Artificial Intelligence – a bird’s eye view

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Let’s start with a misconception
Do you think about robots when I talk about Artificial Intelligence? You are on the wrong track
then because they are entirely separate fields and in fact concept of robots is older than AI. AI is
an offshoot of computer science that means it would deal with making sophisticated/intelligent
computer programs. Robotics on the other hand is a field of technology that means we would
focus more on the hardware aspect. Look at the Venn diagram given below:

Think of A) an iron hand used to fix lids on and pack jam bottles in a food industry, B) A
program that learns user preferences and suggests videos on YouTube and C) Sophia, the
humanoid robot.
 A) is machine with some circuitry; made to do so.
 B) is an intelligent program that would learn your penchant towards particular
kind/genre of videos. How does YouTube recommend certain videos? This algorithm is
in place.
 C) is a machine made intelligent through software programs that can talk, move
around autonomously, process human speech and reason somewhat close to human’s
capability. Say ‘Hello’ to your laptop, does it greet you back? No.
o How is Sophia enabled to learn and adapt her environment? It is made possible
through the use of machine learning and deep learning algorithms.
What is Intelligence? What is Artificial Intelligence?
Intelligence: It may be defined as “the capacity to learn and solve problems” (Webster’s
dictionary). In particular,
 the ability to solve novel (new/unusual) problems
 the ability to act rationally
 the ability to act like humans
Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence – a bird’s eye view

 build and understand intelligent entities or agents

 2 main approaches: “engineering” versus “cognitive modeling” (simulating human
problem-solving and mental processing in a computerized model.)
o Artificial Intelligence embarked on emulating human mental processes right from
taking input to its manipulation to final output. Take an example of 5 players
playing Black Queen. All of them would be involved in analyzing one’s own
moves, other players’ moves and predicting their future moves in order to win the
game. All of this involves observing moves (perception/input), storing
information in brain temporarily (knowledge representation), manipulating the
existing data to infer out a right move (cognition/reason), actual move made
(output), adjust one’s own moves in order to achieve the goal (learning and
adapting).
o Can we make intelligent machines? Can we measure machine Intelligence?
Please read the Turing test 1950 and AI history.

Definitions
Simple: The study of how to make computers do things at which, at the moment, people are
better (Rich & Knight, 1991)
OR
One step ahead: AI generally refers to tasks performed by computer software that would
otherwise require human intelligence. And by ‘software’ we mean a bundle of algorithms that
follow a series of steps to arrive at an action or conclusion. Examples of these tasks are visual
perception (e.g., scanning human face), speech recognition (e.g., Hello Google), decision-making
(e.g., Expert systems, ATM fraud detection, stock market trend analysis), and translation
between languages (e.g., English to German). Please relate the example of Black Queen here –
machine cognition vs. human cognition.
OR
Formal: AI (artificial intelligence) is the simulation of human intelligence processes by
machines, especially computer systems. These processes include learning (the acquisition of
information and rules for using the information), reasoning (using rules to reach approximate or
definite conclusions) and self-correction. Particular applications of AI include expert systems,
speech recognition and machine vision. Please relate the example of Black Queen here –
machine cognition vs. human cognition.
Artificial Intelligence – a bird’s eye view

Note: AI can be as simple as a search technology for information retrieval employed by Google
or as complex as a humanoid robot system. It’s the application that decides to what extent you
want to emulate human mental processes. AI is quite broad and very much in use. There are
discrete/individual applications of AI (Weak/Narrow AI) but a machine that can act exactly like
a human (General/Strong AI) is not possible so far.

Objective of AI
The main objectives of AI are to develop methods and systems for solving problems, usually
solved by the intellectual activity of humans, for example, image recognition, language and
speech processing, planning, and prediction, thus enhancing computer information systems;
and to develop models which simulate living organisms and the human brain in particular,
thus improving our understanding of how the human brain works.

(Source: http://brainmeta.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4671)

Types of artificial intelligence

AI can be categorized in any number of ways, but here are two examples.

The first classifies AI systems as either weak AI or strong AI.

Weak AI, also known as narrow AI, is an AI system that is designed and trained for a particular
task, and respond to a particular situation (discrete applications). These are systems that can
perform discrete tasks within strict parameters, for example:

 Image recognition — used in self-service desks at passport control, and automatic name

tagging on Facebook photos
 Natural language processing — used in voice recognition for AI assistants like Amazon
Echo and Google Home
 Information retrieval — used in search engines
 Reasoning using logic or evidence — used in mortgage underwriting or determining the
likelihood of fraud

These tasks can in turn be grouped into three categories of intelligence: sensing, reasoning and
communicating. The technology journalist Kris Hammond uses the example of voice assistants
like Apple’s Siri and Google’s Assistant to demonstrate how AI systems often combine different
functions: first they deploy speech recognition algorithms to capture what people are asking
(‘sensing’), then use natural language processing to make sense of what the string of words mean
and identify an answer (‘reasoning’), and finally relay this answer to users using natural
language generation (‘communicating’).

