An Introduction for Life-Long Learners
And a great soup recipe, too.
By DUSTIN MOORE
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is everywhere. It has already woven itself into our daily lives, often without us even noticing. It’s like a helpful neighbor who quietly lends a hand. You might already be familiar with voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. They respond to your voice commands, play your favorite tunes, set timers, or tell you the weather. When you chat with Siri or “ask Alexa” to set a timer for your family’s favorite tomato soup recipe, you’re interacting with AI. These systems transform your spoken words into computer commands, triggering actions such as setting a timer. This process, seamlessly integrated into our routines and phones, happens almost like magic.
Lately, you might have heard about something called ChatGPT, stirring up discussions—and some fears—about AI and how this technology will be used. Should you learn how to use ChatGPT? Are AI systems going to take over? Here are some basics to help you better understand what AI is—and, importantly—what it isn’t.
What is “Artificial Intelligence?”
At its core, artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science focused on creating machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks can include understanding natural language, recognizing patterns, solving problems, and learning from experience. Essentially, AI is about designing smart machines that can assist and enhance our daily lives in various ways.
A Game Changer
In late 2022, a company named OpenAI introduced a groundbreaking product called ChatGPT. Known for its remarkable ability to generate creative ideas and interact with users, ChatGPT has rapidly become one of the fastest-adopted new technologies, reaching a milestone of 100 million monthly users within two months of its launch. Comparatively, Facebook took an estimated four years and six months to reach that many people.
When looking for information on a topic, most of us are comfortable using Google or a similar browser to search the internet. Google uses an algorithm to pull up websites with the information it deems most relative to your query, which you then need to sort through. Your favorite voice assistant—Siri is mine—is great for specific, straightforward tasks. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is a bit different. It’s like having a conversation with a knowledgeable friend who can discuss a wide range of topics in depth. These topics come from a vast amount of textual data that OpenAI scraped from the internet and various sources.
What Can AI Do Today?
As a simple example, let’s use ChatGPT to help modify that tomato soup recipe.
Here is our family’s favorite tomato soup recipe:
(And yes, it pairs exceptionally well with homemade grilled cheese!)
TOMATO-CILANTRO SOUP
- ½-bunch finely chopped cilantro
- 1 medium yellow onion, small dice
- 1 tsp. minced garlic
- 1 tsp. cumin
- ¼ c. butter
- 1 c. white wine
- 2 28oz cans crushed tomatoes
- 4 c. chicken broth
- ½ c. heavy cream
Instructions:
- Sauté onions in butter in a large soup pot until softened and a rich caramelized brown.
- Add garlic, cumin, and cilantro, and sauté for 3 minutes to combine flavors.
- Add wine, bring to a simmer, and reduce (10-15 minutes)
- Add chicken broth and tomatoes and cook soup for 45 minutes
- Add heavy cream and salt to taste. Serve hot with cilantro leaf as garnish.
Imagine you’ve planned a meal for an upcoming family get-together—in my case my famous tomato soup and grilled cheese—only to discover your adult child is bringing over a new sweetheart with a milk allergy. Now, your beloved tomato soup recipe—with its heavy cream and the classic grilled cheese side dish—suddenly becomes a bit of a puzzle. How to modify it while keeping all its satisfying yumminess? This is a perfect opportunity to consult ChatGPT, a tool that can help you adapt your recipe, and even suggest new food and drink pairings.
How to Access ChatGPT
Google ChatGPT on your laptop or desktop to bring up the homepage. Next, create an account if you do not have one. Then ask ChatGPT a question, in this instance, “What can I use instead of heavy cream in my tomato soup to make it dairy-free?” And just like that, ChatGPT will suggest alternatives like coconut milk, or almond milk, keeping the creamy texture you love but without the dairy. Here is my question—called a “prompt” in the AI world—and ChatGPT’s response:
What is Next for AI?
In the short term, the advancements made by technologies like ChatGPT and Microsoft are set to enhance the apps and software you use daily. For instance, Apple has hinted at plans to integrate Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT with Siri. This upgrade aims to make Siri more conversational and intuitive in its responses.
You’ll likely encounter more sophisticated support bots, making online customer service more efficient and user-friendly. Furthermore, you’ll come across a great deal of online content that’s been crafted with the help of AI, offering you richer and more diverse information at your fingertips.
But beware, it will also make misinformation easier to create, so cross-referencing articles with other sources will become a more important skill. Always double-check where your information is coming from and never give personal or credit card information to strange chats or emails on the internet.
Beyond the information and communication challenges AI presents there is plenty to be excited for. Here’s a glimpse of what else we might expect from AI in the near future:
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Personalized Health Care: AI could tailor medical treatments and health advice to your specific genetic makeup, lifestyle, and health history.
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Smart Homes: Imagine your home understanding your preferences and needs, adjusting lighting, and temperature, and even suggesting recipes based on what’s in your fridge.
