Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the study and development of computer systems that can copy intelligent human behaviour. AI has made huge advances since the start of the millennium and is already helping us to do everyday tasks with a high degree of perfection.
Nowadays, most of us use AI perhaps without even thinking about it, from smart devices to chatbots. but where will it take us in the next thirty years and will new innovative technology help to solve some of the problems facing society?
Driverless cars are already on our roads, and Boeing is currently developing an autonomous plane. It is predicted that by 2050 our railways, roads, seas and skies will be occupied by driverless vehicles. Unlike humans, AI self-driving vehicles stay aware of their environment without losing their focus, so they may improve road safety.
However, according to Toby Walsh, a leading researcher on AI, planes without human pilots won’t have been perfected by 2050. Walsh, who has written a book predicting the state of AI in 2050, believes that «the debate on whether humans should still be airline pilots» will begin only after several decades of successful autonomous cargo flights.
AI could help significantly in the field of health and social care. More than 107,000 people around the world are currently waiting for an organ transplant. Some artificial organs are already being used in medicine, but it is estimated that by 2050 scientists will have managed to create more lab-grown organs, therefore saving thousands of lives. By using a 3D printing technique, scientists will also have eliminated the chance of the body rejecting the organ.
Many countries are faced with issues caused by an ageing population, but AI will have helped many elderly people stay more independent in their homes by 2050. Robots can help them to reach things more safely and track their movements, gathering data on, for example, how many times a person has been to the bathroom and whether they have showered. The information is then analysed by algorithms which can detect potential problems.
The world’s population, and therefore our demand for food, will have increased significantly by 2050. However, AI can help farmers increase production and reduce waste, while also protecting the environment. For example, John Deere’s Auto Track system allows machines to plant crops in a much more efficient way and also reduces chemical use. In the coming years, AI will allow farmers to access more real-time data, giving them more time to react to problems and avoid disaster.
AI may also help to entertain us in the future. It’s possible that by 2050 you will have appeared in your own Netflix film! With new futuristic technology, people will be able to create virtual characters and enjoy customised films.
Walsh also predicts that AI will host TV and news shows. By 2050, it will have become efficient enough to write complex stories. The process will be completely automated, with robotic cameras making the shows, and avatars presenting them. You will set your personal preferences and algorithms will decide what news to show you.
But will the intelligence of AI have overtaken human intelligence by 2050? According to some, yes. This idea of a point in time when the ability of AI machines is greater than the brains of those that created them is known as «The Singularity». Will it happen in our lifetime?