Strong AI, also known as artificial general intelligence, is an AI system with generalized human
cognitive abilities so that when presented with an unfamiliar task, it has enough intelligence to
find a solution. General AI refers to holistic systems that have equal or greater intelligence to
humans, and which can complete all manner of tasks. No real life examples, just recall how
Artificial Intelligence – a bird’s eye view

Hollywood portrays robots in movies e.g., Transformers, The Iron Giant, Wall-E etc. You may
see such AI in next 30-40 years (probably in 2050).

What Stephen Hawking warned is basically the concept of singularity. Few weeks after you hit
strong AI, machines would be able to improve their selves on their own; they would create more
intelligent machines and they in turn would create more intelligent machines. Would they bear
with humans and their orders? Watch Singularity (movie).

Examples of AI technology

AI is incorporated into a variety of different types of technology. Here are seven examples.

 Automation: What makes a system or process function automatically? For example,

robotic process automation (RPA) can be programmed to perform high-volume,
repeatable tasks that human normally performed. RPA is different from IT automation in
that it can adapt to changing circumstances.
 Machine learning: The science of getting a computer to act without programming. Deep
learning is a subset of machine learning that, in very simple terms, can be thought of as
the automation of predictive analytics. Deep Blue, the IBM chess program beat Garry
Kasparov in the 1990s. Deep Blue can identify pieces on the chess board and make
predictions. There are three types of machine learning algorithms:
o Supervised learning: Data sets are labeled so that patterns can be detected and
used to label new data sets
o Unsupervised learning: Data sets aren't labeled and are sorted according to
similarities or differences
o Reinforcement learning: Data sets aren't labeled but, after performing an action
or several actions, the AI system is given feedback.
o Youtube, Netflix recommendations are because of the application of machine
learning algorithms.
 Machine vision: The science of allowing computers to see. This technology captures and
analyzes visual information using a camera, analog-to-digital conversion and digital
signal processing. It is often compared to human eyesight, but machine vision isn't bound
by biology and can be programmed to see through walls, for example. It is used in a
range of applications from signature identification to medical image analysis. Computer
vision, which is focused on machine-based image processing, is often conflated with
machine vision.
 Natural language processing (NLP): The processing of human -- and not computer --
language by a computer program. One of the older and best known examples of NLP is
spam detection, which looks at the subject line and the text of an email and decides if it's
junk. Current approaches to NLP are based on machine learning. NLP tasks include text
translation, sentiment analysis and speech recognition.
 Robotics: A field of engineering focused on the design and manufacturing of robots.
Robots are often used to perform tasks that are difficult for humans to perform or perform
consistently. They are used in assembly lines for car production or by NASA to move
large objects in space. Researchers are also using machine learning to build robots that
can interact in social settings.
Artificial Intelligence – a bird’s eye view

o Chatbot
o Honda’s ASIMO
o Sophia
 Self-driving cars: These use a combination of computer vision, image recognition and
deep learning to build automated skill at piloting a vehicle while staying in a given lane
and avoiding unexpected obstructions, such as pedestrians.
 Biometric Identification
 Expert Systems
o E.g., Cash withdrawal in ATM
 Data mining in Business
 Gaming
 Navigational applications
 Voice recognition
o Alexa, Siri, Google Home
 Handwriting recognition
 Pattern recognition
o E.g., Antivirus programs such as Avast Free makes use of AI and machine
learning to differentiate between benign data and malware.
 Construction: A robot called the Semi-Automated Mason (SAM) can lay up to 1,200
bricks a day, compared with the 300 to 500 a human bricklayer is capable of.
 Parcel delivery: Starship Technologies has developed a wheeled robot that can deliver
parcels autonomously, and is now being trialed with logistics companies worldwide.
 Housing inspections :  Technology company ASI Data Science has created algorithms to
predict where unlicensed landlords operate, helping to prevent the exploitation of
vulnerable tenants.

AI applications

Artificial intelligence has made its way into a number of areas. Here are six examples.