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Learning and Education: AI could provide personalized learning experiences, adapting to your learning style and pace, making it a valuable tool for lifelong learning.
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Community Engagement: AI might play a role in local community initiatives, helping to plan events, understand community needs, and even assist in local governance.
As AI continues to evolve, it holds the promise of not only making everyday tasks easier but also enhancing the quality of life in a more personalized and meaningful way.
The Future of AI
As we look toward the future our children will inhabit, it’s fascinating to imagine how AI will continue to evolve and integrate into their daily lives. Here are some practical advances investors are exploring:
Eldercare Robots: A New Era of Caregiving
AI-powered companions could provide a range of services, from basic household tasks to more complex medical monitoring. They could remind you to take medications, assist with mobility, or even provide company and conversation. The goal of these robots won’t be to replace human caregivers but to enhance the care provided, ensuring safety, companionship, and assistance around the clock. This could positively impact our already critical caregiver shortage.
Automated Cars and Transportation: Redefining Mobility
The future of transportation is also set to be transformed by AI. Imagine a self-driving car that takes you to your destination safely and efficiently, without the stress of navigating traffic or finding parking. These automated vehicles could offer newfound independence and mobility, particularly for those who may not be able to drive.
Beyond personal vehicles, public transportation could also see a revolution with AI, optimizing routes and schedules, reducing congestion, and making travel more eco-friendly.
Understanding AI’s Limitations
While it’s exciting to explore the capabilities of ChatGPT and similar AI tools, it’s important to keep in mind their limitations. Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT don’t possess full awareness or understanding of the information they provide. They aim to generate the most likely and relevant response based on the data they’ve been trained on, but this doesn’t guarantee factual accuracy in every instance. And as the old saying goes, “Garbage in, garbage out.”
Think of these AI models not as living, sentient beings, but as sophisticated mathematical programs. They process your questions and the context you provide, then produce an output that seems most fitting. It’s akin to a “Magic Mirror,” reflecting back an answer based on the input it receives. This means the way you frame your question or the additional information you give can significantly alter the response you get.
Remember, while AI can be impressively helpful, it’s still a tool—one that requires human guidance and interpretation to be used most effectively.
The Dark Side: Will AI Take Over?
But what about the potential dark side of AI? Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, expressed his concerns at an Economic Times event in June. He was quoted saying, “What I lose the most sleep over is the hypothetical idea that we already have done something really bad by launching ChatGPT.” This statement—from one of AI’s strongest leaders—reveals the ethical and societal implications that come with advanced AI technologies.
There are various predictions about AI potentially changing the world in negative ways. While these concerns are valid, it’s important to understand the context and the mechanisms in place to mitigate risks. Should we be worried about AI taking over? Let’s review some common concerns to understand the problem better:
Job Automation: One common concern is that AI might lead to significant job displacement. While AI can automate certain tasks, it also creates new job opportunities and roles that require human skills and oversight. This will support global economies that expect a worker shortage for years to come.
Privacy and Data Security: As AI systems process vast amounts of data, concerns about privacy and data security arise. AI development needs to be coupled with robust data protection measures. Data privacy governance and law continue to grow, led by the EU, California, and others, to address this issue.
AI Misinformation and Deepfakes: AI technology has already been used to create highly realistic “deepfakes”—videos or audio clips that can be misleading or deceptive. On January 9, 2024, The New York Times reported in an article titled, “No, That’s Not Taylor Swift Peddling Le Creuset Cookware,” highlighting a case where a deepfake suggested the singer was promoting a cookware giveaway. This was not true, as an artificially generated version of Swift’s voice and likeness was used instead. This incident led to a recent backlash when deepfake pornography of the celebrated entertainer began to circulate on X (formerly known as Twitter), causing outrage and prompting responses from the White House and SAG-AFTRA.
Recent events like these underscore the importance of not taking online content at face value. For critical news and information, it’s essential to verify facts against a diverse mix of sources. Learning to recognize misinformation is a valuable skill for people of all ages. As AI continues to evolve, so must our ability to discern and critically evaluate the information we encounter in the digital world.
Control and Regulation: The idea of AI becoming too autonomous or being used for harmful purposes is a significant concern. Everyone in my generation remembers the autonomous war-bringing robots of The Terminator taking over their movie screens. Prevention of such nightmare scenarios necessitates clear regulations and ethical guidelines to govern AI development and use.
While these concerns are real, they also drive the ongoing conversation about how to develop and use AI responsibly. By staying informed and engaged, we can shape a future where AI is a force for good, complementing rather than dominating our lives.
Dustin Moore is VP of Technical Services at Wheelhouse DMG in Seattle, where he is currently exploring the opportunities and impacts of Large Language Models (LLMs)—a specialized type of artificial intelligence—and generative algorithms in health care and marketing.
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