I realise this is a tricky topic and I hope it’s ok to ask this question. I genuinely want to hear how AI has changed people lives for the better. If you really hate AI I get it, but this isn’t a question for you then. Thank you and it’s all love.
(Edit: Thank you to all the positive commenters and for sticking with me through the inevitable negativity. Lots of really interesting comments in here 😁 We mustn’t let ourselves be intimidated by those who would try to forbid us from having these conversations. Thanks again)
I like how AI route finding algorithms can help me navigate new areas
If routing algorithms are now considered to be AI the term has lost all meaning.
I swear to god Dijkstra just appeared behind me as a Jedi style ghost and slapped his forehead so hard he phase shifted into oblivion again.
In computer science AI refers to a system that’s capable of performing any cognitive task typically done by humans.
The term isn’t losing its meaning. Its always been a broad term. Most people just think it means more than it actually does.
Thank you for explaining my degree to me.
How am I supposed to know what field you have a degree in? Was I being rude towards you? I’m unsure what warrants this sarcastic courtesy.
The rhetorical mistake you made was an appeal to authority - “in computer science” - in your reply. This only makes sense if you presumed I don’t know the details behind my statement, ie I have not studied it.
Any workable definition of AI must be more complex than a single, complete, procedure like path finding. If it isn’t, then any algorithm that is NP complete counts as AI.
For example, a script that solves sudoku is not AI.
AI is a technical term with roots in computer science. That’s not an appeal to authority - it’s a factual statement.
When a layperson hears “AI” they often think of AGI - something like HAL 9000. Then they look at ChatGPT, conclude the LLM isn’t (generally) intelligent, and decide it therefore isn’t AI. My point is that the term has a specific meaning and it’s not what most people think. I assumed you were one of those people. It doesn’t imply general intelligence. A very simple system can still be artificially intelligent in the classical definition of the term. A sudoku solver, a chess engine, and a navigator would all count.
Nowadays the meaning has shifted a little and usually refers to a model that has learned from a bunch of data. By that definition none of the earlier examples qualify anymore except for LLMs.
Then use a definition which would hold water academically.
Switching between proper definitions and layman’s usage is basically the entire point of my original comment.
But anyway, have a lovely evening.
You’re kinda right. It reminds me of:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_effect
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=State-space_search
Something being used in a thing does not make it that thing.
An engine contains pistons. A piston is not an engine.