Artificial intelligence (AI) experts apply their skills in engineering
and computer science to create computers and software programs that can think
for themselves. Scientists must be able to recreate every tiny part of the
thinking process just to get a computer to walk, understand a question or
write music.
While sci-fi imagination can achieve that in the flicker of an eye, experts
predict it will take centuries before we really have a thinking, walking,
talking robot like Lieutenant Commander Data of the television series Star
Trek.
No matter how clever computers are, they're never smarter than the people
who create them. This is the challenge of artificial intelligence.
"It took humans 50 years to design the paper clip," says Tim Finin. He
is a professor and researcher in artificial intelligence at the University
of Maryland.
"How long is it going to take to create true intelligence? What's worse
is that the public think we're ready to have a Data in 10 years' time, when
I think it'll be more like 1,000 or even 10,000."
At the root of artificial intelligence is one of the biggest philosophical
questions ever: what is knowledge?
Fred Popowich has been in the AI field for more than 15 years. His work
included a project to program computers to translate from Spanish into English.
"You have to use the ideas of the past -- stand on other people's shoulders
-- to get to today," he says.
The promise of this technology is very interesting to the business world.
Increasingly, private industry is supporting research in this field because
it offers opportunities for considerable profit.
Within the field of telecommunications alone, companies are scrambling
to get artificial intelligence into devices so that they can communicate with
one another. That will take the computer beyond the realm of a regular tool
and make it an irreplaceable fixture that will help people organize their
lives.
"Work that's being done in laboratories today will take 10 years before
it's out as a product," says AI researcher Sue Abu-Hakima.
Expert systems are among the new tools being designed by scientists to
help humans in their daily lives. It's a small part of the world of artificial
intelligence.
Some expert knowledge systems can help colleges screen student applications.
They also help foresters find out what kinds of bugs are damaging Douglas
fir cones, and help companies run their factories after their most experienced
workers have retired.
AI tools are becoming smarter and more useful in everyday life. They can
help people write, draw pictures, solve math problems, and even talk like
humans. Some AI tools, like ChatGPT, answer questions and help with homework,
while others create music or help doctors find diseases.
Companies use AI to make decisions and improve products, but some people
worry about mistakes and fairness. While AI is growing fast, it still needs
humans to guide it and make sure it is used safely and responsibly
Some computer scientists work in offices, laboratories or universities.
Many also work remotely. "AI people work in private industry and in universities,"
says Popowich.
There are few physical requirements in this field, according to Popowich.
Anyone who can work with computers can work in AI. Since artificial intelligence
specialists work with computers, however, they risk suffering from carpal
tunnel syndrome, eye and neck strain and back problems.