AI Fundamentals 101

Estimated read time 3 min read

By Sheryl Finley, AI Engieer, 9/20/2023

Have you been wondering what all the AI fuss is all about? Well, you’re in the right place! Today, I am giving you a crash course in AI Fundamentals. You’re welcome! Let’s get started!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines or computer systems. It involves creating algorithms (or method of solving a specific problem) and models that enable machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, understanding natural language, and recognizing patterns. AI aims to make machines capable of performing tasks autonomously, making decisions, and adapting to new situations without human intervention.

AI is now being used in virtually every aspect of society now, and its application continues to expand rapidly. For instance, here are some key areas where AI is making a significant impact:

  1. Machine Learning: Machine learning is a subset of AI that involves training algorithms on large datasets to make predictions or decisions based on data. It is widely used in recommendation systems (like those used by Netflix and Amazon), fraud detection, and autonomous vehicles (think Tesla).
  2. Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP focuses on enabling machines to understand, interpret, and generate human language. Applications include chatbots, language translation services, and the analysis of social media content for certain types of monitoring.
  3. Computer Vision: Computer vision enables machines to interpret and understand visual information from the world, such as images and videos. It is used in facial recognition, object detection, medical image analysis, and autonomous navigation for robots and vehicles.
  4. Healthcare: AI is being employed for disease diagnosis, drug discovery, personalized medicine, and patient monitoring. Machine learning models can even analyze medical images, detect anomalies, and predict disease outbreaks.
  5. Finance: In the financial sector, AI is being used for algorithmic trading, fraud detection, credit risk assessment, and customer service chatbots to handle inquiries.
  6. Autonomous Vehicles: AI has played a crucial role in the development of self-driving cars, enabling them to perceive their surroundings, make driving decisions, and navigate safely.
  7. Robotics: AI-powered robots are used in manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and logistics to perform tasks like assembly, surgery, harvesting, and warehouse management.
  8. Virtual Assistants: Virtual assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa use AI to understand and respond to voice commands, perform tasks, and provide information.
  9. E-commerce: AI is used for personalized product recommendations, dynamic pricing, and supply chain optimization in online retail.
  10. Education: AI-driven educational tools can provide personalized learning experiences, assess student performance, and offer recommendations for improvement.
  11. Cybersecurity: AI is employed to detect and respond to cybersecurity threats by analyzing network traffic patterns and identifying unusual behavior.
  12. Entertainment: AI is used in the gaming industry for creating realistic characters, generating game content, and improving gameplay experiences.

These are just a few examples of how AI is being applied in various sectors of society. Its versatility and potential for automation and optimization make AI a powerful tool that continues to shape the way we live and work. As AI technology advances, its applications are expected to expand further, revolutionizing industries and enhancing the quality of life for people around the world!

Well, I hope that answered some of your basic questions about AI and how it is impacting our society. Check back soon to learn more!