AI: Cool your jets Dennis Quaid

Hands up if you feel like you're watching a sequel to The Day After Tomorrow when you scroll through LinkedIn lately? Except everyone is Dennis Quaid and instead of a big storm, it's AI that's signaling the end of humanity as we know it. Before we strap on our snow gear and head for New York Public Library - can we just chill for a second and consider that AI might be the most exciting development in a generation?

When we strip back the fearmongering, AI is essentially automating human tasks, with the added bonus of self programmed cognitive ability - like the industrial revolution on speed. This represents a huge opportunity for many different global challenges, and I for one will be embracing the change with my face pressed up against the window like a kid at a candy shop.

Healthcare

Access to basic healthcare has become a luxury that has defined the struggle between rich and poor. AI offers the opportunity to automate many of the healthcare tasks that cause such long waiting lists by scaling the knowledge of our best medical professionals. What's the difference between AI and automation in healthcare? Automation can't replicate the doctor, but AI can offer a patient experience that is much closer to that of seeing a doctor, by quickly responding to the patients unique set of needs - both physical and psychological. AI can also put the skills of the worlds leading doctors in the hands of the worlds most deprived patients. One company is already using AI video games to make mental health assessments - and provide ongoing monitoring of the patients mental state.

Sustainability

Humans have done a pretty poor job at looking after our planet so far - and we're not doing enough to combat it. AI offers us the opportunity to quickly optimise energy efficiency across a myriad of different functions, from transport routes, agricultural practices, and food production. Recent research by PWC suggests that AI for environmental applications could contribute up to $5.2 trillion USD to the global economy in 2030, and reduce worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 4% in 2030. That's pretty cool right?

Transport

Is it me or have rail improvement works become an oxymoron? I don't see any improvement - just more delays and price increases - and that's partly down to rail companies taking a 'reactive' approach to repairs and maintenance. AI will be able to analyse user data and transport patterns to predict when maintenance will be needed - so transport providers can take a pro active approach, with less down time. RIP rail replacement bus services, you won't be missed hun.

Global events

Turns out my The Day After Tomorrow analogy wasn't a thousand miles off the mark - because AI has the potential to do that Dorothy from the Twister movie shit and use data to predict natural disasters like earthquakes and storms, so we can have better disaster planning - reducing the human impact of such events. This article goes into more detail if you're a nature nerd like me.

I've skimmed the surface here - but the limit does not exist when it comes to AI, and whilst we might all be aware of the dystopian predictions of Phillip K. Dick and Isaac Asimov, truthfully there's a lot to be really excited about - without the electric sheep or Tom Cruise rappelling through my bedroom ceiling to arrest me for a pre crime.