In recent years, the conversation surrounding artificial intelligence has intensified. In fact, some of the world’s leading minds in science and technology have made their opinions known, predicting that AI has the potential to fundamentally change life as we know it. So what does this mean? How will AI affect people and businesses on a larger scale? What kind of products and services are already being powered by artificial intelligence? The answer is... who knows? No one can predict the future with 100% accuracy, but these thoughts from tech industry leaders can give us some idea of what might be on the horizon.

How Will AI Impact Us?

In just ten years, artificial intelligence has made tremendous strides. It’s already being applied to solve some of society’s biggest problems, and it has quickly become an integral part of our day-to-day lives. Advances in machine learning mean that computers can learn by themselves—and they are getting better at an astonishing rate. As these technologies continue to develop, what will their impact be on us? How will we work alongside them? And how will we keep them safe? These questions are only beginning to be answered.

The Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence

While artificial intelligence isn’t going to take over and lead humanity into a self-destructive digital singularity, it’s here to stay. We have yet to see exactly how AI will impact us as individuals and as a society, but we already know that it has many benefits, from speeding up computer processing to improving our ability to predict natural disasters. Unfortunately, there are also risks associated with artificial intelligence.

Is AI really an existential threat to humanity?

Although it is commonly believed that artificial intelligence (AI) will be humanity’s end, many reputable scientists believe that could never happen. In a letter titled Research Priorities for Robust and Beneficial Artificial Intelligence, signed by hundreds of prominent scientists, tech leaders and innovators, including Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking, experts put forward five research priorities to ensure AI would have a positive impact on humans. How humans use AI in the future remains the real threat, and that is the question which only time can tell the answer to.