Let’s start with the basics: what exactly is artificial intelligence?
Artificial intelligence isn’t just for big corporations or tech gurus; you can use it in your own life to be calmer, more organized, and more productive.
Artificial intelligence is a field of technology that gives machines—whether it’s a computer, a smartphone, or even a smart home device—the ability to think and act like a human. This includes learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. This technology can be applied in various areas, including smartphones, self-driving cars, healthcare, marketing, and much more.
AI has been around for a long time, although we might not always realize it. The first major steps were taken in the 1950s, and since then, the technology has advanced significantly. Today, AI helps improve image recognition, automate driving, and provide personalized shopping experiences on online platforms. But it’s not just big companies that use it; AI technologies are increasingly being integrated into our daily lives, helping to simplify everyday tasks.
AI or MI? What’s the difference?
“MI” is the abbreviation for “Mesterséges Intelligencia,” while “AI” stands for “Artificial Intelligence,” which also means Artificial Intelligence in English. So “MI” and “AI” refer to the same concept, just in different languages.
AI technologies and applications we already know
Have you ever wondered what artificial intelligence applications you encounter daily? You probably use more than you think! Here are some of the most widespread and directly accessible AI tools you may have already come across:
- Chatbots and Virtual Assistants: Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa are companions that help you make calls, set alarms, choose music, or even control the lights in your room with a voice command.
- Smart Home Devices: Thanks to these, you wake up on a cold winter morning, and your house is already comfortably warm because your smart thermostat automatically adjusted the heating to the ideal temperature. Or you don’t have to worry if you go on vacation because your security cameras and smart lighting are taking care of your home—increasing comfort and reducing costs.
- Personalized Recommendations during Online Shopping: Have you noticed that some websites and apps, like Amazon or Netflix, already know what products or shows you like? This is also thanks to AI algorithms, giving you more time for what you love doing.
- Automatic Image Recognition and Processing: Many modern smartphones and cameras use AI algorithms to automatically enhance and optimize photos. Moreover, social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram use AI to recognize faces and tag content.
- Text Understanding and Translation: Translation services like Google Translate and Microsoft Translator use AI for instant translations between languages, enabling users to interpret and communicate in almost any language.
- Music Streaming Services: Platforms like Spotify and YouTube use AI to analyze users’ music and video preferences to provide personalized recommendations.
- Financial Technologies: Banks and other financial institutions use AI algorithms to detect fraud, manage risks, and automate credit evaluations.
- Automated Trading Systems: In the stock market, AI-based systems can analyze real-time data and make quick decisions, enhancing trading strategies’ efficiency.
- Driver Assistance: Modern cars feature driver-assistance systems like automatic braking, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control—all of which use AI technologies for safer and more comfortable driving.
- AI in Diagnostics: AI technologies assist oncologists in diagnosing and treating cancer more accurately. AI-based systems can help determine the optimal drug dosage for conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, where over- or under-dosing can have serious health consequences.
- Robot-Assisted Surgeries: AI-controlled surgical robots support doctors in many procedures, enabling more precise and less invasive interventions. These robots assist surgeons in making more precise movements, reducing surgical complications, and promoting faster recovery.
- Virtual Health Assistants: AI-powered virtual assistants can collect, organize, and monitor patients’ blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and balance data, issuing direct alerts in case of critical diagnostic information. This can enhance the efficiency of patient care and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.
- AI in Epidemiological Forecasting: AI models can analyze large amounts of health data, helping to predict the outcomes of epidemics and develop prevention strategies. For example, modeling the spread of influenza or COVID-19 can help health authorities be better prepared and respond to challenges.
On this AI-generated image, a modern woman sits in a smart home, surrounded by various artificial intelligence-based devices such as a virtual assistant, a smart thermostat, and smart security cameras.
How does AI work?
You might have already used AI applications, but do you know how these systems work? Understanding how artificial intelligence works can help us use these tools more effectively.
- Data Collection: Every AI application relies on data. These data can be texts, images, sounds, or behavioral patterns that the systems collect for analysis.
- Processing and Learning: AI systems detect patterns and relationships in the data, based on which they make decisions or give suggestions. This is called machine learning, a kind of “learning process” where algorithms improve based on experience.
- Decision-Making: As a result of the information collected and the learning process, AI can make independent decisions. This might include choosing the best route in a navigation app or filtering an email as spam.
- Optimization: AI systems not only learn and make decisions but also continuously optimize their performance based on new data. This helps them respond more efficiently to changing conditions and user needs.
- Interaction with Other Systems: Many AI applications work in integration with other technologies, such as databases, sensor networks, or even other AI systems. This connectivity allows them to operate in a broader context and solve more complex tasks.
- Continuous Maintenance and Updates: As technology and needs evolve, AI systems require regular maintenance and updates to remain effective and relevant.
Ethical and Legal Considerations When Using Artificial Intelligence
When we talk about artificial intelligence (AI), it’s not just about how smart these systems are but also about the rules they follow. It’s important to be aware of the ethical and legal questions that might arise, such as data protection or user rights. These are crucial as they influence how we design and use these technologies. Now, I’ll show you some examples, but I promise it won’t be boring!
- Data Protection and Security: Think about how important it is for our health data to be secure. In the European Union, there’s a regulation called GDPR that strictly governs how people’s data must be handled. This means that AI developers must also be very careful to keep our data safe.
- Responsibility Sharing: Imagine if a self-driving car causes an accident. Who is responsible? The manufacturer, the programmer, or the owner? Laws already exist to help clarify these situations so that everyone knows what to expect.
- Bias and Discrimination: Unfortunately, sometimes facial recognition systems don’t see all people equally well, which can lead to unfairness. For example, they may not work as effectively with certain ethnic groups. This has sparked significant debates about the fair use of technology.
- Transparency and Accountability: It is very important for the decisions made by AI to be understandable, especially in healthcare or finance. The European Commission has proposed new regulations that would require AI systems to explain how they arrive at decisions. This would help us, the users, better understand why certain things happen.
It’s all about making technology fairer and safer for all of us.
Why is AI important for stay-at-home moms?
Now let’s see why this wonderful technology is so useful for you, as a housewife or a mom working from home. The applications of artificial intelligence can help make it easier to manage your schedule, automate repetitive tasks, and assist you in better organizing your to-dos.
For example, a smart assistant can remind you of important family events, manage your daily to-do list, or even help you organize your home-based work more efficiently. This way, you have more time for yourself and your family. Using AI applications also allows you to spend less time on routine tasks like shopping or planning meals, as these tools can optimize and automate them. We will discuss these in detail later.
Artificial intelligence isn’t just for big corporations or tech gurus; you can use it in your own life to be calmer, more organized, and more productive.