Proffesor Gianni - Robots and AI

Questions and Answers

1. How would you define Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Artificial intelligence is a field of Computer Science which is focused on creating machines that are capable of performing tasks that normally require human intelligence. These include learning from experience, pattern recognition, understanding language, and solving problems. AI can be based on rules or learning from data (Machine Learning).

2. AI has existed for nearly 70 years. Why is it experiencing impressive growth right now?

AI is experiencing impressive growth due to widespread digitalization. This means a large amount of data is available, which is crucial to train AI models. Advancements in hardware, such as GPUs, can handle calculations faster, which makes training models much quicker. Cloud computing has also opened the world of AI as more people can access the resources needed to build AI systems.

3. Can you identify three domains or classes of problems where current AI models still face significant challenges?

AI will struggle with tasks that require "common sense" and are natural to humans. They also struggle with understanding social cues and emotions. Additionally, AI models perform poorly when applied to scenarios outside of the data they were trained on.

4. Can you name at least three application sectors where robots are widely used, and explain why they are employed in those sectors?

Robots are used in factories as they can aid in assembly and packing. They provide consistent, high-quality work at high speeds and also reduce labor costs. Increasingly, robots have been used in healthcare to assist in surgeries, enhancing precision. In warehousing, robots are used to pick items and sort them as they are very efficient and can work 24 hours a day.

5. Do you believe that the convergence of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and fully autonomous robotics is imminent and could potentially have a major impact on the world?

I believe this is a distant goal; however, I think it could most definitely have a major impact on the world. I say this both positively and negatively because, in the wrong hands, AI and its uses could lead to unfavorable outcomes. There will be tremendous advancements in healthcare, which is exciting, and I am interested to see and maybe work on these developments.

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