How AI Can Change Our Lives

NSoJ Bureau

Will Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics impact society and our lives, for the better or for worse? That was the subject of a talk by Manimozhi Theodore, Director, Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), in Bangalore. She was delivering the 26th MA Thomas Memorial Lecture at the Ecumenical Christian Center in Whitefield, last month.

According to Ms Theodore, AI will transform the educational field, by equipping teachers with advanced learning methods. New AI technologies will be especially beneficial for differently-abled children, she said. The effect of any technology will depend on how it is used or misused, she said. "For instance, take the mobile phone. Today, it is often misused and children are often addicted to games using the phone. Technology itself cannot be termed 'good' or 'bad', we should know how to make use of it. If we humans use it for good work then it will have a positive impact," she pointed out.

Robot restaurant

Talking about the increasing relevance of AI in society, she referenced a new 'Robot Restaurant' in Bangalore. This is a restaurant located in Indiranagar, where six 'female' robots serve customers. "But the point is, we also need humans to ensure the robots function smoothly," Ms Theodore said. During an interaction with the audience, she stressed that AI, by itself, will not lead to unemployment. "When the mobile phone was introduced, it did not lead to loss of jobs, similarly the arrival of robots will not affect employment prospects". On the other hand, AI, would make many processes faster and better. "Work that takes humans several months can be done quickly," she added. Another speaker, Andrew Briggs, Professor of Nanomaterials at Oxford University, UK, explained that robots could take on tasks that may be difficult or dangerous for humans. He also showed the audience a video where a university is targeted by killer drones. In the end, however, the drones are, in turn, deactivated by robots.