What is Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been in vogue for a while. It’s a term that’s frequently used to describe tools, computer-controlled robots, and software programs that simulate human and animal intelligence by learning, planning, reasoning, and interacting. Typically, when people think about AI, they picture the world being taken over by robots that resemble humans.  This is because the Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) depicted in those movies is a highly developed form of AI that needs improvement. However, contrary to Hollywood, AI today concentrates on specific issues like autonomous driving, stock forecasting, virtual assistants, and resolving significant real-world problems. The majority of the fundamental AI ideas have been around for many years. John McCarthy, a computer scientist at Stanford, first used the word “AI” in 1956.

How Artificial Intelligence Transformed Various Sectors

The Internet of Things (IoT) devices’ massive training data supply, the availability of compute capacity, and the decline in cloud storage and computing costs have all contributed to the remarkable boom in AI technology development over the past ten years. As a result, AI technologies have already transformed most sectors, enterprises, and lifestyles. AI systems already support doctors in diagnosing diseases like cancer and cardiovascular and neurological issues early. Robots help farmers preserve their harvests from weeds by monitoring and spraying weedicide on plants. On our phones, we have intelligent, knowledgeable assistants like Siri. Autonomous vehicles are getting closer to entering our daily lives.

Expansion of the Market for Artificial Intelligence

The market for AI software is expanding quickly worldwide. According to Statista, it is anticipated to grow to $126 billion by 2025. As a result, it is seen as the upcoming major disruptor and a driver of economic progress. Many nations have created specialized AI frameworks and regulations to support educational initiatives and research and development (R&D) facilities to improve economic development and technical innovation. Examples include “AI Made in Germany,” the US executive order on “AI leadership,” China’s “Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan,” and others. Pakistan has to follow suit and invest in initiatives to foster young people’s excitement for AI and contemporary technologies. This entails funding educational initiatives, research facilities, and training programs for industrial preparation.

Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Pakistan

Since AI may solve local issues with industry, agriculture, government, and the environment and create tech unicorns and services firms specializing in exporting high-tech/AI software, Pakistan has much potential in this area. A few research facilities, businesses, and startups are already making advancements in artificial intelligence and adding to the world’s digital ecosystem. For instance, a team of professors from the Information Technology University (ITU) in Lahore is working to find solutions to critical issues and disseminating their findings at prestigious AI conferences. One of their Intelligent Machines Lab’s most intriguing projects is an economic indicator predictor that employs satellite and aerial photography. They are creating computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) technology that analyzes a satellite image and provides a poverty estimate for a region, giving the government and policymakers the information they need to make informed decisions.

Pakistani Government’s Initiatives for Artificial Intelligence

The Pakistani government launched the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) in 2018 as a technology endeavor. It wants to establish itself as a premier center for scientific research, innovation, knowledge transfer to the local economy, and training in artificial intelligence and its closely related subjects. It is made up of nine research labs from six Pakistani universities. In addition, other labs at ITU, NUST, LUMS, PUCIT, FAST, and other universities are working to address the fundamental issues with AI. They also work with companies like Google and Facebook and publish their work in well-known international journals. 

Artificial intelligence’s future

Since AI technologies have been available for a while, more sophisticated features are often developed to improve system performance. So even while AI already follows us everywhere, shortly, we’ll be following it even more.

Self-driving cars

Even though they are now being used on public roads, they are not considered safe. In specific ways, they still require human interaction. Most likely, this technology will evolve to the point where fully automatic self-driving automobiles are produced without any human intervention. The objective is to make this experience much safer and more independent. Companies and services that provide public transportation are about to implement AI technologies to develop self-driving cabs, buses, trucks, and airplanes.

Improved medical care 

AI technologies are already on track to increase their knowledge in the medical sector and assist clinicians in better patient diagnosis and nursing. For example, more quickly than ever, there will be tools for measuring blood sugar levels and sending this information to the patient’s physician. In the future, these interactive AI-driven systems will be more sympathetic and human, which may help people provide better insight into their health.

Less work for teachers 

Time-consuming administrative chores can be delegated to AI-driven software systems. We expect the results to improve as several software technologies are already working on grading the assignments, keeping track of attendance, and identifying which areas require more improvement.

Robots will become more human-like

You could have a personal robot that helps you around the house. They may even look after your little child and aging parents while you are away.

The effects of AI globally and in Pakistan

AI has significantly changed how we live, empowered our workforces, and made rational and business decisions. AI technologies have rocked industries. Hollywood used artificial intelligence (AI) technology to produce realistic effects. Japan, the third-largest economy in the world, has been using robotics and AI to solve social problems and strengthen the country’s economy. Additionally, humanoid robots have been coexisting with workers in Japanese factories. Artificial intelligence impacts the foundation and expectations of rapid economic growth using ideas from international trade. AI has also given farmers logical strategies to protect their crops from weeds.

We are getting there, despite Pakistan’s development needing to be faster despite making ground-breaking advancements in some fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning. For example, Pakistan has created a machine learning algorithm to estimate COVID danger. There have to be more educational institutions that integrate this discipline into their curricula. NUST is currently recognized as the premier university for competitively offering high-quality AI education. The AI research center, formerly known as the Koshish Foundation Research lab, has established itself as a rising star in the modern era. They examine in-depth AI research and make use of its applications. One of their key objectives is to use AI and machine learning to improve and reform Pakistan’s agriculture department. Developing more capable weather monitoring stations nationwide is their second main priority. Its relevance is evident in Pakistan’s recent tragic natural disasters and terrible weather.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when we consider the broader picture, we can say that future generations will use AI systems that are superior to ever. The finest use of the beautiful AI services would be made by people from all walks of life, including patients, doctors, teachers, carpenters, PR managers, and students. Pakistan needs to work hard to excel in this area. The treatment of some regions, such as healthcare and agriculture, which urgently require technical breakthroughs, needs to be enhanced.