Leadership and Artificial intelligence

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.