CIP11 - AI Researcher, AI PhD...

This past weekend I was doing my usual learning for the sake of something new, and I came across two interesting videos I wanted to share, which led me to thinking about the involvement of AI in our lives and making things better.

I remember many years ago, I was supporting a client in the space of cancer research. I remember hearing about some of the things they were doing, and how much sense it made that the research data really should be accessible. Sometimes, it may be wasted effort to be doing near identical research in two different parts of the world - especially these days, when the two parties might be able to collaborate instead.

One of the videos, here, produced by Nikkei Asia was talking about wood-derived cellulose nanofibers (CNF). Any reduction in the use of plastics is a good thing, and bonus, if the plastics we create are recyclable, and better for the environment.

One interesting mentions in the video was specific to the Shizuoka prefecture, and how I think, someone was actually responsible for connecting the dots between the problem and the solution.

This got me thinking about how AI could help us fill in the gaps so much quicker. Perhaps we can feed it info on manufacturing processes, and the technical requirements that go into the making of the parts, or the assembly. What type of robots are being used for automation, and where else could those robots be used... could we teach the systems to not only analyse what's being done, but to further optimise - cost, placement, sequence, etc. AI (machine learning) can be applied to nearly everything in this spectrum...

It got me thinking about how there are people who spend an entire lifetime learning a discipline, sometimes very nuanced and specific, and how a future state of this could be aided through AI (and in the right use cases, Quantum computing). What would that mean for us then?! Could years of research, and potential testing be completed in months, days, hours, minutes or even seconds? Are we going to start progressing at the speed of thought? Will this drive an entirely new digital, thought economy? In this new reality, you could simply think up an idea at breakfast, research and testing could be done before you finish eating, a POC could be mocked up before you're out the door. etc.

I think you get it... we're going to get inundated with new data, at a pace never before. You think we're moving fast now... just you wait. I can't wait!

I feel very blessed that in my travels, I've met some pretty amazing people. I feel I don't get enough time to speak to some of them because I almost feel guilty for taking up their time. Recently, I was talking to AJ Guillon , and he mentioned something to me that makes me so intrigued for what the future will hold. I recommend to any Computer Scientist out there, check out the work YetiWare Inc. is doing.

The other video, here, on a completely different topic (V8s vs turbocharged V6s, or more generically, naturally aspirated larger displacement engines vs smaller turbocharged ones), cars. One of the interesting takeaways from the video that Tinker produced was the acknowledgement that systems are complex, and it's never so simple as to say by doing X, Y will be better off for it. It can be true, but these are complex systems, and changing variables always affects other things - cause nothing exists in a vacuum. I think that's why they usually say avoid early adoption of new tech as there's always a learning curve to figuring out the kinks. That's true, but the issues that result are usually growing pains, covered under warranty, and so you're going to have a tolerance for some time and inconvenience, it's the price you pay.

A common theme though from both videos was the importance of research, and why it all comes back so neatly to the thought of what the future of research is. I don't think it's been fully realized yet, but this "new age" we're embarking on together is life changing. I don't think we're "ready" for it yet, because unlike other advancements in technology along the way, this is going to affect everything - like electricity or running water.