook will know who to tag.

Google Photo Recognition

At the same time (albeit with a slightly different end goal), Google is working on a similar project. Instead of processing the face, Google is working on software that accurately describes scenes in photos in full sentences.

For example, if you take multiple pictures at a zoo, the software will distinguish between lions, tigers, and bears. The descriptions will read something like «a bear is sleeping on its back» and «two lions are playing under a tree». This represents a revolutionary fusion of the power of natural language and machine vision, and is a powerful sign of things to come. Machines that can truly understand and speak about the content of images and videos in a natural way are powerful tools for making the world accessible to machine intelligence through our smartphone cameras. This is an incredible step forward for artificial intelligence and could prove fundamental to future AI efforts.

Machine learning in the field of computer search and not only

But artificial intelligence does not end with mobile and social networks. AI has endless possibilities to make our devices smarter and make our lives easier. These include safer robots that provide impartial security for humans and advanced programs that offer smarter and better network security for businesses. It can be even simpler, such as improving search results.

We again turn to Google, which is looking for opportunities to search with artificial intelligence software. For years, Google has been using machine learning to understand queries and provide better results. Now Google is looking to enable deep learning to usher in the next era of search.

While all of these achievements show great potential, there are still some that have problems. Perhaps the most vocal of these is Elon Musk, who is worried about the future of AI. was well documented. He recently donated $10 million to support research aimed at preserving artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity, fearing that uncontrolled advances in artificial intelligence could be compared to summoning the devil:

«I’m leaning more and more that there should be some sort of regulatory oversight, perhaps nationally and internationally, just to make sure we’re not doing something very stupid.» — Elon Musk

Despite these risks, Musk and several senior executives from Google, Microsoft, Facebook have added their names to the list of those who remain committed to the future of AI. In other words, the benefits outweigh the long-term risks. These people are passionate about creating programs and machines that will advance technology and improve our lives like never before. And while we don’t know exactly when the future of AI will come in earnest, humanity is taking steps in that direction every day.