 AI in healthcare. The biggest bets are on improving patient outcomes and reducing
costs. Companies are applying machine learning to make better and faster diagnoses than
humans. One of the best known healthcare technologies is IBM Watson. It understands
natural language and is capable of responding to questions asked of it. The system mines
patient data and other available data sources to form a hypothesis, which it then presents
with a confidence scoring schema. Other AI applications include chatbots, a computer
program used online to answer questions and assist customers, to help schedule follow-up
appointments or aid patients through the billing process, and virtual health assistants that
provide basic medical feedback.
o Cancer detection — A deep learning algorithm developed by Stanford University
is capable of diagnosing cancerous skin lesions as accurately as a dermatologist.
(Source: https://medium.com/@thersa/what-is-the-difference-between-ai-robotics-
d93715b4ba7f)
 AI in business. Robotic process automation is being applied to highly repetitive tasks
normally performed by humans. Machine learning algorithms are being integrated into
analytics and CRM platforms to uncover information on how to better serve customers.
Artificial Intelligence – a bird’s eye view

Chatbots have been incorporated into websites to provide immediate service to

customers. Automation of job positions has also become a talking point among
academics and IT analysts.
o Many retailers use machine learning algorithms to learn customer preferences and
offer personalised recommendations.
 AI in education. AI can automate grading, giving educators more time. AI can assess
students and adapt to their needs, helping them work at their own pace. AI tutors can
provide additional support to students, ensuring they stay on track. AI could change
where and how students learn, perhaps even replacing some teachers.
 AI in finance. AI in personal finance applications, such as Mint or Turbo Tax, is
disrupting financial institutions. Applications such as these collect personal data and
provide financial advice. Other programs, such as IBM Watson, have been applied to the
process of buying a home. Today, software performs much of the trading on Wall Street.
 AI in law. The discovery process, sifting through of documents, in law is often
overwhelming for humans. Automating this process is a more efficient use of time.
Startups are also building question-and-answer computer assistants that can sift
programmed-to-answer questions by examining the taxonomy and ontology associated
with a database.
 AI in manufacturing. This is an area that has been at the forefront of incorporating
robots into the workflow. Industrial robots used to perform single tasks and were
separated from human workers, but as the technology advanced that changed.

Source: https://searchenterpriseai.techtarget.com/definition/AI-Artificial-Intelligence
For history, please read: https://medium.com/@thersa/what-is-the-difference-between-ai-
robotics-d93715b4ba7f
AI AND ROBOTICS

What Is Robotics?

Robotics is a branch of technology which deals with robots. Robots are programmable machines
which are usually able to carry out a series of actions autonomously, or semi-autonomously.

In my opinion, there are three important factors which constitute a robot:

1. Robots interact with the physical world via sensors and actuators.
2. Robots are programmable.
3. Robots are usually autonomous or semi-autonomous.

I say that robots are "usually" autonomous because some robots aren't. Telerobots, for example,
are entirely controlled by a human operator but telerobotics is still classed as a branch of
robotics.

However you choose to define a robot, robotics involves designing, building and programming
physical robots. Only a small part of it involves artificial intelligence.
Artificial Intelligence – a bird’s eye view

What Is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science. It involves developing computer

programs to complete tasks which would otherwise require human intelligence. AI algorithms
can tackle learning, perception, problem-solving, language-understanding and/or logical
reasoning.

AI is used in many ways within the modern world. For example, AI algorithms are used in
Google searches, Amazon's recommendation engine and SatNav route finders. Most AI
programs are not used to control robots.

Even when AI is used to control robots, the AI algorithms are only part of the larger robotic
system, which also includes sensors, actuators and non-AI programming.

Often — but not always — AI involves some level of machine learning, where an algorithm is
"trained" to respond to a particular input in a certain way by using known inputs and outputs.

The key aspect that differentiates AI from more conventional programming is the word
"intelligence." Non-AI programs simply carry out a defined sequence of instructions. AI
programs mimic some level of human intelligence.

What Are Artificially Intelligent Robots?

Artificially intelligent robots are the bridge between robotics and AI. These are robots which are
controlled by AI programs.

Many robots are not artificially intelligent. Up until quite recently, all industrial robots could
only be programmed to carry out a repetitive series of movements. As we have discussed,
repetitive movements do not require artificial intelligence.

Non-intelligent robots are quite limited in their functionality. AI algorithms are often necessary
to allow the robot to perform more complex tasks.

Let's look at some examples.

Example: Non-Artificially Intelligent Cobot

A simple collaborative robot (cobot) is a perfect example of a non-intelligent robot.

For example, you can easily program a cobot to pick up an object and place it elsewhere. The
cobot will then continue to pick and place objects in exactly the same way until you turn it off.
This is an autonomous function because the robot does not require any human input after it has
been programmed. However, the task does not require any intelligence.

