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You have most likely heard the term Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially in recent years as developments advance. AI is truly revolutionary and it is changing the world around us from self-driving cars to improving love and relationships with apps that can analyse conversations between users and determine their compatibility.

It may not be as advanced as the scenario portrayed in the Channel 4 show Black Mirror “Hang the DJ” episode, however, there are dating apps which feature intelligent innovation to determine your match. BetterHalf.ai have designed an AI-enabled app which estimates user compatibility based on an array of data from the user’s registration, conversations and other input. Driven by technology and innovation, the partner prediction engine can determine compatibility based on much more detailed data in addition to users filtered basic preferences; such as age range, height and location.

Connecting with AI at home

People have access to the tools to help find their (suggested) perfect partner using AI-enabled features and they can continue to use AI to further benefit their daily lives. There are countless examples of AI at home which intersect with internetworking physical devices (also known as the Internet of Things) with the inclusion of alarm clocks, smart TV’s and security systems. AI is all around us and this blog post determines the cases which you may be most familiar with.

Instant programming

With the offer of Netflix’s hours of content streaming, absent are the days when people needed the TV guide and listings to schedule their programme viewing. According to Statista, Netflix has one of the largest network subscriber bases with over 137 million subscribers which isn’t surprising due to its accessibility with home Wi-Fi connection and relatively cheap monthly subscription. The success of Netflix dwindles down to the key AI and Data insights, making personalised program recommendations to the user based on algorithms as described here.

For Netflix to personalise recommendations to the user, the AI feature pieces’ data together based on a number of factors including but not limited to:

• information about the titles, such as their genre, categories, actors, release year, etc.
• the time of day you watch,
• the devices you are watching Netflix on,
• how long you watch,
• other members with similar tastes and service preferences

AI-powered personalisation is a key driver for the success of Netflix in addition to the large portfolio of genre choice and program offering. There’s a viewing option for all family members.

The Internet of Things (IoT)

It’s no secret that people aspire for easier, more convenient lives. Whether it’s to alter the central heating for your return home or find out the weather forecast, there are methods to complete these tasks and obtain this information that requires minimal effort. In the search for solutions to help with daily tasks and simple queries, consumers are rapidly adopting smart fixtures and devices in their home which fall under the category of IoT.

Consumer demand for virtual assistance increases year on year as AI evolves, increasing the value offering and ease in the usability of AI-enabled devices. Examples of objects that fall into the category of IoT include thermostats, connected security systems and electronic appliances.

There is a clear intersection between IoT and AI. IoT is about connecting machines and making use of the data generated from those machines whereas AI is about simulating intelligent behaviour in machines of all kinds. Combined, devices are considered as “connected intelligence” as the data is used to create an action. As discussed in the previous Machine Learning blog, it is ML, a subset of AI, that provides the ability to detect patterns in data presented.

Smartphones and AI

Mobile phones are essential in today’s social climate as we stay connected 24/7 and the smartphone experience has been enhanced by AI and ML. Both Android and iOS mobile platforms are integrating AI and ML in various apps and with such rapid consumption and wide adoption, the accumulation of data is substantial enough to generate detailed, personalised solutions.

Most AI features appear to be centred around imaging and photography, power efficiency and security. One of the key additional features for the Apple iPhone X is its Face ID facial recognition system. Its “TrueDepth” front-facing camera is able to create a 3D map of a person’s face and use that to identify the person, which is used to log into the device and authenticate apps and services like Apple Pay. This information is stored on a neural engine chip for power efficiency and security. The finger print feature works in a similar way to enhance personalised usability in addition to added security measures.

Simple AI even filters your incoming emails, diverting spam away from your inbox by analysing the content of the email. A model is built based on your preferences by evaluating what spam is to you and filtering incoming emails.

In reference to Amazon Alexa mentioned in the Machine Learning blog, Microsoft and Apple also use AI to power their digital assistants, Cortana and Siri. These virtual assistants are primarily intended for home assistance with a voice-assisted feature to respond to queries and commands and is compatible with smartphones. Need to set reminders or call someone from your phonebook? Just ask your virtual assistant to do that for you.

Is AI connection something to fear?

Elon Musk believes so. Despite being somewhat of a technological optimist by insisting that the future can get here faster, Elon believes we should be cautious of the power of AI. He has publicly confessed to fearing that AI is the biggest existential threat. Interplanetary colonisation is his goal and with the potential development of artificial super-intelligence, the Tesla founder believes we will need asylum.

Musk is not the only one who believes AI may turn on humanity.

“AI scientists at Oxford and at UC Berkeley, luminaries like Stephen Hawking, and many of the researchers publishing ground-breaking results agree with Musk that AI could be very dangerous. They are concerned that we’re eagerly working toward deploying powerful AI systems, and that we might do so under conditions that are ripe for dangerous mistakes.”

As industries continue to adopt and integrate AI into their businesses, saving money on employee pay, many experts think that it can lead to many job losses and increase unemployment figures. This may be evident in customer service roles when the Chatbot becomes intelligent enough to understand specific queries and personalise responses furthermore to offering basic support.  

Final Thoughts

Although these points are interesting to consider, at this moment in time we can embrace the incredible benefits that AI offers and enjoy the convenience. Whatever your field of expertise, there are endless opportunities for innovation, prosperity and growth with the implementation of AI and machine learning.

Are you eager to find out how AI can help keep you connected? Get in touch with one of our experts to see how Codeminers can advise and help you with your upcoming project.