By EDN Reporter
HAVE you ever thought what Mbabane would look like with a beach? Do you even think it’s possible?
Well, Artificial Intelligence (AI) thinks it’s possible and has even found the perfect spot, right next to the New Mall. Sibusiso Dlamini from Tribe Studios used AI software to create a beach in Mbabane and the results had tongues wagging.
Dlamini said he used Photoshop Beta Version which is currently testing AI capabilities to create the image.
“When I was going through the programme, I read a line which said ‘Your limit is only your imagination.’ I then thought of something a bit farfetched for our country and decided to go with a beach,” he said.
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The AI technology replaced the Mbabane River with an ocean and a sandy beach next to Pick n Pay, creating a similar environment to beach towns with shops just a stone’s throw away.
After creating the picture, he posted it on Facebook and it solicited excited comments.
“Now that would be something,” commented Mayenziwe Geneza Msibi.
AI has taken the world by storm with many sectors of society jumping on it. However, not everyone is thrilled with it. Universities have encountered a plethora of problems with students using it to write assignments. That has also led to the creation of tools to detect the usage of AI in academic writing.
Other sectors of society fear that AI will replace human jobs. CityLife reported that as AI technology continues to advance, it is likely that more and more jobs will become automated, leading to job losses and economic disruption.
The publication further reported that AI could be used for malicious purposes, such as cyber-attacks or the creation of autonomous weapons.
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But Dlamini holds a different view, saying those in the creative space must not fear AI but should rather embrace it to better their products.
“For us creatives, it’s making our jobs easier. I don’t think AI is here to replace us but the people using and embracing it will. People must not fear AI but should rather embrace it and make magic with it,” he said.
Simplilearn has compiled a list of advantages and disadvantages of AI as follows:
Advantages of Artificial Intelligence
Reduction in Human Error
One of the biggest advantages of Artificial Intelligence is that it can significantly reduce errors and increase accuracy and precision. The decisions taken by AI in every step are decided by information previously gathered and a certain set of algorithms. When programmed properly, these errors can be reduced to null.
Zero Risks
Another big advantage of AI is that humans can overcome many risks by letting AI robots do them for us. Whether it be defusing a bomb, going to space, or exploring the deepest parts of oceans, machines with metal bodies are resistant in nature and can survive unfriendly atmospheres. Moreover, they can provide accurate work with greater responsibility and not wear out easily.
24×7 Availability
Many studies show humans are productive for only about 3 to 4 hours in a day. Humans also need breaks and time offs to balance their work life and personal life. But AI can work endlessly without breaks. They think much faster than humans and perform multiple tasks at a time with accurate results. They can even handle tedious repetitive jobs easily with the help of AI algorithms.
Digital Assistance
Some of the most technologically advanced companies engage with users using digital assistants, which eliminates the need for human personnel. Many websites utilize digital assistants to deliver user-requested content. Some chatbots are built in a way that makes it difficult to tell whether we are conversing with a human or a chatbot.
New Inventions
In practically every field, AI is the driving force behind numerous innovations that will aid humans in resolving the majority of challenging issues. For instance, recent advances in AI-based technologies have allowed doctors to detect breast cancer in a woman at an earlier stage.
Unbiased Decisions
Human beings are driven by emotions, whether we like it or not. AI, on the other hand, is devoid of emotions and highly practical and rational in its approach. A huge advantage of Artificial Intelligence is that it doesn’t have any biased views, which ensures more accurate decision-making.
Disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence
High Costs
The ability to create a machine that can simulate human intelligence is no small feat. It requires plenty of time and resources and can cost a huge deal of money. AI also needs to operate on the latest hardware and software to stay updated and meet the latest requirements, thus making it quite costly.
No Creativity
A big disadvantage of AI is that it cannot learn to think outside the box. AI is capable of learning over time with pre-fed data and past experiences, but cannot be creative in its approach. A classic example is the bot Quill who can write Forbes earning reports. These reports only contain data and facts already provided to the bot. Although it is impressive that a bot can write an article on its own, it lacks the human touch present in other Forbes articles.
Unemployment
One application of artificial intelligence is a robot, which is displacing occupations and increasing unemployment (in a few cases). Therefore, some claim that there is always a chance of unemployment as a result of chatbots and robots replacing humans.
Make Humans Lazy
AI applications automate the majority of tedious and repetitive tasks. Since we do not have to memorize things or solve puzzles to get the job done, we tend to use our brains less and less. This addiction to AI can cause problems for future generations.
No Ethics
Ethics and morality are important human features that can be difficult to incorporate into an AI. The rapid progress of AI has raised a number of concerns that one day, AI will grow uncontrollably, and eventually wipe out humanity. This moment is referred to as the AI singularity.
Emotionless
Since early childhood, we have been taught that neither computers nor other machines have feelings. Humans function as a team, and team management is essential for achieving goals. However, there is no denying that robots are superior to humans when functioning effectively, but it is also true that human connections, which form the basis of teams, cannot be replaced by computers.
