The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing amongst a wide variety of business areas. From medical sciences to aerospace engineering, the impact of AI on the economy is ubiquitous. The global AI software market is showing signs of rapid growth, according to a recent report, and is expected to reach around $126 billion by 2025 (Liu, 2021).
These trends indicate that artificial intelligence technologies are being used to create solutions for all types of applications, from both a business and customer perspective, to a user-controlled input or activity. Hence, it is not an exaggeration to say that the AI system is based on the idea of answering a question a user may be interested in. Artificial intelligence technologies such as machine learning / deep learning, natural language processing (NLP) essentially infer and forecast from the input data and provide a result which is like an answer to a specific question or query for decision making and other information processing purposes.
For example, an artificial intelligence system trained in MRI scanners helps with cancer diagnosis and treatment protocols. (NIH, 2018; Law and Sodickson, 2020). Similarly, an artificial intelligence system that uses natural language processing (NLP) technology to convert speech to text simply solves the problem of having textual transcripts of speech data.
This implies that the AI operation is predominantly problem-solving. Luger (2005; p. 25) agrees and emphasizes that AI programs are designed to solve useful problems. In this respect, the term “intelligence” in artificial intelligence causes confusion for people, as AI per se does not have any real intelligence.
When it comes to human intelligence, it is important to recognize the various challenges we face in describing and defining intelligence. First, despite many advances in knowledge about “how the brain works”, understanding intelligence remains elusive. Is it multiple skills or a single faculty, what are perception, intuition and creativity, and how are these concepts developed, what are cognitive skills and how are they developed? (Luger, 2005)
Second, human intelligence is not limited to problem-solving and decision making, it is much more. Human intelligence involves around the dynamic interaction with the environment and the reaction to emerging scenarios and situations. The inherently dynamic nature of human intelligence, including cognitive abilities, does not focus on the sequence of questions and answers. Third, how do creativity and intuitive intelligence drive human actions and behaviors? Are creativity and intuitive intelligence manifested in real time? These are some areas that require even more work to be done to understand human cognitive processes.
In order for AI machines to be considered intelligent in any existing conception, they must have at least some limited intelligence capabilities similar to those of a human mind for problem-solving. Is the focus on problem-solving a problem for the evolution and development of AI? If so, what should be done for further AI development? Where should the focus of future AI developments be?
What should be the goal of future AI developments?
Future AI developments require a focus on understanding and developing technologies that, beyond simple problem-solving, can mimic or reflect some form of human perception and behavior. As David (2020) says, there is a need to begin such a journey by observing the development of the human brain from early childhood. Developing better neural networks that can mimic the evolutionary processes of human cognition.
Understanding brain development in early childhood will also help improve the understanding of how the strongest and weakest synapses are formed in the human brain, and how such developments can aid in creative and intuitive activities. This understanding will help build more complex neural networks with greater synaptic plasticity, and also help develop new forms and models of training processes for use by artificial neural networks (David, 2020).
However, all developments in AI should not come at the expense of humanity. While harnessing the potential of AI technology is important, any development must be within the confines of ethical and safe use and aim to support the human life experience.
