The Longbow of the Digital Age: How AI is Changing the Range of Digitization
In the annals of history, certain innovations stand out as game-changers, disrupting the status quo and reshaping the course of human events.?
?One such disrupter was the longbow, a simple yet revolutionary weapon that altered the dynamics of warfare in medieval Europe.?
Created originally in Wales, the longbow featured it’s ultimate power during the Hundred years War in the 16th c. between England and France.??
?Fast forward to the 21st century, and we find ourselves amidst another transformative force: Artificial Intelligence (AI).??
Just as the longbow transformed warfare, AI is reshaping virtually every aspect of our lives, from industry and healthcare to education and entertainment.?
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The Longbow: A Game-Changer in Medieval Warfare?
In the medieval period, the longbow emerged as a formidable weapon that changed the face of warfare.??
Prior to its introduction, battles were often decided by hand-to-hand combat or the use of relatively short-range weapons such as swords and spears. Making war?a very personal endeavor.?
However, the longbow, with its ability to launch arrows over great distances with remarkable accuracy and force, revolutionized military strategy.?
The longbow provided several key advantages on the battlefield:?
Soldiers, now instead of sword fighting inches apart from their enemy could now cover over an effective range of some 450 to 1,000 feet (140 to 300 metres) depending on the weight of the arrow with the use of the long bow. Moreover, its design of being 6 feet long enabled archers to achieve remarkable accuracy, hitting targets with precision even at long ranges especially in the barrage fire methods developed during the age.?
This shifted the balance of power on the battlefield, as infantry armed with longbows could effectively neutralize heavily armored cavalry.?
The advent of the longbow fundamentally altered the tactics and strategies employed in medieval warfare, leading to the decline of traditional knightly cavalry and the rise of infantry-based armies.?
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AI: The Digital Disrupter of the Modern Age?
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In much the same way that the longbow transformed warfare, Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the world in which we live.??
AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, particularly computer systems. By analyzing vast amounts of data, AI algorithms can identify patterns, make predictions, and even learn from experience, enabling a wide range of applications across various industries.?
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As of August 2023, the U.S. government has been investing in AI and machine learning (ML) technologies and services through various agencies and initiatives. Here are some of the main ways the government is spending money on AI/ML:?
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1. Research and development: Government agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) fund AI/ML research projects in academia and industry.?
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2. Defense and intelligence: The Department of Defense (DoD) and intelligence agencies invest heavily in AI/ML for applications such as predictive maintenance, autonomous systems, cyber security, and intelligence analysis.?
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3. Healthcare and biomedical research: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other health-related agencies fund AI/ML projects for drug discovery, precision medicine, and medical image analysis.?
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4. Infrastructure and transportation: The Department of Transportation (DOT) and related agencies invest in AI/ML for autonomous vehicles, traffic management, and smart city initiatives.?
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5. Energy and environment: The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fund AI/ML projects for energy grid optimization, renewable energy forecasting, and climate modeling.?
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6. Agriculture: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invests in AI/ML for precision agriculture, crop yield prediction, and food safety monitoring.?
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7. Education and workforce development: The Department of Education and the Department of Labor fund AI/ML projects for personalized learning, skill development, and job market analysis.?
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8. Cloud computing and IT services: Government agencies procure AI/ML services from cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud for various applications.?
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These investments are part of the larger U.S. National AI Initiative, which aims to maintain American leadership in AI technology and its responsible development and application for the benefit of society.???
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To meet the U.S. government's needs for AI/ML services and technology, a range of specialized talent is required. This includes:?
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1. AI/ML researchers and engineers: Professionals with expertise in machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and other AI subfields.?
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2. Data scientists and analysts: Experts in data mining, statistical analysis, and data visualization who can work with large datasets and extract insights.?
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3. Domain experts: Specialists in fields such as healthcare, defense, energy, and transportation who can guide the application of AI/ML in their respective domains.?
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4. Cybersecurity professionals: Experts in securing AI systems, detecting adversarial attacks, and ensuring data privacy and protection.?
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5. Ethicists and policy experts: Professionals who can help develop guidelines and regulations for the responsible development and deployment of AI/ML technologies.?
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However, there are several impediments to staffing these positions for government work:?
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1. Competitive job market: The private sector often offers higher salaries and better benefits, making it challenging for the government to attract and retain top AI/ML talent.?
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2. Security clearance requirements: Many government AI/ML positions require security clearances, which can be a lengthy and complex process, deterring some candidates.?
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3. Bureaucratic hiring processes: Government hiring can be slow and inflexible, making it difficult to compete with the more agile hiring practices of the private sector.?
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4. Limited awareness of opportunities: There may be a lack of awareness among AI/ML professionals about the range of opportunities available in government, leading to a smaller applicant pool.?
