Summary
This chapter provided a few examples of the applications of AI. That said, the content here doesn't begin to scratch the surface! We tried to keep the use cases to either technology that is widely available, or at least that has the potential to become available soon. It is not difficult to extrapolate how this technology is going to continue to improve, become cheaper, and be more widely available. For example, it will be quite exciting when self-driving cars start becoming popular.
However, we can all be certain that the bigger applications of AI have not yet even been conceived. Also, advances in AI will have wide implications for our society and at some point, we will have to deal with these questions:
- What happens if an AI became so evolved that it became conscious? Should it be given rights?
- If a robot replaces a human, should companies be required to continue paying payroll tax for that displaced worker?
- Will we get to a point where computers are doing everything, and if so, how will we adapt to this; how will we spend our time?
- Worse yet, does the technology enable a few individuals to control all resources? Will a universal income society emerge in which individuals can pursue their own interests? Or will the displaced masses live in poverty?
Bill Gates and Elon Musk have warned about AIs either destroying the planet in a frenzied pursuit of their own goals or doing away with humans by accident (or not so much by accident). We will take a more optimistic "half-full" view of the impact of AI, but one thing that is certain is that it will be an interesting journey.
