Artificial Intelligence

What is Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a wide-ranging branch of computer science concerned with building smart machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.

There are Four Types of Artificial Intelligence

• Reactive Machines
• Limited Memory
• Theory of Mind
• Self-Awareness

Reactive Machine:

Reactive machines are the simplest level of robot. They cannot create memories or use information learnt to influence future decisions – they are only able to react to presently existing situations. 

Example: Spam filters and the Netflix recommendation engine

Limited Memory:

Limited memory consists of machine learning models that extract knowledge from previously learned information, facts, stored data or events. As distinct from reactive machines, limited memory is able to learn from the past by analyzing actions or data given to them with the purpose of building probationary knowledge.

Example: Self-driving cars are Limited Memory AI, that uses the data collected in the recent past to make immediate decisions. For example, self-driving cars use sensors to identify civilians crossing the road, steep roads, traffic signals and so on to make better driving decisions. This helps to prevent any future accidents.

Theory of Mind: 

When machines acquire decision-making capabilities equal to humans, we will have achieved theory of mind AI. This is the next frontier for AI. An important aspect of this AI is that machines would have the capability to understand and remember emotions and adjust behavior based on those emotions just as humans can in social interactions.

Example:   Although theory of mind AI has not been fully achieved, the robots Kismet (introduced in 2000) and Sophia (2016) showed some aspects of this type of AI. Kismet recognized emotions and could replicate them through its facial features such as eyes, eyebrows, lips and ears. Sophia, a humanoid robot, along with her human-like likeness was also able to “see” emotions and respond appropriately.

Self Awareness: 

The final type of AI is self-aware AI. This will be when machines are not only aware of emotions and mental states of others, but also their own. When self-aware AI is achieved we would have AI that has human-level consciousness and equals human intelligence with the same needs, desires and emotions.

At the moment, this AI hasn’t been developed successfully yet because we don’t have the hardware or algorithms that will support it. When we do, will this artificial superintelligence (ASI) make it possible for machines to take over the world as some ponder.