Artificial Intelligence was given the wrong name
This topic is of importance in medical circles, because many people in our field are talking about using AI in healthcare. That could be positive or negative. It might give the provider a wealth of knowledge for diagnosis at their finger tips. It might also be nefarious, as a far cheaper alternative to paying a doctor. (Computer voice…) “You will be seeing Dr. Lexus today.” Back to Dr. Lexus later.
Here is the definition of intelligence; the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
We’ve always had this. If we didn’t know something, we could ask someone, or read a book. That could also be defined as learning, but if we didn’t already know the answer, we had to go seek it out.
In today’s society, we use a smart phone for our artificial intelligence. We don’t know something, so we ask the phone. Quite literally, we can talk into the phone. The computer artificially gave us intelligence.
Current AI may not be artificial. According to the definition of intelligence, the computer has the the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. It applies knowledge by acquiring information, and writing an article. I would argue against the skills part. The computer cannot massage the biceps tendon the way that I can, with my hands, yet. Although there are now computer assisted surgeries.
Maybe it should have been called “Computer Intelligence” vs our brain intelligence. Is our brain a computer?
I recently wrote an article about our balance computer, i.e., the brain. Until recently, computers were not able to balance as well as our brain. Our brain has to fire one muscle at 16%, and co-contract the opposing muscle at 28%, etc., and constantly make adjustments, and that’s all subconscious.
Now there are computers that can land a rocket standing straight up, same as it took off. There are computer robots that can balance well enough to walk beams and do back flips.
Our reliance on our artificial intelligence has become much worse over the years. Collectively as a society, we care more about fashion on the internet, than how our government is supposed to function. We’ve all seen the videos where people are asked basic government and history questions, and they don’t know the answer without their AI device.
Idiocracy is a hilarious, and truly terrifying movie at the same time. The opening monologue is prophetic. It explains how the general population has become dumber over the years. The movie extends that premise out 500 years. The doctor of the future is Dr. Lexus. He smokes weed all day, and just scans the bar code on your arm into a computer for your health diagnosis.
So what should we call the computer AI that society is talking about?
Computer Intelligence? Digital? Non carbon based life form? Inorganic?
I’d like to be positive, but I’m leaning towards Dr. Nefarious.