7.00am
As you awaken, you quickly glance at your iPhone, which automatically unlocks through facial recognition.
Apple’s Face ID uses advanced technology to convert your facial features into a unique numerical code, which serves as your personal identifier. This biometric data is not permanent, as it constantly adapts to any changes in your appearance, such as growing a beard, changing makeup, or aging. Additionally, Face ID can determine if your eyes are open and if you are looking at your phone. The iPhone’s core features are also enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI). For example, the photo app can create a professional-looking background and adjust lighting using AI, while also utilizing computer vision to identify people and objects and organize photos into categories based on themes and locations. Siri, the virtual assistant, uses natural language processing and machine learning to understand and fulfill voice commands. Apple Maps also utilizes AI by predicting traffic patterns to suggest the quickest or quietest route, or one with less incline. Even when messaging friends, an algorithm analyzes your writing style and words to provide relevant predictive text suggestions, including appropriate emojis.
7.40am
You request Alexa to play music for the children during breakfast.
After being activated, Alexa begins to record your speech. However, the process of interpreting your words requires significant computing capabilities. To achieve this, your recorded speech is transmitted to Amazon’s servers, which serve as the central brain for Alexa. Through speech recognition software, the audio is translated into text and language processing algorithms extract the intended meaning. In some cases, the requested information is then transmitted back to your Alexa device. As with most AI systems, Alexa’s performance improves with more data. To aid in this learning process, human reviewers analyze a portion of the requests to guide the AI in providing increasingly helpful and advanced responses.
8.10am
from your home
You commute to your job in your electric vehicle from your residence.
Autonomous vehicles, such as the Tesla, are able to perform many mundane driving tasks. Through its AI system, the car utilizes data from eight cameras to identify obstacles, lanes, intersections, and traffic lights. It then makes decisions on how to proceed, whether it’s navigating a difficult parking spot or passing a slow-moving truck. However, these self-driving cars are only equipped to handle situations that they have encountered before, making it a continuous challenge to prepare them for rare and unexpected events. They also face limitations in inclement weather conditions like fog and rain. Dr. Mhairi Aitken, an ethics fellow at the Alan Turing Institute, explains that the complexities and unpredictability of the road can lead to serious mistakes by these vehicles. While the car is capable of steering, braking, and accelerating on its own, the human driver must remain fully attentive at all times and be ready to manually take control if necessary.
8.25am
You make a quick stop at the grocery store on your commute to work.
Many public CCTV cameras simply record footage instead of analyzing it in real time. However, an increasing number of stores, such as Co-op, Budgens, Sports Direct, and House of Fraser, rely on AI-powered facial recognition systems provided by FaceWatch for security purposes. A high-quality camera is typically installed at the entrance to capture the face of every person who enters. This data is then sent to a computer, which extracts biometric information and compares it to a database of known individuals who have previously been caught shoplifting or are considered suspicious by retailers. If the algorithm detects a potential match, FaceWatch’s team of highly skilled human observers confirm or dismiss the match before notifying the retailer. Otherwise, the biometric data is discarded.
9.00am
Next, head to the hospital where you are employed.
Artificial intelligence is currently being extensively studied in the field of medicine, with initial applications being focused on assisting with scans and improving the accuracy of surgeries. The Lung Health Check program, which screens for individuals at risk of lung cancer, utilizes AI-based computer-aided detection to aid in identifying the growth of lung nodules. However, the final decision on findings is still made by a medical professional. According to Dr. Arjun Nair, a consultant radiologist at University College Hospital London, AI can improve the detection rate from 80% to 90% of actionable findings, acting as a helpful “buddy” for clinicians. Despite its potential benefits, this software is not widely used for scans recommended by GPs for patients showing symptoms that may suggest cancer.
1.15pm
During your lunch break, you reviewed a cover letter for a job application written by your daughter, who recently graduated from university.
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the process of hiring, particularly for recent graduates. The job postings that individuals come across are tailored by recommendation algorithms on popular platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram. Many job seekers are relying on OpenAI’s ChatGPT to create personalized cover letters, enabling them to apply for multiple jobs at an incredible speed. With the growing competition in the hiring market, approximately one in ten employers of college students are utilizing AI to screen applicants, resulting in thousands of applications for a single job opening. Companies like Goldman Sachs and Unilever now regularly employ HireVue video interviews, where candidates respond to predetermined questions and an AI algorithm assesses their “employability” based on word choice, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
3.30pm
.
