Artificial Intelligence

Lesser-Known Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Daily Life

Explaining various applications of Machine Learning and AI

We are all very well aware of Artificial Intelligence which is Intelligence inside artificial objects. Artificial Intelligence makes computers and other gadgets around us think for ourselves, use their previous memory and make decisions.

Although when we hear the term ‘AI’, our mind travels far and wide to intelligent robots, self-driving cars, automated factories, drones etc., AI does play a much bigger role in our lives in a different way. There is much more AI can than what is usually told to us.

We are brainwashed by media, movies and books on what we know as AI. It is demonised in Sci-Fi books and movies by showing robots are talking, attacking and even overpowering human beings. This is simply not true as AI isn’t developed enough to take over humanity. It might take several centuries for machines or robots to take powerful decisions as humans do today.

AI uses Neural Networks quite similar to the Nervous system we have in our bodies for giving the appropriate output. Unlike normal software which provides just the processed output, neural networks take into account the output as well while processing the input. So, the software will improve its performance when it is used more. This process is known as training of the Neural Network in Machine Learning.

When training is done with and is started to use, we call the process learning. More accurate results can be produced as the learning process proceeds further. This data is also called the training set.

Artificial Intelligence ever since its inception has been revolutionary in the field of Computer Science. It has been part of our lives for many years changing the way we use technology as well as improving the activities and work we do. We are unknowingly using AI without being aware of it. We will be discussing in detail these applications and how AI has shaped the way we live.

Image Recognition

The majority of the mobile phone applications we use have AI for recognising similar images. Specifically, in the Google Photos app, there is a provision for giving People’s names and the app can automatically recognise all the images of that person. The tech used here is AI, which has the ability to recognise similar images and classify them. The algorithm will successfully be able to predict whose photo does it belong to or what that image is depicting.

Unlike the pictures we draw on paper or the graphics we have seen in print; computer graphics are like a matrix. Each dot represents a pixel. A pixel will have the numerical value of the colour or the information. When a new image is added, the algorithm will compare those values with the original image. If a match is found then those images are said to have similar values or for us that have the same content. A similar method is also used in reverse image search on the internet.

The applications which we use are specifically designed to check for our faces. It locates them through edge detection. Hair, eyes, lips, facial expressions etc. are used to identify the face. This will help us to tag people and identify their photos easily. This is called facial recognition. Most phones today use facial recognition locking systems too.

Identifying and fighting fake news

Fake news is a popular term that has emerged in recent times especially after the excessive use of the Internet and social media that has eased the propagation of misinformation online. It is also now a legal issue especially in the United States where the tech industry is being forced to crack down on the same. In other parts of the world, the effects are visible but, in most cases, everyone is pretty much helpless.

AI algorithms use keywords in identifying terms and words which are used in typical fake news or forwarded social media messages. The source for the news is also essential in understanding where the message or information came from. If it came from a credible news source then it is ignored, else it is flagged. It is then checked with fact-check websites to trace if those fake news or hoax information have been busted or not. If it has been busted before then it’s a confirmed case of fake news and necessary action can be taken.

Otherwise, new steps like slowing down the message spread, or reducing its virality are done until the message is fact-checked again. Links from fake news websites can easily be blocked as well as traced over time. Social Media can also add disclaimer messages for misleading and false claims made especially coming from certain sections.

Facebook and Twitter have developed AI bots that can detect and flag fake news on their platform. This will help users identify them and slow down their spread. Even the platform itself can slow down its spread through algorithms. The question still remains, is AI enough to stop fake news or is that enough for people to stop believing in them.

Spam Filters

Email is one of the easiest ways to communicate personally on the Internet. Before the evolution of social media, email dominated the messaging space. Today we have over 3 billion email accounts with each person using the internet having at least one email id.

Most of the spam we receive is via email. That is why most of the email providers have inbuilt spam filters which work using AI to identify and block them. There is a separate folder for spam now. The AI itself is capable to detect them and filter them accordingly. The mails we receive pass through a filter which similar is a software. A dataset containing a list of words that are typically used in spam is fed into the Machine Learning Algorithm and trained to detect potential spam messages. The software looks for keywords, the source of the email if the sender id is spamming a lot, if the message has any malicious attachment, or if at all the user has previously marked any of the mail as spam or not. Spam filters are one of the simplest applications which use AI.

Smart Home devices

Alexa, Siri and Google Home are popularly used smart devices. These devices are programmed to work as we users teach them to. This is only possible with the use of AI and Natural Language Processing. These can also give appropriate responses for given input as well as learn a variety of techniques as time passes.

Whenever you speak a sentence or give an order, it is broken down into individual sounds. These are sounds are then converted into words by checking the Database having a collection of words and their pronunciation. These words are then analysed and processed to check their meaning.

If it is to open an app, then it will do so or if it is to play music, then it needs to identify the keyword ‘music’ and will then play the same. The smart device assistant needs to be connected to the company servers to provide the best experience. In the process, this learns features directly from the user and the user is provided with the best performance.

Banking software

Machine Learning and AI for a long time have been used in chatbots to interact with customers. This method has been successful in reducing the cost of the bank. They can also be helpful in assisting customers in opening accounts, savings, transactions etc.

A banking database and banking record will have thousands of fields depending upon the number of transactions taking place. Data analytics and Machine Learning helps to analyse the data and make logical conclusions from the same. They also help in monitoring credit analysis, chances of consumers defaulting payment, getting to know loyal customers etc.

Along with that- frauds, malicious transactions are also increasing. To counter that, Banking Software is equipped with features powered by ML which can detect and control such transactions and payments. The limit on the number of transactions, the interval between two transactions, the cap on the amount which can be transferred, accuracy, authentication etc. is controlled using the same. Thus, AI can give us a safe e-payment and net banking experience.

AI has transformed our lives in a way that we can’t stop imagining or can roll back. We hope all these technologies will be used for the benefit of mankind and not misused for destruction.

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