Artificial intelligence (AI)

We live in a world where robots, algorithms and artificial intelligence – also known as AI – makes up an ever increasing part of our combined working force.

Artificial intelligence is perhaps the future technology with the greatest potential to create notable changes to our everyday lives. But what exactly is artificial intelligence, how will it be part of our daily lives, and should we be nervous, when machines start “thinking for themselves”?

What is artificial intelligence?

Historically, artificial intelligence belongs among the newest research areas, but the first steps were already taken at the end of The Second World War, where the name occurred at a workshop in 1956 at Dartmouth College.

The short definition is: machines that can think and perform tasks, which normally require human intelligence. Artificial intelligence is therefore machines programmed to mimic one or more aspects of human intelligence – such as the ability of abstract thinking, consideration, analysis, learning, problem solving, pattern recognition, language fluency and understanding, decision making, and sense action.

There has been a division within artificial intelligence research, and today we distinguish between strong and weak artificial intelligence.

Strong artificial intelligence (strong AI) is based on the notion that computers theoretically will be able to develop a conscience equivalent to that of humans. Weak artificial intelligence (weak AI) modestly assumes that computers in the future will be able to simulate all aspects of human intelligence – and therefore effortlessly will be able to convince others that it really has human intelligence and conscience, though it lacks subjectivity, which characterizes human understanding.

Artificial intelligence in our everyday lives

Artificial intelligence – in simple and advanced forms – is gaining ground everywhere. Just to name a few examples, AI is used today in number recognition, machine translation, reviewing research articles, simple household robots, virtual sales and supporting, service minded chatbots, and 24-7 support, and autonomous cars also require a development of artificial intelligence.

Robots would previously replace industrial jobs, but are today taking over more tasks in the knowledge industry. Lawyers going through thousands of documents are now replaced by computers that can trawl through entire archives, searching for specific words or topics, within seconds.

There is also the robot therapist, Ellie, who helps soldiers with post-traumatic stress.

Automation means that many of us today hold jobs, which will soon be taken over by computers. Cphbusiness will not be spared in this, as this also includes several of the jobs that we educate students to hold.
To Cphbusiness all degree programmes are in play. Think of a banker, who can be replaced by a computer, offering here-and-now advice. Perhaps you have met Cleo? Think of the hotel industry, where the first ever robot staffed hotel opened – in 2015. Perhaps Henn-na in Japan is your next vacation destination? Or think of being politically advised by the robot Sam.

For us at Cphbusiness, it is also about turning our eyes inwards, because how many our own tasks can be done by artificial intelligence? What if we could answer questions from alumni, students and applicants 24-7 without doing anything? What if every student had their own personal AI-mentor to support learning activities and motivate them throughout their studies? Or what would happened if personnel management became crypted algorithms?

Should we be nervous?

No. We have come far in the development of artificial intelligence and machines can, to a large extent, think and decode emotions. Certain job types will disappear, while others will emerge. The trick is then how to use artificial intelligence intelligently.

Which resources could artificial intelligence free? How might artificial intelligence increase customer experiences? Reduce costs? Increase sales?

At Cphbusiness, we are working on several projects that deal with artificial intelligence. Learn more about some these projects here:

IBM Watson skills assessment 

The project focuses on decoding which skills the job market requires and therefore which degrees we should offer to students.

The project is a co-operation with IBM and their Watson machine, which through artificial intelligence has analysed more than 600 job ads in sales and marketing and thus identified specific skills and competences, which we must ensure our students obtain through their education. The plan is that all of our study programmes will be analysed by Watson later on.

The project is anchored in Cphbusiness’ field of study within Sales and Marketing with Associate Professor Per Gunnar Bergfors and Lecturer Andreas Kiær Thomsen. Learn more about the Watson project.

Retail Reinvented

The project is a network project, focusing on the future of retail. Artificial intelligence is only part of the project, used in co-operation with IBM and Implement, a management consulting company.

The project is anchored in Cphbusiness’ field of study within Innovation and Entrepreneurship with Associate Professor Jan-Christian Haxthausen and Associate Professor Carina Burhøj. Read more about the project at www.retailreinvented.dk and www.eaviden.dk/project/retail-reinvented.

Want to know more about AI?

Here are some links on AI:

The Future of Education: https://medium.com/futurepi/a-vision-for-education-and-its-immersive-a-i-driven-future-b5a9d34ce26d
Modernizing learning: http://learninghub.smartlearning.dk/inspiration/nyheder/fremtiden
GTS - Center for Artificial Intelligence: https://gts-net.dk/nyheder/center-kunstig-intelligens/
A collection of relevant articles from IDA: https://universe.ida.dk/tema/kunstig-intelligens/
AI for geeks: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/06/09/deepmind_teaches_ai_to_reason/ 
AI - 15 pros and 6 cons: https://www.livetiles.nyc/blog/pros-cons-artificial-intelligence-classroom/ 
19 new study programmes- robot technology and artificial intelligence: https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/robotteknologi-og-kunstig-intelligens-danmark-faar-19-nye-uddannelser

Podcasts on Artificial Intelligence

https://www.dr.dk/radio/p1/hjernekassen-pa-p1/hjernekassen-pa-p1-2017-09-18
https://www.dr.dk/radio/p1/harddisken/harddisken-2016-06-09
https://www.radio24syv.dk/programmer/elektronista/13451525/207-kunstig-intelligens-gud-eller-djaevel/

Events

Artificial intelligence: Bring your company into the future
24 May 2018, 8.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m., Copenhagen
Fee: Free
Registration

This article is created by Cphbusiness Innovation