Theme for the year AI

 I have struggled all month with my choice for the word of the year. I have finally settled on Artificial Intelligence. There is too much going on in politics and most of it is appalling to me, so I have chosen to turn off the news and explore something I have wanted to learn about. I first tackled this topic for the Illinois Retired Teachers Association last August. It was an overview, the very sketchiest of prezis, but I was amazed at how much has been done. Today, I listened to a podcast from Freakonomics (Episode 619) called "How to Poison the Machine" in which Ben Zhao explains how he tries to preserve copyright values for original creations. It was fascination to me that we have people working on ways to prevent harm from computer applications. I highly recommend listening to it.

I wasn't sure how to define AI, so I asked ChatGPT, which is one of the applications that produces verbal answers. The reply was much better than I could have imagined. 

"Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. These processes include learning (the acquisition of information and rules for using the information), reasoning (using rules to reach approximate or definite conclusions), and self-correction. AI applications include expert systems, natural language processing (NLP), speech recognition, and machine vision."

Here are some applications it listed for me.

“  1. Machine Learning: A subset of AI that involves the use of algorithms to allow computers to learn from and make predictions based on data. This can include supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning.

2. Natural Language Processing (NLP): The ability of a computer program to understand human language as it is spoken and written. NLP involves reading, deciphering, understanding, and making sense of human languages in a valuable way.

3. Robotics: The design, construction, operation, and use of robots. AI in robotics allows robots to perform tasks autonomously or semi-autonomously.

4. Computer Vision: A field of AI that enables computers to interpret and make decisions based on visual data from the world, including images and videos.

5. Expert Systems: AI programs that mimic the decision-making abilities of a human expert. These systems use a knowledge base of human expertise and an inference engine to solve specific problems.

AI is used in various industries, including healthcare, finance, automotive, and entertainment, to improve efficiency, provide insights, and create innovative solutions."

You'll notice that I am putting quote marks around everything I got from ChatGPT. That's not my thinking. Very thorough and concise. I tend to wander in my head.

I then tried to list the pros and cons of using AI.

Here is my spontaneous thinking:

Advantages                                

• Clear, accurate and detailed.                                  
• Retrieves information quickly and easily.

Disadvantages

• Can NOT be differentiated from human work.
• Users must understand what they are trying to do.
• Ethics are not considered by AI.
• Inherent bias of programmers.

Compare that measly list with what ChatGPT gave me.

Advantages (Chat GPT)

1. Efficiency and Productivity: AI can automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, allowing humans to focus on more complex and creative work. This boosts overall productivity and efficiency in various industries.

2. Data Analysis and Insights: AI can process vast amounts of data quickly and accurately, identifying patterns and trends that might be missed by humans. This leads to better decision-making and strategic planning.

3. 24/7 Availability: AI systems can operate continuously without the need for breaks, ensuring constant service and support. This is particularly useful in customer service, healthcare, and other critical areas.

4. Precision and Accuracy: AI algorithms can perform tasks with high precision and accuracy, reducing errors and improving outcomes in fields such as medicine, engineering, and finance.

5. Personalization: AI can analyze user data to provide personalized recommendations and experiences, enhancing customer satisfaction and engagement. This is widely used in e-commerce, entertainment, and marketing.

6. Innovation and Creativity: AI can assist in creative processes by generating ideas, designs, and content. This includes applications in art, music, writing, and game development.

7. Enhanced Security: AI can improve security measures by detecting and responding to threats in real-time. This is important in cybersecurity, surveillance, and fraud detection.

8. Improved Healthcare: AI is revolutionizing healthcare with applications such as diagnostics, treatment planning, and personalized medicine. It helps in early detection of diseases and development of new drugs.

9. Resource Management: AI can optimize the use of resources in various sectors, such as energy, agriculture, and manufacturing. This leads to cost savings and sustainability.

10. Accessibility: AI can enhance accessibility for people with disabilities through technologies like speech recognition, image recognition, and automated translation.

11. Predictive Maintenance: In industries like manufacturing and transportation, AI can predict equipment failures before they occur, reducing downtime and maintenance costs.

12. Support for Decision-Making: AI provides decision support by analyzing data and presenting actionable insights, helping leaders and managers make informed choices.

13. Scalability: AI systems can scale operations efficiently to handle increased demand without a proportional increase in costs or resource use.

• Disadvantages

Job Displacement: Automation and AI can lead to job losses, particularly in industries involving routine and repetitive tasks. This can result in significant economic and social challenges.

High Costs: Developing and implementing AI systems can be expensive, requiring substantial investments in technology, infrastructure, and and skilled personnel.

Privacy Concerns: AI systems often rely on large amounts of data, raising concerns about data privacy and security. Misuse or mishandling of sensitive information can lead to breaches and ethical issues.

Bias and Discrimination: AI systems can perpetuate or even exacerbate existing biases if they are trained on biased data. This can lead to unfair treatment and discrimination in areas such as hiring, lending, and law enforcement.

Lack of Transparency: Many AI algorithms, especially deep learning models, operate as “black boxes” with decision-making processes that are difficult to understand or explain. This lack of transparency can be problematic in critical applications.

