ARTICLE
Do you recall the 1970 movie 2001 A Space Odyssey and the famously named computer, HAL (short for Heuristically Programmed Algorithmic computer)? Here is a short clip about HAL and the movie: https://www.tcm.com/video/11279/2001-a-space-odyssey-wide-release-trailer Currently, the tech sector is buzzing with excitement over the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI). With the recent launch of ChatGPT and the growing concerns about the potential misuse of this AI tool, governments at the local, state, and federal levels are thoroughly examining the situation. Their goal is to address public concerns while still fostering innovation. Earlier this summer, the White House revealed a voluntary agreement that involves prominent AI companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. The agreement focuses on promoting responsible AI usage. AI has many potential benefits, including increased efficiency, improved accuracy, and enhanced decision-making capabilities. AI systems can help automate mundane tasks, freeing up time for more important work. They can usually provide more accurate results than humans can achieve on their own, reducing errors and improving accuracy. Finally, AI systems can help businesses make better decisions by providing insights into customer behavior or market trends that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to uncover. The County of Santa Cruz announced it will begin developing policies for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by County staff, placing it at the vanguard of local governments beginning to contemplate the future uses of AI. On June 13th, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to develop policies regarding AI usage by staff. In response, the County is establishing a working group to develop policies that include ethical considerations, risks, data privacy and opportunities associated with AI implementation, which will guide internal and external uses of AI. That progress report is due back to the Board in three months. The framework from the County AI is outlined here: - Data privacy and security, including refraining from sharing confidential and sensitive data with AI interfaces until the systems are determined to be operating in compliance with HIPAA and other data privacy laws. - Transparency, assuring that the use of AI is explainable to users. - Accountability, including evaluations to ensure AI systems are accurate and/or operating appropriately. - Fairness and bias, assuring that AI does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or other protected classes. - Informed consent, assuring users are informed and can opt out of using AI. - Responsible, including the development of ethical guidelines for the use of AI technologies. The wave of innovation, intertwined with concerns about data security and privacy, has accelerated the adoption of AI, influencing its impact on our lives while also clarifying its scope. The fundamental definition of AI is as follows: "AI involves the theory and development of computer systems capable of executing tasks typically necessitating human intelligence. These tasks encompass visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation." Artificial intelligence is the method by which a computer is able to act on data through statistical analysis, enabling it to understand, analyze, and learn from data through specifically designed algorithms. This is an automated process. Artificially intelligent machines can remember behavior patterns and adapt their responses to conform to those behaviors or encourage changes to them. Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a part of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that helps computers understand and talk to humans more naturally. Some examples include conversations with Siri and Alexa, Google Translate, autocorrect on your smartphone, and banking apps where AI algorithms analyze user spending patterns. Additionally, facial detection and recognition, exemplified by virtual filters and facial ID for secure device access, underscore NLP’s pervasiveness in today’s new world. You may have also noticed it when you shop online or watch a movie that searches algorithms which are used to align with your interests and previous searches. Yes, it can be annoying getting those pop-up links as you are perusing Facebook and Twitter (now X) and Threads. The data is collected at the front end (from the user) and stored and analyzed through machine learning and deeper learning capabilities. It is then able to predict your preferences, usually, and offer recommendations for things you might want to buy or listen to next. As a customer, interacting with customer service can be time-consuming and stressful. For companies, it can be an inefficient department that is typically expensive and hard to manage. One increasingly popular artificially intelligent solution to this is the use of AI chatbots. The programmed algorithms enable machines to answer frequently asked questions, take and track orders, and direct calls. Again, it can be annoying when the machine-driven questions don’t always answer your questions. The examples continue from digital assistants, social media applications to using AI to monitor content and suggest connections and target specific audiences, advertisers and marketing resources. And of course the marvel of e-payments where it is analyzed that 78% of American adults prefer to bank via a mobile device or website. This is a growing industry of e-pay options — Amazon Pay, PayPal, Square, PayStand, Apple Pay, Stripe, and a host of others that are maximizing this new tech space. Artificial intelligence is an exciting field with many potential applications in both business and consumer settings. By understanding what AI is and how it works, businesses can begin to harness its power to improve their operations and gain a competitive edge in their industry. Later this fall or in early 2024, the Chamber will host an educational workshop bringing in AI experts to share how it works and how it can improve the efficiency of your company or organization. Along with tech innovation comes tech investment and a potential shift in employment strategies. The recent action in AI-related stocks, such as Santa Clara-based Nvidia, recalls the dot.com boom of the '90s when analysts grabbed headlines with their aggressive price targets on Amazon. Will we see a re-emergence of a new world order of tech driven by the AI space? Hold on to your mobile phone because the future is already here.
