Artificial Intelligence (AI) has encroached in all aspects of society not just via smart technology like smart cars and smart appliances. However, the future of a beneficial AI is still plagued by misbehaving AI algorithms, now at the heart of various researches. The desired trend is to produce Siri-like technologies meant to assist and not to harm Skynet from "Terminator."

AI is not a new technology but has existed since the 1950s to bring innovations to popular culture, business sector and the general public. This was ushered in by the automated production of goods that are cheaper and far more efficient. This was when the microwave and the washing machine became the housewife's new best friends. Over time, machine learning and semantic technology rapidly grew to make the unthinkable then, feasible and real now.

AI has fueled human progress and revealed the full potential of the human mind. Now smart appliances rule the house with Amazon Alexa-powered devices or Google Home to do menial tasks like setting the alarm or the more complicated ordering of takeout. Smart cars are also on the rise to slowly replace human drivers and the errors associated with human judgment. The rationale is that the streets will be far safer with AI-driven cars that can predict collisions minutes before it could happen.

AI has also been used in social media to predict future trends in order to bring customized services and products. The technology has also various implications in the field of medicine, transportation, health, agriculture and hospitality professions. For now, many entities like restaurants, travel agencies and banks make us of the robotic secretaries, servers and engineers to interact with humans.

As replaced taxicab drivers in New York protest at the arrival of self-driving cars, AI has also created various employment opportunities. With AI booming, there is now a demand for more electricians, digital architects, database and graphics designers, lawyers, accountants, IT/Cloud tech engineers, business experts. Various types of consultants are also in demand by every organization that has deployed an AI system.

However, researchers from fields like Anthropology, Sociology, and other disciplines are now seriously pursuing to understand how AI impacts human culture and society. An urgent field of study now is how to avoid the incidence of misbehaving algorithms that may have serious and dangerous consequences. For instance, AI in managing software has been known to have "extreme systematic bias" against black people as more high risk than whites. IBM's Watson has also learned to swear after picking up an "unsavory data," GCN reported.

AI algorithms have been known to be biased since these are modeled on humans. The key is how to ensure algorithmic equitability though there may be some trade-offs in predictive powers. The principle now is "moderation," meaning to adapt and integrate the best elements of AI that can boost human progress, TechDigg reported. A more Siri-like is beneficial by providing a much-needed assistance and anything more may be excessive that could usher in a human destroyer like Skynet.

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Topics Artificial intelligence, Amazon Alexa, Google Home