Artificial intelligence is a technology, or rather a direction of modern science, which studies ways to teach a computer, robotic technology, and an analytical system to think intelligently like a person. In fact, the dream of intelligent robotic assistants arose long before the invention of the first computers.
People in the mid-50s of the last century were greatly impressed by the capabilities of computers, especially the ability of computers, to accurately perform many tasks simultaneously. Scientists and writers immediately had fantastic ideas about thinking machines in their heads. It was during this period that the first artificial intelligence technologies begin to emerge.
Research in AI is conducted by studying the mental abilities of a person and translating the results obtained into the field of computers. In this way, artificial intelligence receives information from a wide variety of sources and disciplines. This is computer science, mathematics, linguistics, psychology, biology, mechanical engineering. Computers use machine learning technology to simulate human intelligence based on massive amounts of data.
The main goals of AI are fairly transparent:
Creation of analytical systems that have intelligent behavior, can independently or under the supervision of a person learn, make predictions and build hypotheses based on the data set.
The implementation of human intelligence in a machine is the creation of robotic assistants that can behave like humans: think, learn, understand and perform assigned tasks.
The history of the development of artificial intelligence
The authorship of the term "artificial intelligence" is attributed to John McCarthy - the founder of programming, the inventor of the Lisp language. In 1956, the future prestigious Turing Prize winner demonstrated a prototype AI-based program at Carnegie Mellon University.
Humanity began to dream of smart robots in the first quarter of the 20th century. In 1924 the famous writer Karel Čapek staged the play "Universal Robots" in a London theater. The performance amazed the audience, and the word "robot" has become firmly established.
In 1943-45, the foundations for understanding and creating neural networks were laid, and already in 1950 Alan Turing published an analysis of the intellectual chess game in a scientific publication. In 1958, the first artificial intelligence programming language, Lisp, appears.
Between 1960 and 1970, a number of scientists proved that computers can understand natural language at a fairly good level. In 1965, Eliza was developed, the first robot assistant that could speak English. In the same years, the direction of AI began to attract government and military organizations of the USA, the USSR and other countries. So the US Department of Defense, by the 70s, launched a virtual street map project - a GPS prototype.
In 1969, scientists at Stanford University created Sheki, an AI robot that can move independently, perceive some data and solve simple tasks.
At the University of Edinburgh four years later (1973), the robot Freddie was created - this Scottish representative of the AI family could use computer vision in order to find and collect different models.
In the USSR, artificial intelligence also developed rapidly. Academicians A.I. Berg and G.S. Pospelov in 1954-64 created the program "ALPEV LOMI", which automatically proves theorems. In the same years, Soviet scientists developed the "Bark" algorithm, which simulates the activity of the human brain in pattern recognition. In 1968, V.F. Turchin created the symbolic data processing language REFAL.
The 80s of the XX century were a breakthrough for AI. Scientists have developed learning machines - intelligent consultants who proposed solutions, knew how to self-learn at an initial level, and communicated with a person in a limited, but already natural language.
In 1997, a well-known chess program was created - the Deep Blue computer, which beat the world chess champion Garry Kasparov. In the same years, Japan began to develop a 6th generation computer project based on neural networks.
An interesting fact is that in 1989 another Deep Thought chess program beat the international grandmaster Bent Larsen. After this duel between machine and man, Garry Kasparov said:
“If an intelligent machine can outplay the best of the best in chess, then it will be able to write the best music, compose the best books. I can not believe this. When I find out that scientists have created a computer with an intelligence rating of 2800, that is, equal to mine, I myself will challenge the machine to a chess match to protect the human race. "
In the 2000s, there was a renewed interest in robotics. AI is actively being introduced into the space industry, as well as being mastered in the household sphere. Smart home systems and "advanced" household devices appear. The robots Kismet and Nomad explore areas of Antarctica.
Since 2008, the era of technological singularity begins, which, according to experts, should reach its zenith in 2030. The integration of man with computers begins, the capabilities of the human brain increase, and biotechnology appears.
AI Principles
Before describing the technological principles, without which the development of artificial intelligence is unthinkable, it is worth getting acquainted with the ethical laws of robotics. They were brought out in 1942 by Isaac Asimov in his novel "Round Dance":
A robot or a system with artificial intelligence cannot harm a person by its action or by its inaction to allow harm to a person.
The robot must obey the orders it receives from the person, except for those that are contrary to the First Law.
The robot must take care of its safety, if it does not contradict the First and Second Laws.
