Is Artificial Intelligence improving our Lives?
WHAT MANY PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE is that we are on the verge of a paradigmatic shift in thinking on par with the Copernican Revolution. The way we make our most personal decisions – from our partners, to our health choices, to yes, even our daily routines – will transform due to the falling cost of data storage and ever- increasing computing power. In the future, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will advise us how to structure our days for the most fulfilling life. It will literally tell us what to do for optimal living.
Consider the monitoring devices of today, such as the Fitbit and the Apple Watch. Nonjudgmental, available on demand, and endlessly patient, these devices contain an infallible record of our biometric data. Right now, many users don’t take full advantage of all of the potential benefits these devices can offer. They might only utilize them to monitor their health goals – to help them assess whether they are getting better REM-sleep or walking a certain number of steps per day. But this only represents a tiny sliver of what’s possible when it comes to AI’s full- range of capabilities.
Predictive analytics is the use of data, statistical algorithms, and machine- learning techniques to identify the likelihood of future outcomes based on historical data. The goal is to go beyond knowing what has happened to provide a best assessment of what will happen in the future.
Certainly, it might seem odd to turn to a computer to tell us how to live a better life, but there is precedent behind this notion. Our internet browsing can predict many, if not all, of our interests which myriad companies have been exploiting for years and the AI-based traffic app Waze uses data to tell us which route we should take. Similarly, dating sites like Match. com and eHarmony rely on algorithms backed by Big Data to determine romantic matches rather than something as analog as butterflies in the stomach.
How can we begin to explore AI for our “daily routines,” embrace the technology, and not let it overrun our lives? A few possibilities:
• Personalize your smartphone to help schedule and organize your day, week, month and set the notifications for the time frame you need ahead of time.
• Use the “Do not Disturb” options on the device when you want less digital interruption.
• Learn how to use wearable devices like watches to monitor and adjust your exercise, sleep, and daily event goals.
• For health issues, such as diabetes or cardiac issues, request from your doctor smart devices to monitor your status and treatment remotely.
The above suggestions will not replace our search for meaning – the never-ending struggle to gain knowledge and wisdom through experience and introspection. Regardless, we will not be able to abdicate our duties to ourselves or completely allow the artificial mind to steer the ship.
Certainly, technology is no panacea for all of the problems we face as a society and as people. Technology will continue to be our privilege — and our burden — as thinking carbon-based creatures. The growing power of AI may improve our quality of life and just might bring us greater balance, meaning, and happiness. No matter how many technological advances we live to see, we’d be wise to recognize Socrates’ timeless words: “to find yourself, think for yourself.”