How artificial intelligence is becoming intertwined with our daily existence

Unlocking your iPhone with Face ID, controlling a smart thermostat in your apartment or the personalized content recommendations of Netflix and HBO Max - the many applications of AI are (for longer than you think) truly everywhere in our daily lives. But how is this digital revolution slowly but surely taking over our lives?

A study published in the journal 'Nature Machine Intelligence' shows that the integration of AI within our daily activities has in fact been growing exponentially for more than 14 years.

The main issue is the interaction of three factors:

1. Ever smarter algorithms

2. Increasing computing power of computers

3. The explosion of available data

This powerful combination of circumstances has led to the inevitable democratization of AI - a phenomenon in which advanced AI tools are becoming increasingly accessible and understandable to the general public.

I can't help but imagine that most people in your immediate circle have long been using tools like ChatGPT, Copilot or Midjourney.

AI's growth spurt: from toddler to adolescent at record pace

Of course, in the world of technological advancement, you often hear about exponential growth. For example, in the 1990s we had the Dot-com Bubble, in the 2000s we were introduced to Web 2.0 (the emergence of social media channels and advanced search engines), and starting in the 2010s the advent of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency.

In the 2020s, we are dealing with the AI phenomenon. Everyone wants to do something with it, but no one seems to know what. Meanwhile, developments are happening faster than most people can keep up with. Some examples:

• OpenAI's GPT-4, meanwhile, can perform complex tasks previously reserved for trained and developed humans with ease. Such as writing functioning computer programs and mobile applications. Or analyzing technical drawings or X-rays. In a much-discussed experiment, GPT-4 managed to pass U.S. bar exams with scores in the top 10% of human participants. What does this mean for the job market and employment of the near future?
• According to a Gartner report, 35% of companies used AI for cybersecurity in 2023, up 160% from 2022. This dramatic increase is attributed to the growing maturity of cyber attacks and the need for real-time, adaptive defenses.
• A comprehensive market study by Grand View Research predicts that the AI market for healthcare will grow from $11 billion in 2021 to $187 billion by 2030. This growth is driven by the increasing demand for personalized medicine and the need for more efficient healthcare processes.

These figures do not come out of the blue. Recent research by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) shows that AI has potential to increase global GDP by 14% by 2030. That's more than the current output of China and India combined. Researchers point out that this growth will not be evenly distributed: some sectors, such as healthcare and financial services, are likely to experience a greater impact than others.

The secret ingredients of AI's success

The digital brain: smarter than ever

The development of neuromorphic chips - computer chips that mimic the human brain - marks a significant leap forward in AI hardware. IBM's TrueNorth chip, for example, has 1 million neurons and 256 million synapses. By comparison, a human brain has about 86 billion neurons.

But it's not just about quantity here. Above all, these chips are incredibly efficient. In terms of energy consumption, they are only 70 milliwatts - for comparison, that's less than an average hearing aid. This makes it possible to build AI systems that can operate not only immensely powerful, but also extremely energy-efficient.

A study published in the Journal of Neural Engineering suggests that such chips could pave the way for brain-computer interfaces. In other words, treating neurological disorders, or even improving human cognitive abilities with computer technology would no longer be a science-fiction concept, but something truly within reach.

Meanwhile, companies like Anthropic are working to develop what they call "constitutional AI" - AI systems designed to operate within specific ethical boundaries. Their Claude AI assistant, for example, is programmed to refuse to produce certain types of harmful or illegal content regardless of the instructions it receives. This represents an important step toward responsible AI development.

Big Data: The fuel of artificial intelligence

Data is fuel. And so the AI models we use every day are hungry for more data. And as scary as it sounds, humanity is constantly feeding. Every digital interaction (search, click, swipe, like or share) is another small bite for the big, ever-hungry AI.

A study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, estimates that we produce about 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day. To put this in a perspective from all of humanity:

Every minute:

• Do we send 16 million text messages
• Do we watch 694,444 hours of Netflix
• Do we spend $1.6 million on online shopping

A recent IDC study predicts that by 2025 we will produce 175 zettabytes of data worldwide. That's enough to fill 15 billion smartphones. So this explosion of data fuels increasingly sophisticated AI models.

Generative AI software such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Midjourney leverage this abundance of data to train AI systems capable of generating stunning images and videos. Midjourney's AI can create detailed, surreal images based on simple textual descriptions (prompts) that are barely distinguishable from human art forms or photorealistic images. Runway goes a step further with video generation models, and are able to generate full videos or edit existing videos based on textual prompting instructions. These developments raise fascinating questions about the future of creativity and the role of human artists in a world where AI is becoming increasingly capable of producing visual content.

AI's fingerprints in our daily lives

AI has long since moved beyond simple (and sometimes irritating) chatbots and virtual assistants. According to a Gartner survey, 75% of companies will use AI-driven automation by 2024.

From predicting machine breakdowns to optimizing work schedules - AI is changing the way we work.