Do you recall the 1970 movie 2001 A Space Odyssey and the famously named computer, HAL (short for Heuristically Programmed Algorithmic computer)? Here is a short clip about HAL and the movie: https://www.tcm.com/video/11279/2001-a-space-odyssey-wide-release-trailer
Currently, the tech sector is buzzing with excitement over the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI). With the recent launch of ChatGPT and the growing concerns about the potential misuse of this AI tool, governments at the local, state, and federal levels are thoroughly examining the situation. Their goal is to address public concerns while still fostering innovation. Earlier this summer, the White House revealed a voluntary agreement that involves prominent AI companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. The agreement focuses on promoting responsible AI usage.
AI has many potential benefits, including increased efficiency, improved accuracy, and enhanced decision-making capabilities. AI systems can help automate mundane tasks, freeing up time for more important work. They can usually provide more accurate results than humans can achieve on their own, reducing errors and improving accuracy. Finally, AI systems can help businesses make better decisions by providing insights into customer behavior or market trends that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to uncover.
The County of Santa Cruz announced it will begin developing policies for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by County staff, placing it at the vanguard of local governments beginning to contemplate the future uses of AI. On June 13th, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to develop policies regarding AI usage by staff. In response, the County is establishing a working group to develop policies that include ethical considerations, risks, data privacy and opportunities associated with AI implementation, which will guide internal and external uses of AI. That progress report is due back to the Board in three months. The framework from the County AI is outlined here:
- Data privacy and security, including refraining from sharing confidential and sensitive data with AI interfaces until the systems are determined to be operating in compliance with HIPAA and other data privacy laws.
- Transparency, assuring that the use of AI is explainable to users.
- Accountability, including evaluations to ensure AI systems are accurate and/or operating appropriately.
- Fairness and bias, assuring that AI does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or other protected classes.
- Informed consent, assuring users are informed and can opt out of using AI.
- Responsible, including the development of ethical guidelines for the use of AI technologies.
The wave of innovation, intertwined with concerns about data security and privacy, has accelerated the adoption of AI, influencing its impact on our lives while also clarifying its scope. The fundamental definition of AI is as follows: "AI involves the theory and development of computer systems capable of executing tasks typically necessitating human intelligence. These tasks encompass visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation."
Artificial intelligence is the method by which a computer is able to act on data through statistical analysis, enabling it to understand, analyze, and learn from data through specifically designed algorithms. This is an automated process. Artificially intelligent machines can remember behavior patterns and adapt their responses to conform to those behaviors or encourage changes to them.
Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a part of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that helps computers understand and talk to humans more naturally. Some examples include conversations with Siri and Alexa, Google Translate, autocorrect on your smartphone, and banking apps where AI algorithms analyze user spending patterns. Additionally, facial detection and recognition, exemplified by virtual filters and facial ID for secure device access, underscore NLP’s pervasiveness in today’s new world.
You may have also noticed it when you shop online or watch a movie that searches algorithms which are used to align with your interests and previous searches. Yes, it can be annoying getting those pop-up links as you are perusing Facebook and Twitter (now X) and Threads. The data is collected at the front end (from the user) and stored and analyzed through machine learning and deeper learning capabilities. It is then able to predict your preferences, usually, and offer recommendations for things you might want to buy or listen to next.
As a customer, interacting with customer service can be time-consuming and stressful. For companies, it can be an inefficient department that is typically expensive and hard to manage. One increasingly popular artificially intelligent solution to this is the use of AI chatbots. The programmed algorithms enable machines to answer frequently asked questions, take and track orders, and direct calls. Again, it can be annoying when the machine-driven questions don’t always answer your questions.
The examples continue from digital assistants, social media applications to using AI to monitor content and suggest connections and target specific audiences, advertisers and marketing resources. And of course the marvel of e-payments where it is analyzed that 78% of American adults prefer to bank via a mobile device or website. This is a growing industry of e-pay options — Amazon Pay, PayPal, Square, PayStand, Apple Pay, Stripe, and a host of others that are maximizing this new tech space.
Artificial intelligence is an exciting field with many potential applications in both business and consumer settings. By understanding what AI is and how it works, businesses can begin to harness its power to improve their operations and gain a competitive edge in their industry.
Later this fall or in early 2024, the Chamber will host an educational workshop bringing in AI experts to share how it works and how it can improve the efficiency of your company or organization.
Along with tech innovation comes tech investment and a potential shift in employment strategies. The recent action in AI-related stocks, such as Santa Clara-based Nvidia, recalls the dot.com boom of the '90s when analysts grabbed headlines with their aggressive price targets on Amazon. Will we see a re-emergence of a new world order of tech driven by the AI space? Hold on to your mobile phone because the future is already here.