Debunking the Myths of AI and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence is here and it’s increasingly improving businesses and lives. Companies or industries that invested in AI are already receiving its impact with powerful technologies that leverage business ideas. Although AI is making waves in the technological world, it is no surprise to see many having misconceptions about what it truly is.

Some believe it is fiction and reject the idea. Others refer to it as robots and believe it would take over the world. What do you think? Well, this article would help to itemize and debunk the various myths many have about AI and machine learning.

5 Myths of AI and Machine Learning

The following are some of the misconceptions about artificial intelligence and the truth about it:

Myth Number 1: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are One and the Same

Some tend to use both terms to mean the same thing, others believe they are interchangeable. The truth is that AI and machine learning are not the same. Machine learning is an aspect of artificial intelligence. It aims to achieve the goal of giving computing devices access to data and letting the devices learn from inputted data. Not all aspects of Artificial intelligence are called machine learning.

For instance, Google Assistant or Alexa do not learn anything from data. These techs can only produce information that has been programmed by their engineers. In contrast, a machine learning system would have a data feed about particular information. It would then use that data to draw conclusions when being asked. So, machine learning is only an example of practical AI.

Bottom Line:

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are not the same. AI is complicated and machine learning is one of its aspects when put into practice.

Myth Number 2: AI is 100% Objective

As innovative and life-changing as artificial intelligence is, it still has its place today. It is not a magician or 100% accurate. The key to a successful artificial intelligence outcome is training. Regardless of its level of complexity or the industry to be applied to, an AI machine must undergo training.

A speech recognition AI would have listened to a lot of spoken words before it can be able to parse information with accuracy. The spam filter in e-mail messaging would be trained on how to effectively recognize a bad email. These are a few examples of AI training. A successful artificial intelligence algorithm must be trained on the right data feed unless it won’t be able to make the right decisions.

Bottom Line:

AI is not 100%. There is no artificial intelligence plugin that would turn obsolete technology into something with cognitive ability. Humans would have to train an appropriate AI machine with the right data till it becomes effective. Even when an artificial intelligence tool is efficient, engineers would continue to learn more about how to maintain its efficiency or correct a malfunction.

Myth Number 3: AI will Replace Mundane Jobs

Artificial intelligence allows businesses to make accurate decisions through classification, predictions, and clustering. These capabilities have made AI do not only mundane jobs but also complex tasks in a working environment. For example, in the healthcare industry, AI-X-ray applications can detect diseases with more accuracy than radiologists. In the financial industry, robot advisors are used in detecting fraud and giving wealth management advice. These abilities don’t eliminate the need for humans involved in the tasks. But it only assists humans to put more effort when dealing with such tasks.

Bottom Line:

AI does more than mundane tasks. It has the ability to help in complex projects. Artificial intelligence would not replace humans who already carry out these jobs. Rather, it would be of assistance to them.

Myth Number 4: AI Would Take Over the World

If this conception means that it would make things easy, then Yes. But if it is to destroy the world, No. Jokes aside, AI doesn’t have a fraction of the complexity of the human brain. Even the most advanced artificial intelligence technology cannot make rational or autonomous regarding world affairs. Each algorithm is trained for a particular task and would not perform activities other than what it is trained for.

Bottom Line:

Artificial intelligence would not terminate human life on its own accord. It would only serve as our advanced helpers in improving lives and solving problems.

Myth Number 5: Not All Businesses Would Require an AI-Based Solutions

There was a time people doubted if their business or organization would need computers or computerized devices. Today, nearly all organizations need machines to solve their business problems or make their operations easy. This is what AI aims to accomplish. All businesses would benefit from an AI-based strategy. Organizations must carry out research on how the technology can affect solve their business problems. For notable ways organizations need this technology, read this article.

Bottom Line:

Technology affects all organizations. The same can be said of artificial intelligence.

Final Thoughts

Artificial intelligence is a trending technology but many people believe untrue conceptions of what it is. Hopefully, this article would help to demystify such conceptions.