How would you define Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Artificial Intelligence is intelligence similar to that of biological brains but simulated using a combo of software and hardware. It involves multiple common intelligence concepts like learning, analyzing, and linking ideas together.

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

Mainly because of two things: advancements in computation technologies, and availability of data on the internet. With the advancements in technologies, we were able to leverage the increase in speeds and decrease in running costs to train the models, and with the availability of data, we were able to access massive amounts of knowledge and fit them into one model that can connect and relate them to each other.

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

First, bias is a problem that will probably stick with large AI models for as long as humans are biased. Because these models learn from huge datasets and improve over time from human input, bias will always be likely. Secondly, power sustainability is a major problem we currently have. Big processing powers are required to train AI models, but that processing drains electricity resources to a concerning extent. Finally, privacy is a critical concern since many of the current AI models are still hosted by commercial companies, making accessing these AI models a source of threat for the data communicated with the models.

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

First, the painting sector is one of the most useful application sectors of robots, because it enables a faster, constant coverage, saving paint resources and improving quality. Second, assembly is also one of the most useful applications of robotics since it requires level of precision that humans don't have, especially when designing parts in the nano level. Third and last, inspection. Because robots are able to perform repetitive tasks non-stop, they are useful when we want to, for example, inspect the flow of an industry where other robots are present.

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?

It's a fascinating topic to think about, but I think it depends on how much autonomy we give to these tools. It's going to require state- and global-level regulations if designing such models becomes open knowledge to everyone. However, despite all of the current advances, I think reaching AGI will take longer than the time AI has been around.