Prior to the publication of Asimov's novel, artificial intelligence was associated with the Frankenstein image of Mary Shelley. An artificially created likeness of a person with reason rebelles against people. The same horror story was transferred to the famous Hollywood blockbuster "The Terminator".
An interesting fact is that in 1986 Isaac Asimov added another point to the laws of robotics. The writer preferred to call it "zero":
0. A robot cannot harm a person, unless it proves that in the end it (harm) will be beneficial for all of humanity.
Having dealt with ethical laws, let's move on to the technological principles of artificial intelligence:
Machine learning (ML) is the principle of AI development based on self-learning algorithms. Human participation in this approach is limited to loading an array of information into the "memory" of the machine and setting goals. There are several ML methods: teaching with a teacher - a person sets a specific goal, wants to test a hypothesis or confirm a pattern. Learning without a teacher - the result of intelligent data processing is unknown - the computer independently finds patterns, learns to think like a person. Deep learning is a mixed method, the main difference is in processing large amounts of data and using neural networks.
A neural network is a mathematical model that simulates the structure and functioning of the nerve cells of a living organism. Accordingly, ideally, it is a self-learning system. If we transfer the principle to a technological basis, then a neural network is a set of processors that perform a single task in a large-scale project. In other words, a supercomputer is a network of many ordinary computers.
Deep learning is classified as a separate principle of AI, since this method is used to detect patterns in huge amounts of information. For such an unbearable work for a person, the computer uses advanced techniques.
Cognitive computing is one area of AI that studies and implements the processes of natural human-computer interaction, like human interaction. The goal of artificial intelligence technology is to fully imitate human activities of a higher order - speech, imaginative and analytical thinking.
Computer vision is a direction of AI used to recognize graphic and video images. Today, machine intelligence can process and analyze graphical data, interpret information in accordance with the environment.
Synthesized speech. Computers can already understand, analyze and reproduce human speech. We can already control programs, computers and gadgets using speech commands. For example, Siri or Google assistant, Alice in Yandex and others.
In addition, it is difficult to imagine the existence of artificial intelligence without powerful GPUs, which are the heart of interactive data processing. To integrate AI into various programs and devices, API technology is needed - application programming interfaces. Using the API, you can easily add artificial intelligence technologies to any computer systems: home security, smart home, CNC equipment, and more.
The scope of AI
Artificial intelligence is gradually entering all branches of human activity, making conventional software systems intelligent:
Medicine and healthcare. Computer systems keep records of patients, help in decoding diagnostic results. For example, images of ultrasound, X-ray, tomograph and other medical equipment. Intelligent systems can even determine the disease by the presence of signs in a patient and suggest optimal treatment options. In the Google app store, you can find programs for healthy living. These apps measure your heart rate and body temperature when you touch your phone's display with your fingers to determine a person's stress level and provide tips on how to reduce it.
Online retail sales. Many are already familiar with relevant Google and Yandex ads. With its help, retailers offer goods and services in accordance with the interests of the user. For example, you visited an online swimwear store, looked at some models, read the characteristics and so on. After leaving the store, you will see advertisements for swimwear on other sites for a while. Blocks “similar products” in online stores work on a similar principle. Analytics systems study the user's behavioral metrics, determine their buying habits and show relevant (in their opinion) offers.
Politics. Intelligent machines helped Barack Obama win the second presidential election. The then-incumbent US President hired the best team of data science professionals for his campaign. They used the power of intelligent machines to figure out the best day, state, and audience for Obama to speak. According to experts, this gave an advantage of 10-12%.
Industry. Artificial intelligence can analyze data from different production areas and regulate the load on equipment. In addition, intelligent machines are used to predict demand in various industries.
Game industry, education. Artificial intelligence is actively used by game creators. Smart machines and robotics are gradually being introduced into the educational processes of most states.
The main problems of AI
As you understand the possibilities of artificial intelligence at this stage of development are not limitless. Let's list the main difficulties:
Machine learning is only possible on the basis of a dataset. This means that any inaccuracies in the information greatly affect the final result.
Intelligent systems are limited to a specific activity. That is, a smart system tuned to detect tax fraud will not be able to detect banking fraud. We are dealing with highly specialized programs, which are still far from human multitasking.
Intelligent machines are not autonomous. To ensure their "life" requires a whole team of specialists, as well as large resources.
Summary
We got acquainted with the concept of what artificial intelligence is. Studied the basic principles: ethical and technological. We looked at the main obstacles to the development of AI. Artificial intelligence is closely related to the development of computer technology, as well as such sciences as mathematics, statistics, combinatorics and others.