Do we know
what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is?
We probably have certain notions, but in
reality there is rather little knowledge we have of it, even though it is
already in the mouth of the world and we are somewhat aware that it will be
critical in the evolution of humanity.
Although many
of us still seem distant, the reality is that AI is literally everywhere. It is
no longer a subject of the future. It is in the present, in everything that
surrounds us: in our cell phones, in social networks, in hospitals, in banks,
in the media etc...
Despite such
omnipresence, we hardly know what AI is about. Even more worrying, company
presidents, senior executives, rectors, entrepreneurs and even politicians have
not paid enough attention to a phenomenon that will radically alter the
functioning of industries and societies.
Perhaps
because it is something so technical, with certainly complex terminology, we
have chosen not to study it, or let it be approached by engineers or scientists
who work with it on a daily basis. However, this is a mistake. AI is a science
in which, as a society, we cannot be ignorant.
Three
professors from the University of Toronto, Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans and Avi
Goldfarb, were given the task of explaining in a simple way what AI is and what
it implies in our lives. In their book, 'Prediction Machines', they outline the
way in which companies should develop their strategies. Also on how governments
should chart their policies and humans plan for the future.
According to
teachers, current AI has nothing to do with intelligence, but with a critical
component of it: prediction. AI is prediction technology and it is what allows
the machines that incorporate it to give us some road maps that facilitate our
lives.
'Prediction
Machines', in turn, delves into the hottest debates around AI. The authors
point out that many works will cease to exist, but at the same time others will
emerge, and therefore the importance of understanding where civilization is
going. In this, schools and universities should be more participatory and
better orientate their students.
They express,
bluntly, that AI will not bring more equality. "It is likely to generate
greater imbalance within societies." By assuming AI control of many tasks,
humans will have greater competence in activities that do not require AI, which
is why salaries among workers will be reduced and profits will increase among
business owners.
On the other
hand, they point out that it is likely that a few companies have control of
everything, although they are emphatic that the last voice so that this does
not happen, will be the governments, and that is why they invite legislators to
soak up much more of everything that is happening in the world of AI, well,
they say, we are still in its first steps. Then it will be too late.
In
conclusion, we are not late for this debate. But let's put the batteries.
Hopefully some editorial in Spanish translate the book, it is a very good first
point of contact with the world of AI. Only understanding something is that we
will make more accurate decisions for a future in which we will live with
machines that will be smarter than us.
