Oh, the weather outside is terrible…but maybe not as scary as some of the artificial intelligence (AI) developments we observed in 2023.
From scary artistic robots has incredibly realistic news presenters, AI is here to stay and it is developing at breakneck speed. But what about next year? What AI trends does 2024 have in store for us?
1. Generative AI and LLMs will start to significantly change our lives
Think about how generative AI and large language models (LLM) have dominated the conversation around AI in 2023. It all started when ChatGPT launched in November 2022 and has since snowballed. Now Google, Meta, Microsoft (via the OpenAI partnership), Amazon and many more of Silicon Valley’s biggest companies are involved in the AI generation.
It is likely to remain a dominant technology trend in 2024.
What the experts say
Christian Kleinerman, senior vice president of product at Snowflake, a multibillion-dollar cloud data storage provider, believes there’s a lot of disruption ahead.
Write in the company Data and AI Predictions 2024 Kleinerman says: “There’s a lot of real disruption coming. Mainly around the end-user experience and how people interact with technology,” he says.
No one is claiming that generative AI is a bubble that will burst. Many ‘.ai’ startups won’t be enough in the long term, but the underlying technology is expected to significantly increase workplace productivity and improve knowledge.
Kleinerman adds: “There are many opportunities for improvement in the business world, from making individuals more productive to creating innovative experiences and interactions for end users. This will change roles, responsibilities and skills.
2. There will be growing challenges as we adapt to the proliferation of AI
The internet has no shortage of those who catastrophize the damage AI could do to humanity. The most extreme opinions predict that it will wipe us out in a sort of Skynet-led Terminator. apocalypse. It is true that we consider the risks posed by artificial intelligence, but a more grounded and realistic analysis finds the threats much less existential and more professional.
We cannot ignore the fact that there will be winners and losers from the development of this technology, particularly in the labor market. If AI can help you do the work of multiple people, it won’t be long before a finance manager wonders how necessary their current level of staffing is.
Customer service agents could be replaced by more advanced chatbots, financial services could see AI take over much of the predictive analysis and data processing required, automated transportation will increase the decreasing need for drivers humans, marketing will be empowered by AI-generated messaging and more. industries will feel the effects.
What the experts say
The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has repeatedly spoken out about the risks posed by AI.
“There will come a time when no more jobs are needed,” the 52-year-old billionaire told British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at a conference in November.
“You can have a job if you want to have a job for personal satisfaction, but no job is necessary, AI will be able to do everything,” Musk said.
But the Tesla and Space X CEO said AI could be a great equalizer in society if we can overcome the challenges it presents. Although the era of universal income, or “high universal income,” as Musk calls it, likely won’t happen next year, expect significant turbulence in the job market.
3. Advances in visual intelligence
Next year, we will see significant advances in the ability of artificial intelligence systems to accurately perceive, interpret and understand visual information such as digital images and videos. Essentially, AI will improve its ability to “see” images and multimedia.
Today, AI can mark people or objects in images, but it makes mistakes. Soon he will name things correctly almost every time. And that’s not all: the AI will not just label isolated objects. He will begin to notice how objects fit together in a complete scene and make sense of everything in a single image. It’s like understanding that a busy store with shelves, carts, and people is a grocery store. We will see systems that can identify people’s faces despite changes over time or blocked parts like glasses and masks, which will help law enforcement.
The applications of visual AI are numerous (and a bit dystopian). If AI can better see and understand photos and videos, it could help us automatically detect broken equipment in factories, efficiently guide self-driving cars, and identify from a scan whether someone has a health problem.
Manufacturing “Deepfake” photos and videos will become easier and easier. This is bad news, but we can assume that the technology to detect deepfakes will also advance. It will be necessary.
What the experts say
“AI could help inform decisions and better inform patients and providers about the individualized risks and benefits of certain surgical procedures,” said Christopher J. Tignanelli, MD, general surgeon and scientific director of the AI program. Clinical AI from the University of Minnesota, when discuss the application of AI to medicine.
4. Cybersecurity will become even more difficult
That’s an understatement. Anyone who watched the recent Netflix movie Leave the world behind will have seen the terrifying effects of a massive, concerted, nationwide cyberattack on the United States. Granted, this is fiction, but real, large-scale cyberattacks have the potential to cause serious damage.
AI developments are evolving so quickly in their capabilities that security specialists will struggle to keep pace. Unfortunately, cybercriminals will initially benefit more from generative AI than defenders, making existing attacks like phishing and social engineering more effective.
There are also risks associated with misinformation. The effects of a bad actor undertaking a major propaganda operation implanted with political content that obscures the truth about a nation-state conflict, the integrity of elections, or a political candidate are not difficult to imagine. For years, social media bots have been used to influence mainstream opinion and talking points. With advances in AI, these techniques will become more sophisticated.
What the experts say
“Legitimate companies are cautious when adopting and using new technologies: they come with costs, regulatory requirements, and reputational risk if done poorly,” says Mario Duarte, Snowflake’s vice president of security.
“The wicked will not wait. So in the beginning they will have all the firepower of the LLMs and the AI generation, and the defenders will have to catch up.
Eventually, he says, the playing field will level out. But expect a lot of pain in the meantime.
5. Governments decide to legislate
The remarkable journey of artificial intelligence has now become a matter of major concern for policymakers around the world. As 2024 approaches, major nations like China, the European Union, United Statesand India is carefully crafting broad AI policies.
These initiatives serve a threefold purpose: to drive groundbreaking technological advancements, attract global investment, and simultaneously protect their citizens from any unintended consequences of AI. Discussions within the industry hint at the possibility of international cooperation to establish standards and guidelines for AI, suggesting that globally collaborative efforts in this area could soon become a reality.
What the experts say
Microsoft founder Bill Gates is a proponent of regulation in the field of AI.
In September, Gates said: “AI’s potential is limitless – but we will only realize that potential if government, the private sector and civil society work together to maximize the technology’s benefits and minimize its risks. »
Featured Image: DALL-E AI-generated image
