AI

“Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology and a branch of computer science that studies and develops intelligent machines and software. Major AI researchers and textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents” where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its chances of success” [1] In other words, it is a computer system that has the ability to learn and apply what it has absorbed to make decisions in the future. AI is a common feature added to a lot of current computers and technology systems. It is present in Iphones through Siri and other voice recognition applications and is becoming more involved in people’s day-to-day lives. While it offers many features for the everyday citizen, I think AI is seen in its most advanced form in the military.

         The military uses AI in ways that normal corporations and businesses can’t. U.S. military researches combine AI with military weapon systems and information systems. [2] Weapon systems are field that only the military and the companies they contract can explore. Businesses and companies in the U.S. can develop AI for their own business needs to increase their company value but incorporating it into a weapon can potentially be priceless. The Probabilistic Programming for Advancing Machine Learning (PPAML) is trying to advance machine learning by increasing the number of people who can build machine-learning applications. [2] Increasing the amount of applications being built can increase the chances for new technology being built that can advance machine learning past what is currently capable. This technology can be potentially priceless because using weapons that can control and deliver itself equates to less soldiers on the battle field consequently preserving American life. AI in unmanned drones delivers precision strikes while the people guiding the attack are at a safe distance away in a secure area. It is much more complicated than it sounds but it is worth the investment.

         A recent study done at Pepperdine looks at the new generation of AI and how it is able to help forecast business processes such as product demand, employee turnover, cash flow, and inventory among others. [3] These forecasts help decision-making and company planning. Forecasts are compiled through quantitative and qualitative analysis and take two different approaches that satisfy different areas of the company. Once the flaws in these two different analysis are relevant, AI methods have an opportunity to contribute to forecasting and provide insight on Neutral Nets, Expert Systems, and Belief Networks and predict sales to refine marketing strategies.[3]

         In conclusion, the business of and capability of AI is still developing. AI is already very useful to companies in a wide variety of ways. It already has the capability of saving American lives overseas and its further development in both the military and business worlds will only have positive effects for the people using it.







[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence

[2] http://www.militaryaerospace.com/articles/2013/03/DARPA-machine-learning.html

[3] http://gbr.pepperdine.edu/2010/08/artificial-intelligence-techniques-enhance-business-forecasts/