Example: Artificially Intelligent Cobot

Artificial Intelligence – a bird’s eye view

You could extend the capabilities of the cobot by using AI.

Imagine you wanted to add a camera to your cobot. Robot vision comes under the category of
"perception" and usually requires AI algorithms.

For example, say you wanted the cobot to detect the object it was picking up and place it in a
different location depending on the type of object. This would involve training a specialized
vision program to recognize the different types of object. One way to do this is using an AI
algorithm called Template Matching, which we discuss in our article How Template Matching
Works in Robot Vision.

Source: https://blog.robotiq.com/whats-the-difference-between-robotics-and-artificial-
intelligence

History of AI and Robotics

1923 - Karel Čapek’s play named “Rossum's Universal Robots” (RUR) opens in London, first
use of the word "robot" in English.

1943 - Foundations laid for neural networks.

1945 - Isaac Asimov, Columbia University alumni, coined the term Robotics.

1950 - Alan Turing introduced Turing Test for evaluation of intelligence and published
Computing Machinery and Intelligence. Claude Shannon published Detailed Analysis of Chess
Playing as a search.

1956 - John McCarthy coined the term Artificial Intelligence at Dartmouth Conference. He
invented LISP in 1958.

1963 – 1973: The research on and funding for neural networks almost disappears because it
progressed with incremental pace and lack of dedicated resources. The period between 70’s and
80’s is called ‘AI Winters’.

1964 - Danny Bobrow's dissertation at MIT showed that computers can understand natural
language well enough to solve algebra word problems correctly.

1965 - Joseph Weizenbaum at MIT built ELIZA, an interactive problem that carries on a
dialogue in English.

1969 - Scientists at Stanford Research Institute Developed Shakey, a robot, equipped with
locomotion, perception, and problem solving.

1969 – 1985: Rule based Expert systems prevail.

Artificial Intelligence – a bird’s eye view

1973 - The Assembly Robotics group at Edinburgh University built Freddy, the Famous Scottish
Robot, capable of using vision to locate and assemble models

1979 - The first computer-controlled autonomous vehicle, Stanford Cart, was built.

1986 - Neural networks return to popularity. Major advances in machine learning algorithms and
applications

1990 - Major advances in all areas of AI including machine learning.

1997 - The Deep Blue Chess Program beats the then world chess champion, Garry
Kasparov.

2000 - Interactive robot pets become commercially available. MIT displays Kismet, a robot with
a face that expresses emotions. The robot Nomad explores remote regions of Antarctica and
locates meteorites.

21st century – The focus is more on Deep learning algorithms. The concept of big data dictates
that data we produce is increasing exponentially say we produce 2.5 quintillion bytes of data
created each day at our current rate. This requires another efficient algorithm that is Deep
learning.

2010 - DeepMind in the 2010s developed a "generalized artificial intelligence" that could learn
many diverse Atari games on its own.

2012 – ‘AlexNet’ by Alex Krizhevsky and his colleagues using deep learning algorithm.
Considered a paradigm shift in AI.
Artificial Intelligence – a bird’s eye view

Early 2017 - Neural Architecture Search (NAS) with reinforcement learning (a new method of
designing neural networks/how a neural architecture can improve itself)

November 2017 - “NASNet” (full-fledged neural network designed by NAS) was announced. It
achieved state-of-the-art performance in image classification and surpassed the best human-
designed model in object detection.

At present – Neural Architecture Search

Programming languages for AI

Python: Python (official website) is among developers favorites programming languages in AI

development because of its syntax simplicity and versatility, and rich variety of library and tools.
It is portable language as it is used on platforms including Linux, Windows, Mac OS and UNIX.

C++: C++ is the fastest computer language; its speed is appreciated for AI programming projects
that are time sensitive. Another important factor is that C++ supports re-use of programs in
development due to inheritance and data-hiding thus efficient in time and cost saving.

JAVA: It is an AI programming language that can run on any platform that supports it without
need for recompilation.

LISP: LISP is another language used for artificial intelligence development. LISP is used in AI
because of its flexibility for fast in prototyping and experimentation which in turn facilitate LISP
to grow to a standard AI language. For instance, LISP has a unique macro system which
facilitates exploration and implementation of different levels of Intellectual Intelligence.

PROLOG: Prolog is also one of the oldest programming languages thus also suitable for the
development of programming AI. Like Lisp, it is also a primary computer language for artificial
intelligence. It is a rule-based and declarative language as it contains facts and rules that dictate
its artificial intelligence coding language.

Source: https://existek.com/blog/ai-programming-and-ai-programming-languages/
Artificial Intelligence – a bird’s eye view