An interesting case study comes from the Swedish company Spotify. They use AI not only to make music recommendations, but also to optimize their internal processes. Their AI system, called "FEST" (Fast, Efficient, Simple Ticketing), automates the process of assigning and prioritizing IT support tickets. This has led to a 25% reduction in the time it takes to resolve tickets and a 50% improvement in employee satisfaction with IT support.

Meanwhile, American company Textio is experimenting with AI to improve the hiring process. Their AI system analyzes job postings for language that might unintentionally deter certain groups of candidates, and suggests alternatives to make the text more inclusive. A study conducted in collaboration with the University of Washington showed that companies using Textio saw a 23% higher diversity in their applicant pool.

Artificial intelligence and human health: Medical AI applications

In the medical world, AI is making great strides. A groundbreaking study published in The Lancet shows that AI systems can detect breast cancer with an accuracy comparable to that of two human radiologists. This bodes well for early diagnosis and treatment.

But the possibilities extend beyond diagnostics. DeepMind, a subsidiary of Alphabet (Google's parent company), has developed an AI system capable of predicting the 3D structure of proteins with an accuracy previously thought impossible. This has huge implications for developing new drugs and understanding disease mechanisms at the molecular level.

Another fascinating example comes from the company Viz.ai, which uses AI to diagnose and treat strokes faster. Their system analyzes CT scans in real-time and can identify a possible stroke within minutes, saving precious time in a situation where every minute counts. A study published in the Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery showed that using Viz.ai reduced the time to treatment by an average of 66 minutes.

The dark side of the digital moon

Of course, not everything is rosy in the world of AI. The exponential growth of artificial intelligence also raises important questions:

Digital footprints: Bigger than you think

That funny meme you shared? That one can now be used to train AI. A Rathenau Institute survey shows that 82% of Dutch people are concerned about how their online data is being used. These concerns are not unfounded. A study published in the journal Big Data & Society revealed that many popular apps collect far more data than is strictly necessary for their functionality, and that this data is often shared with third parties without full transparency to the user.

The controversies surrounding facial recognition company Clearview AI illustrate the ethical dilemmas that arise when personal data is collected and used on a large scale. Clearview AI has built a database of more than 20 billion images collected by scrapping the Internet, including social media platforms. This has led to lawsuits and fines in several countries for privacy violations.

Ethical puzzles in a digital maze

If a self-driving car causes an accident, who is responsible? How do we prevent AI systems from reinforcing existing biases? These are questions on which scientists, policymakers and ethicists are baring their teeth.

A study conducted by researchers at MIT found that many commercial facial recognition systems were less accurate at identifying women and people of darker skin color. This raises serious questions about the potential reinforcement of existing biases by AI systems.

OpenAI's decision not to initially release the full version of their GPT-2 language model due to concerns about potential misuse illustrates the industry's struggle with the ethical implications of their work. Since then, OpenAI has adopted a more graduated approach, releasing increasingly powerful versions of their models while simultaneously monitoring and mitigating potential risks.

What can we expect from AI in the future?

The AI revolution is barely out of the starting blocks. While some opinions now claim that AI fatigue is setting in, there are still many experts predicting that we will see many more groundbreaking AI applications in the coming years. From personal AI stylists that manage your entire wardrobe to AI systems that tackle climate change - the possibilities seem endless.

A fascinating example of what the future might bring comes from OpenAI's DALL-E 3 and GPT-4. These models can not only convert text into images, but can also interpret and visualize complex scenarios. Imagine this: you describe your dream house to an AI, and it generates not only an image, but also a detailed building plan and a list of specific and suitable sustainable materials.

Meanwhile, DeepMind is working on AI systems that could help in scientific research. Their AlphaFold system has already revolutionized our understanding of protein structures, and they predict that future versions could help discover new materials or understand complex biological processes.

But one thing is certain: AI will play an increasing role in our lives. It is up to us to ensure that we use this technology responsibly and ethically. As noted AI researcher Stuart Russell states, "The greatest challenge of the 21st century will be to ensure that machines that are smarter than us adopt our goals rather than developing their own."

Wondering how AI can work for you?

AI-driven work is by no means a replacement, but an enhancement.

• AI helps you better understand what your target audience likes, but as an entrepreneur, you must always be able to stay in control.
• For example, AI is great for handling boring Excel sheets and other form-filling exercises, so you can focus on the challenging and creative aspects of your business.
• AI gives you ideas based on data and data, but you ultimately have to make the decisions.

That's actually what AI-driven work can do. It's not a magic solution. Rather, think of it as a tool in your toolbox.

You may be wondering, "Won't AI eventually take over my job?"

Rest assured, that is not the goal. After all, AI is there to support you, not replace you. The point is to help you work smarter with less, not harder with more.

And the great thing is: you don't have to be a die-hard techie these days to apply AI within your business or organization. We can help anyone with AI applications, no matter how complex and big or simple and small your goals may be.

Want to learn more about how AI can make your job easier? Let's talk about it. We'd be happy to explain how you can use this technology to make your day-to-day work not only more effective but more fun.