Dependence on Data Quality: AI systems are only as good as the data they are trained on. Poor-quality or incomplete data can result in inaccurate or unreliable AI outputs.

Security Risks: AI systems can be vulnerable to attacks, such as adversarial attacks where malicious actors manipulate input data to deceive the AI. This can compromise the safety and reliability of AI applications.

Ethical Concerns: The use of AI raises various ethical issues, including the potential for surveillance, loss of autonomy, and the moral implications of decision-making by machines.

Job Skill Gap: As AI technology advances, there is a growing demand for specialized skills that many workers may not possess. This can lead to a skills gap and require significant investment in education and training.

Complexity and Maintenance: AI systems can be complex and require ongoing maintenance and updates to ensure they function correctly and adapt to changing conditions.

Over-reliance on AI: Excessive dependence on AI systems can reduce human skills and judgment, potentially leading to a lack of critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Environmental Impact: Training large AI models, especially deep learning models, requires significant computational resources, which can have a considerable environmental footprint due to energy consumption.

Unemployment and Economic Inequality: The benefits of AI may not be evenly distributed, potentially exacerbating economic inequality as some sectors and workers benefit more than others.

Misuse and Malicious Use: AI technologies can be misused for harmful purposes, such as creating deepfakes, autonomous weapons, and sophisticated cyber-attacks.

That's all for now. Am I guilty of #11?

Friends

 Did you ever notice that when you are with people you love, you usually laugh a lot. I am in two quilter's groups and when we get together, we have a good time. Some of us are quietly working on projects by hand or machine, but we all have good stories to tell. One will start and then another joins in with another funny story and suddenly we have spent a half hour laughing. 

I think it's the same with family. Just being in the same room as my kids, their spouses and grandkids causes instant elation. And they all have dogs. I miss my dog Messy, who died last month, but I am still grieving for a while. It's great to get jumped on and licked (ooh, ick) and adored by them. Of course, I always have a little treat for them.

It's still November and heaven knows what December will bring, let alone a new/old presidency. I am reading uplifting books and pages, talking to friends, and sewing, writing, walking, cooking. I always balance my life with the gratitude that at least I am not in a nursing home YET. Still, I bet I can find the troublemakers in a nursing home and have some fun when I do go.

The Holidays

 The holidays are so much fun for small children. Starting with Halloween, kids are so excited at the approach of the holiday. I had the pleasure of a delightful afternoon with two of my grandchildren in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin this year. The weather was warm enough for the two princesses to go bare-armed and the town really got into the spirit of the day. My daughter and her husband wore costumes and I wore a ruana I had gotten in Bogota, Colombia in 1972. For each block we walked, the girls got to eat one piece of candy. They were pretty wiped out by the time we got home. In case you haven't read my favorite Halloween story, go to this post.

This year I was having a hissy fit because I didn't think I would have family home for the holidays. I managed to invite them, rather than just assume, and they invited me. I'm ancillary to their families now, and I think that's supposed to be a good outcome to having children, but how I miss having them all together at once. 

This weekend my daughter and family stayed overnight. Within five minutes of my granddaughters' arrival, they had changed me into a princess. Now that they are both preschoolers, I can almost keep up with them. I will cherish these moments of joy, just as I cherish the moments with my children and my downstate grandchildren. I have been writing again, and that's one of the good things about not having to clean, cook and decorate. Let's hope I get my first book of poetry done this year!

Losses are not fun

 One of the ways I have fun is to quilt. I also love to read, write, and search for genealogy nuggets. All of which are solitary activities. Being human, however, I need to be around people some of the time. 

I recently read a book called The Introvert Advantage. I realized I am an introvert, which explains why I find it stressful to be around large groups of people. In graduate school, I would gravitate to the kitchen during parties, while my first ex-husband was putting a lampshade on his head. Now that I realize I need alone time, I quit beating myself up for not being more social. 

I have been single now for thirty years, living alone since the youngest moved out in 2007. I have learned to accept that there will be tough days, but I am happy for the most part. My favorite people live mostly nearby and I can see most of them any time. 

There have been losses this year, which are not fun. One of my dearest friends died last summer and I still miss her most days. The Center for Gifted has closed permanently, done in by COVID. It was one of a kind, run by brilliant people who loved gifted kids and each other. The kids loved the classes. I often wondered if I should tell them I would teach there for free. It's gone, and I helped empty the storage unit. It leaves a big hole.

I don't look forward to old age. I remember when my mom lost her last best friend. She was glad she could go quickly (a stroke), not bitter about her loneliness. 

I try to enjoy each day, because I am so lucky to still be alive. There are many times in my life I could have died but didn't, thanks to modern medicine and psychology. 

Last weekend I had great fun walking two miles with my son and his dog. You can't buy that. 

I cleaned up more of my quilting mess this morning and look forward to cleaning my house. That's not fun, but it cheers me up. 

Last week I heard a report on BBC that music releases endorphins. That must be why I love to sing so much and I do sing three times or more during the week. I also love hearing the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which I heard last Friday. Yes, I have fun every week, even when I am processing losses.