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October 26, 2017 26/10/2017

5 Ways AI is Already Outperforming Humans

Artificial intelligence is no longer some far off, futuristic fantasy. It’s becoming a part of our everyday lives, often in ways we don’t even realize. In fact, there are currently areas where AI and robotics technology is already surpassing the humans that created it. And while the concept of machine learning and its rapid advancement may seem a bit unnerving to some, it has the potential to lead to many exciting breakthroughs that can improve our day to day lives.  Let’s take a quick look at a few of the ways AI is outperforming its human counterparts.

 

Diagnosing Cancer                                                       

Researchers at Stanford University have developed an artificial intelligence system that is capable of determining whether a tumor is malignant or benign simply by analyzing a photograph. So far, studies have shown that the AI program has been correct in 90 percent of its diagnoses. In fact, those results are far more impressive than anything even a group of trained doctors can accomplish.

 

Farming

One of the biggest threats to farms today is something that previously could not be controlled – that is the environment. Now, thanks to advancements in technology – namely artificial intelligence – farms can be moved indoors where the atmosphere can be controlled for a more predictable outcome. AI automatically determines the amount of light and nutrients the crops need to achieve optimal color, taste and texture. Furthermore, some companies are now using AI to read satellite images and automatically predict outdoor crop yields for more accurate planning and price setting.

 

Negotiating

One of the biggest leaders in AI technology development, Facebook, recently trained its chatbots to be able to negotiate with humans. Amazingly, the bots learned how to feign interest in hypothetical objects that they didn’t actually want and simulate disinterest in the ones they did want.

 

Medical Breakthroughs

AI technology is helping to reduce the costs associated with drug research and discovery. One system built by Recursion Pharmaceuticals is capable of studying more than a thousand features of cells with diseases and determining whether there are any existing medications that might be effective in treating them. As a result, 15 potential treatments for rare diseases have been discovered. Imagine the possibilities!

 

Playing Poker

While this area might not apply to the majority of society, it’s still cool enough to mention. Earlier this year, an AI system designed by Carnegie-Melon participated in a tournament against some of the world’s most successful poker players. The system, nicknamed “Libratus” knew exactly when to bluff and when to fold. Over the course of three weeks, Libratus “won” nearly $2 million from its professional opponents.

Perhaps the most exciting part is that we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface in terms of artificial intelligence, robotics and machine learning capabilities. Provided these technologies are used for the greater good, we could see some incredible improvements within our lifetime.

 

What do you think? Will AI continue to infiltrate our lives? Is this technology exciting or a little bit scary? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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