Your phone receives a notification from your Amazon Ring doorbell informing you that a package has been delivered to your doorstep.
Last year, approximately 20% of households in the United Kingdom reported owning an AI-based home security system. The Amazon Ring utilizes a motion-activated camera, heat sensor, and radar, along with computer vision software, to notify users when a person or package is present on their property. Dave Ward, the international managing director for Ring devices, explained that humans can appear different depending on their location. He also mentioned that humans emit a strong heat signature, which can be detected by the radar and used to track movement in three-dimensional space. The company aims to prevent false alerts by accurately identifying the presence of a human rather than an animal, such as a fox, outside the door.
4.00pm
You record the symptom of a headache on your fertility-tracking application.
Apps like Flo, which track periods and fertility, utilize neural networks to analyze user data and provide insights on health, including predicting the next period and ovulation dates. Despite this benefit, some of these apps have faced criticism for sharing sensitive health information with third-party companies like Google and Facebook, who may use it for advertising purposes.
4.30pm
.
During your coffee break, you browse through TikTok.
TikTok currently has over 1 billion active users every month. This is because the platform learns about its users through the clips they watch and share. The main idea is that users can make and share short videos, which are then viewed by other users. There is no need to explicitly state your preferences or interests on TikTok as the platform can quickly determine this based on your actions – such as watching a video in full, sharing it, or scrolling past it uninterested. As you continue to use the app, TikTok will develop a profile of your personality and interests, using this information to suggest content that will keep you engaged. This is done through natural language processing, which analyzes captions, and computer vision, which identifies the content of videos. AI technology is also being utilized to generate or improve content on the platform, ranging from AI Taylor Swift giving motivational speeches to concerning instances of false information. To combat this, TikTok has implemented a labeling policy to help users distinguish between real and fake content on the platform.
6.15pm
You use your Gmail account to send personal emails from home.
Email may seem old-fashioned nowadays, but companies like Google have been incorporating artificial intelligence into their features. This includes analyzing email content, organizing inboxes, and even generating message drafts. The Smart Reply function utilizes machine learning to suggest appropriate responses based on previous examples. For instance, if you receive an event invitation, you may be given options such as “Yes,” “No,” or a more personalized response like “Sounds great, I’ll be there!” Additionally, Gmail can sort emails into categories and remind users to follow up when necessary. It also prompts users to respond to emails that have not been replied to.
6.30pm
You are organizing a family weekend trip to Dublin and you request ChatGPT to suggest a travel plan.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT utilizes a form of artificial intelligence known as a large language model to convert text into mathematical data. This data includes not only individual words, but also the layers of meaning within a phrase or sentence. The model was trained on a massive amount of text, including the entire open internet, in order to learn the statistical patterns of language. It then uses this knowledge to generate responses to user prompts. During development, ChatGPT was also trained by human users who gave ratings to guide it towards being helpful and non-offensive. One drawback is that ChatGPT may be unreliable at times, providing “facts” that may seem believable but are actually false or outdated. As stated by the chatbot itself: “It’s important to note that ChatGPT does not have the capability to verify the accuracy of the information it provides.”
8.45pm
Your online Tesco delivery arrives
The store has efficiently implemented AI to improve the routes taken by delivery drivers and has been testing the use of highly automated urban fulfillment centers. These centers utilize robots on conveyor belts to retrieve and deliver pallets of merchandise. Additionally, Tesco has been a leader in utilizing analytics to forecast consumer trends by examining weather patterns, economic shifts, and local demographics. Their ordering system is automatically updated in real-time to reflect customer purchases.
9.50pm
You browse through a Guardian article that includes a custom advertisement.
As you engage in various activities such as reading news articles, browsing social media, conducting online searches, and making purchases, you unintentionally reveal information about yourself and your interests. This data is highly valuable to digital advertisers, who use AI technology to analyze it and gain insights into your demographic, lifestyle, spending power, and interests such as cooking, water skiing, makeup tutorials, or science fiction. This allows companies like Google to display tailored advertisements as you browse through news articles.
Source: theguardian.com
