Facts and myths about artificial intelligence. What is AI?

Recently, ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence program developed by Open AI, has revolutionized the global internet. The application gained several million users in just five days, something that even such well-known brands as Facebook, Instagram, and Netflix have failed to achieve. Unfortunately, with such a large audience, Russian hackers, among others, have taken an interest in the program, using it to launch phishing attacks and extort money from confused internet users.

The program, in the form of a chatbot, is used to generate answers to questions and issues entered by users. Various videos using the chat with the intelligent machine have gone viral on the most popular social media (e.g., TikTok and Instagram) and websites.

The new medium was also tested by “creative” pupils and students, who used the chat to solve math problems or write essays. However, because it is “only” artificial intelligence, some of the answers were plagiarized or far from the facts. Teachers were not to be outdone by their pupils. Recordings were available on social media in which teachers asked the application “can ChatGPT be used to solve homework problems?” Due to the enormous interest in the program, we decided to provide the most important information about artificial intelligence.

 

What is AI?

AI (artificial intelligence) is a manifestation of the intelligence of a computer program or machine that resembles human behavior. A computer program acquires this intelligence through a learning process and performs the appropriate calculations. It is based on a “trained” algorithm through data uploaded to it, rather than codes written by programmers.

Example: If we ask artificial intelligence about an event that took place after the data was uploaded, e.g., the result of a sporting event or the outcome of political deliberations, we will either not get an answer or the answer will be incorrect. Why? The program did not learn about the event during the programming process.

Artificial intelligence is used wherever computer programs or devices can operate more effectively. AI is already integrated into virtually every area of our daily lives.

 

Is artificial intelligence listening in on us?

You probably sometimes wonder why online ads correspond to your recent web searches. For example, if we search the internet to buy new shoes, in the following days we will be “bombarded” with the best offers for the model we have chosen. This is all thanks to artificial intelligence, which can analyze our online activity and recommend products based on an algorithm.

AI behaves similarly when analyzing voice. When we allow devices or applications to access the microphone, the algorithm analyzes the files and suggests personalized advertising. In this case, you don’t even need to type a specific keyword into the search engine. AI simply already knows.

Maciej Szymkowski, an expert from Łukasiewicz – PIT, while considering buying a car, talked about a model from a well-known brand in front of his device’s screen. The next day, all the ads offered a car with specific specifications. Many of us have probably encountered a similar phenomenon.

If we are not being targeted by special services or have not been the victim of a hacker attack, we can block the voice analysis function at any time. In the case of the latter, i.e., a hacker attack, it is best to take the device to a specialist and discontinue its use.

At this point, most mobile device users question the legitimacy of analyzing our online activity and eavesdropping on private conversations. If we want to use navigation while traveling or receive personalized content and advertisements, this feature is very useful.

 

AI will help you on vacation

Probably all of us have translated a single sentence or a longer text from a foreign language into Polish using an app or program, e.g. during a vacation abroad. It is thanks to artificial intelligence that we can translate any text by entering individual words and sentences or uploading a photo of it.

According to data from a TNS report, as many as 44% of Poles do not know any foreign languages. People under the age of 30 fare very well in these statistics, as most of them know at least one foreign language. Their parents’ generation, on the other hand, most often declare knowledge of Russian.

However, AI will not replace teachers so quickly, as artificial intelligence does not have qualities such as spontaneity or creativity, which are essential in human communication. Interactive language learning systems can, however, fill a certain gap – teaching working people who do not have the time or opportunity to participate in a full language course. Of course, the lessons are then at a basic level and serve only to prepare students for a meeting with a “real” teacher.

 

Should we be afraid of robots?

With every invention comes the idea of using it for evil purposes. Despite the possibility of criminal sanctions, the prospect of undetectability means that there is no shortage of people with less than pure intentions. The same is true of artificial intelligence. Admittedly, we do not (yet) need to fear a war with machines, a vision that appears very often in mass culture products (films, books, video games), but we should already be afraid of being controlled by AI creators.

In the near future, we may not be able to distinguish truth from falsehood – whether in images, sound, or text. Modulators are already being developed whose modifications are close to authenticity. This could lead to manipulation and abuse, e.g., in the sphere of politics, business, or social media, and thus have a real impact on our lives and everyday decisions. However, as our expert points out, such fears will not stop the development of artificial intelligence.

AI can streamline many processes and, as a result, make the right decisions for humans. The automation of activities gives companies specific opportunities and greater work efficiency. Unfortunately, this also means that there is less need to hire additional employees, which in the future may lead to problems with rising unemployment.

 

Chat with artificial intelligence – a necessity or a 21st-century fad?

Experts from Łukasiewicz – PIT note that chat with artificial intelligence is here to stay. In this context, it is worth quoting Maciej Niemir from the Digital Transformation Center:

I treat AI chat as part of a huge revolution that began in 2017, when a groundbreaking natural language processing algorithm was invented, thanks to which computers suddenly began to “understand” how people communicate. We are currently witnessing the development of that idea. However, there is still much room for improvement. Although I personally consider other natural language processing solutions to be more necessary, this one – chatting with artificial intelligence – is certainly not just a fad, but will stay with us permanently.  Of course, this has its pros and cons. I think that within ten years, calls to consultants will disappear because there simply won’t be any consultants behind their desks—instead, we will handle all important matters with a computer. On the other hand, there is a risk that more jobs will disappear from the market.