How do you define AI?

Artificial Intelligence can be defined as a field of computer science which creates and uses smart computer systems which automate tasks that would otherwise have needed human thinking and effort. AI works on the principle of recognizing patterns and hidden rules in data and using these recurring processes to solve problems or make choices.

Can you name at least three different sub-fields of AI?

Three of the most significant sub-fields of artificial intelligence are machine learning, deep learning, and generative AI. Machine learning is a technique in which computers learn from concrete data. Deep learning is a subset of machine learning where computers establish neural networks, which mimic the human brain. Finally, generative AI is the part which involves tools which learn from data and can create various forms of information, such as images, text, and audio.

AI has been around for about 70 years so far. Why is it booming right now?

While the mathematical components of artificial intelligence and deep learning have been around for decades, the technology that could convert that knowledge into actual systems was developed fairly recently. This particularly fostered the creation of artificial intelligence systems for common people, such as chatbots, which in turn further boosted the significance of the field in modern computing.

Can you name at least three application sectors where robots are being widely employed? What are the reasons?

Some of the fields where robots are being increasingly used are manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. In the manufacturing industry, robots assist in taking over potentially dangerous and risky roles, as well as assist in assembly lines where tasks become highly repetitive. In logistics, robots are being used in warehouses to ensure error-free orders, and remove the geographically exhaustive parts in supply chain factories. Within healthcare, robots are taking over tasks which require high levels or precision, and hence reduce the weight of responsibility on nurses and physicians.

Can you identify three major challenges for a wheeled autonomous robot performing a 24h surveillance task in a large facility?

Firstly, a significant challenge for a wheeled robot in a place such as a large mall would be navigating through different degrees of elevations, even on the same floor. This would require high levels of planning to ensure that the robot doesn’t trip over carpets and is able to reach all parts of the mall without interruption. Secondly, the constant presence of people and other large objects in the mall would be a point of difficulty for the robot, since navigating its way around moving obstacles which do not have fixed positions would need instantaneous processing. Finally, there arises the issue of vandalism and security; if a robot is toppled over or if someone sticks a tiny piece of gum onto its sensor, it is rendered useless.

Want more on Robotics and Artificial Intelligence? Check these links out!

A deeper dive into what artificial intelligence really is
How the rapid AI boom keeps surprising scientists and humans in general
The various real-world instances where robotics is flourishing