Artificial intelligence is changing the world, and nearly every industry in it. By 2020, it’s expected to drive $33 trillion in annual growth. It’s making us smarter, faster, and more productive. When you look at how artificial intelligence uses data, you see it’s doing so in surprising ways.
In fact, artificial intelligence works so well, it can seem like magic. But when you understand the fundamental basics of how it works, it becomes a no-brainer.
Let’s take a look at how artificial intelligence uses data, and some of the unexpected industries it is already improving.
How Does Artificial Intelligence Work?
Artificial intelligence works like your brain does. It studies mounds of data to find rules or tendencies in it. Then, it uses those rules to help us better understand our world.
The difference? Not only can artificial intelligence process more data than your brain ever could, but it actually works better the more data it has.
That’s why people and businesses are finding hidden improvements they would have never dreamed possible.
How Artificial Intelligence Uses Data
If your brain needs oxygen to work, then artificial intelligence needs data.
A.I. learns by trial and error. It is given an “objective” and a huge pile of data, and then told to complete its objective by using the data. That objective may be “find a driving route that minimizes accidents,” or it may be “find me a movie to watch.” Human brains reference past experience to make certain time-saving assumptions.
However, A.I. does not have this luxury or ability. Instead, it must rely only on the data set given to it, and massive amounts of trial and error, to determine what information is meaningful and what leads to a dead end.
Therefore, artificial intelligence requires an enormous amount of data to complete tasks as simple as editing text. It isn’t as “smart” as a human being, but it can “think” much faster.
Artificial intelligence finds solutions. And the more data it has, the more accurate and precise its solutions become. That’s why more data is the difference between a vaguely right answer and an exactly right one.
How Is A.I. Being Used Today?
Artificial intelligence is already being used to improve many industries. Even some you may not have expected.
Content Streaming
Streaming services like Netflix and Pandora are using A.I. to recommend music and movies they know users will enjoy. The A.I. scans billions of data points including every user’s previously watched films and their reactions to them.
This provides an enhanced customer experience, and adds value to Netflix’s service.
HVAC
What if your heating system knew how and when you liked the temperature set? That’s what thermostats like Nest promise with the help of A.I.
It uses data about users habits to predict what adjustments you will enjoy without you ever needing to make them yourself. Further, Nest is able to set the temperature just before you arrive home, giving a superior heating and cooling experience.
Healthcare
Artificial intelligence is even saving lives. Doctors and hospitals use A.I. to find interactions between medications, and prevent tragic adverse reactions.
They’re even using A.I. to design whole treatment plans, keeping more patients healthier for longer.
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence can make the world better by making it smarter. And to do that, it needs plenty of data.
