The influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Lighting
A recent article I read online stated that during the global pandemic the AI industry broke records with AI start-up companies raising in excess $33 Billion in 2020.
That is a staggering amount of money and just goes to show how companies are clamouring to obtain products with some level of Artificial Intelligence.
?I guess we should attempt to understand what we mean by the term Artificial Intelligence. I found the following explanation online which I believe gives a good overview.
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Artificial intelligence?(AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. The term may also be applied to any machine that exhibits traits associated with a human mind such as learning and problem-solving.
There are three types of AI, and these are split as follows
?1.????Artificial narrow intelligence (ANI, which has a narrow range of abilities, Weak AI
2.????Artificial general intelligence (AGI), which is on par with human capabilities, Strong AI
3.????Artificial super intelligence (ASI), which is more capable than a human.
Currently we are looking at devices operating in the (ANI) narrow intelligence grouping or sometimes referred to as the weak AI. The phrase is a little misleading as the capabilities of ANI system is quite spectacular when we compare them to the so called intelligent devices of the past.
?Narrow AI is goal focused, in that it is designed to perform a singular task such as recognising a voice or facial recognition. Think about the smart phone in your pocket and that is a device using ANI. You could even go so far as include self-driving cars in this category as the functions are all goal driven in that they are designed to get you from?A to B without harm.
?Levels 2, general or strong intelligence is where a computer mimics human intelligence with the ability to learn and problem solve. It uses a theory of mind AI that is not about replication, it’s about the machine truly having the ability to understand humans. There are several books that discuss this in some detail and certainly Michio KaKu discusses this in his book Physics of the Future, where he looks at developments in technology over the next 100years and the view shared by scientist was general AI may still be something we are working on well into the next century.
?As for level 3, super intelligence, then who knows, one thing we need to consider is how we would interact with an AI that is more intelligent than a human and potentially self-aware. Before anyone brings up “Skynet” from the Terminator I think we have time to put in place the mechanisms to control our technology!
AI is part of our everyday lives and when we connect to the internet and have ads related to our browsing history or suggestions based on our behaviour then a form of AI is making these decisions. If you have an Alexa, use Google or Siri then you are communicating with an AI. Medicine uses AI to map diseases and social networks are in part just one big AI.
?We are already using Artificial narrow intelligence (ANI) as part of how we function, especially if you’re a regular user of technology. Younger generations have only known a world where the internet has been omnipresent in their lives. If the web is to be believed, then anyone born after March 1992 has never lived in a world without the web.
?Never has any single technology impacted on so many, globally. There have been other examples of technology that has massively impacted in our lives such as the first printing press credited to Johannes Gutenberg in 1440 or the Chinese monks who used printed using wooden blocks up to 600 years before Gutenberg. It was the internet of its day, and the first libraries were the equivalent of the “Cloud” of today.
?As with all technology we see a gradual evolution and adoption of new smart devices that seamlessly integrates into our lives, and this is precisely where AI can make a difference. I believe in the most part this is a positive step, and we can use AI to make repetitive processes more efficient and repeatable and enhance safety using multiple testing and monitoring.
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?The cars we drive and the trains and planes we are passengers in all use AI to keep us safe and on time. They advise us when components are at the end of their usable life or if a potential hazard should arise.
?The same can be said of smart buildings where the technology is so integrated into the fabric of the building so that its operation, testing, and maintenance are all seamlessly working away in the background without impacting on the people or machinery occupying that space.
?Sensors that regulate daylight with artificial lighting or devices that monitor occupancy or track people movement make decisions that can be monitored and used to create any number of different scenarios. These can vary from should I put the lights on, shade the space by lowering the blinds or turn the air-conditioning off or on. Other values can be set, and these can be linked to alarms that look at critical messages for hazardous areas or simply why is a person in a certain area.
?At the heart of the zencontrol solution is our intelligent software platform that is designed to manage these system critical functions. It watches and learns how the space is being used and through the use of our smart Cloud dramatically improve how we use these spaces.
?Smart hardware such as the new wireless IoT sensors based on IEC 62386 Part 104 combine traditional lighting sensing and monitoring with environmental measurement to highlight not only the light level and quality of light, but they also provide data on temperature, CO2, VOC, Pressure and Humidity. It’s a holistic approach that empowers the system and if paired to the right software solution create a truly connected and smart space.
?Developments like the zencontrol Cloud and the new IoT sensors built around the WELL standard are the first steps in creating a smart AI for lighting. This narrow AI solution is very much goal focused and as we look to reduce downtime, energy usage and risk using smart diagnostics. If we also include life safety systems such as those offered by ektor for emergency lighting, then we are creating a platform of intelligence that will evolve over time.
?Goals change and its critical that our systems remain intelligent and flexible enough to evolve with our buildings to keep them fresh and on point. Resilience and openness of the technology platforms is essential to ensure interoperability and maintain a platform focused on intelligence rather than the limitations of hardware.
?Artificial Intelligence is already influencing our lighting market and overtime as we move to Cloud based platforms such as zencontrol’s then we will be able to interact with our buildings in a way never before considered. Upgrade of hardware over its operating life and a repurposing of the technology to manage other services are just some of the possibilities.
?AI will reduce our dependency on certain hardware and remove duplication. It will continually review and optimise and act on diagnostic data to ensure buildings are safe and reliable.
?When we consider the circular economy and how best to manage our resources then AI will become the backbone of the systems that monitor where our energy comes from and how its used. The longevity of systems and hardware will become key in ensuring we don’t waste resources and platforms that recognise and adapt will ultimately succeed where proprietary solutions may fail.
?AI is not about any single technology it’s a process of delivering a task well and delivering on your goals, and when those goals change adapting to the new normal.
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