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5. Perception of government work: Some AI/ML professionals may view government work as less innovative or impactful than private sector opportunities.?
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6. Location constraints: Many government AI/ML positions are concentrated in certain geographic areas, such as Washington D.C., which may not be attractive to all candidates.?
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7. Lack of specialized training programs: There is a need for more targeted training and education programs to develop the specific skills and expertise required for government AI/ML roles.?
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To overcome these impediments, the government is exploring initiatives such as public-private partnerships, streamlined hiring processes, targeted recruitment campaigns, and specialized training programs to build a robust AI/ML workforce. Much like the longbowmen of long ago, it is going to take a unique and specialized talent approach to fully realize the benefits of AI. One that likely will require an increased use of small companies and independent consultants. ?
The Longbow of the Digital Age?
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In many respects, AI can be likened to the longbow of the digital age. Just as the longbow shifted the balance of power on medieval battlefields, AI is reshaping the competitive landscape of the 21st century.??
Organizations that harness the power of AI stand to gain a significant advantage in terms of efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness. Approaching an AI integration requires an innovative approach to staffing highly talented individuals while managing a change culture. ?
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However, like any disruptive technology, AI also presents challenges and risks. Concerns about job displacement, data privacy, and algorithmic bias must be addressed to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared equitably and responsibly. Just as errant arrows can be either worthless, or detract from a mission, improperly implemented AI solutions can damage reputation, productivity, or cause unforeseen difficulties at scale.?
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As we navigate the complexities of this AI-driven era, it's essential to draw lessons from history and recognize the transformative potential of disruptive innovations. Whether it's a medieval weapon or a cutting-edge technology, the forces of change have always shaped the course of human history. By embracing AI with foresight and wisdom, we can harness its power to build a better future for generations to come.?
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10 个月IV. (continued) Today i consider the mess that a so very few people, (as described and published by Professor Peter Philips, at Sonoma State University in a book entitled "...global power elite") have provided for us. And now we push forward not to solve in our science the means to correct and to remediate a climate and environment, but to control the actions and behaviors of men, WITH AI promising to keep up with demand. In the days and weeks and months ahead, i have told this Mormon group that i will be asking them to fund into existence (as my g g grandfather funded them) my work,... to redefine our natural world, and to provide for an abundant future. But for whom, i wonder? Could it be,.. that Native Americans, who represent some fabled Lost Tribes of Israel, receive this work, to build then some high tech facility, what some in our religious practices might call a temple? That they would to so protect the environment, as they have reportedly done for some forty thousand years, here, in the America's? Perhaps it will be so, in some place in the four corners of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado. But we will see. MARK applied physics
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10 个月III. (continued) Forty years is a long time to sit on research that may change the way we understand atomic interaction, and to provide energy in four new forms, not before observed. But as a boy, i was naive, and felt that men today, might use the new technology to destroy all that we see. And, in short, i guess i was right. Now, we see only 30% of our planet with fauna and flora enough to produce the oxygen that men require. Whole cities in America are merging in concrete to make mega cities, including places like Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, into a giant super city. And my heat fails me as i drive these highways between, with radio on, listening to the Ads for further development continue, and continue, and continue. In America we were mislead and wiped out what, (according to Dr. James Adair, a doctor of medicine, who lived among Native peoples of the America's for forty years,) represented the Lost Tribes of Israel in language, both spoken and written, in manner, ceremony, rites and rituals, and more. MARK applied physics
Applied physics.(JOIN ME) the work presented here is entirely new
10 个月II. (continued) Inasmuch as it was my own great, great grandfather, rancher and banker, in Utah, around the time of the prophet Joseph Smith, that helped to fund the existence of the Mormon Temple in Utah, Temple on the Mount; and helped to fund Brigham Young University, i felt it necessary to ask the two Mormon friends visiting my home, to fund into existence my own work. Forty years ago today work was written to describe nature in a whole new way. Nicholas Samios, the former director of the High Energy Spin Laboratory in Brookhaven, New York, called me on the phone, after forwarding him the very details of a new mathematics, a new physics, a new energy. MARK applied physics
Applied physics.(JOIN ME) the work presented here is entirely new
10 个月With NVIDIA driving the games forward, AI threatens to replace all of us,..... Pretty scary scenerio. Please, allow me to tell you a story that began forty years ago. My father, for whom i never knew, descended from the Mormons; nice people, great hearts, who have been saving for some time in our collective futures, that most in America and elsewhere, might describe as fairy tale; and that is the emergence of some new age of understanding. After meeting with these Mormons last Tuesday, and after reading a reference to an alleged article written in Newsweek, dated December 2019, the Mormons are said to be sitting on 100B in reserves, to fund this new age of understanding. MARK applied physics
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11 个月Absolutely true! Success with AI requires a strategic shift in mindset and continuous learning. ?? #AI #futureofwork