Google AI Masterclass
23 Aug 2018
AI and Machine Learning are getting more prevalent in our daily life. We hear them over and over again over the media but how do they actually change our life ?
To get a better understanding, Google started the AI masterclass which give the media attendees a better understanding of AI and Machine Learning and how they can be deployed in the real world to create amazing innovations in fields such as healthcare, retail, and other businesses.
Dr. Sergio Hernandez Marin started off explaining the differences between AI and Machine Learning. These two terms are sometimes use interchangeably but in fact, Machine Learning is a subset of AI.
AI as described is the science behind that make things smart. It could be by solving certain issues by teaching it on how to do so. As it’s name implies, it is intelligent but we need to teach it.
Machine Learning is a subset of Artificial Intelligence and probably the most important these days. Simply said, it is to make machines learn to be smarter in decisions. Basically, big data might be provided for it and provide us with predictions accordingly. Instead of following particular set of instructions (like traditional algorithms do), it builds model from example inputs provided in order to make predictions or take decisions. It gives computers the ability to learn and be more and more accurate without being explicitly programmed.
Google Photos is an application which is available on mobile and desktops. If you have used it before, you would have noticed that it is capable of grouping pictures based on location, birthdays, objects and searchable.
Try searching for photos by entering “bridge” without quotes and all the photos with a bridge will be sorted out. This Is done through computer vision. It is able to recognise faces, objects. When it sees a cake with candles, it is classified as a birthday.
Gmail is an application developed by Google for emails. In this application, when you reply an email, it will automatically generate smart responses. It is some what is able to predict from the context of the email what sort of response you will type. For example, an invitation will probably prompt you a few options “I will attend”, “I am not available” etc. This is Google’s Smart Reply which uses Machine Learning to accomplish.
Google Assistant, the linguistic guru that can now even understand Singlish is another example. Google Assistant speech recognition AI uses deep neural networks to learn how to better understand spoken commands and questions.
Try speaking to it in Singlish and see how it reacts. I hope you enjoyed speaking to your Google Home.
[nextpage title=”Real world applications of Machine Learning”]Developers are helping to transform businesses with the help of AI tools – TensorFlow.
TensorFlow is an open-source machine learning library for research and production. TensorFlow offers APIs for beginners and experts to develop for desktop, mobile, web, and cloud.
With APIs, it makes life simpler for software developers.
One such company that uses it is KEWPIE. KEWPIE is a baby food producer. They use Tensor Flow to help detect bad ingredients and thus make baby food safe.
In the past, Kewpie depends on manual visual detection and inspection of our raw ingredients. With TensorFlow, algorithms that are announced in papers get implemented quickly, and there’s a low threshold for trying out new approaches. Thus, this could save manpower and redeploy the workers for more important tasks.
In healthcare, it is also use to help in diabetic retinopathy. With regular screening, it can help to reduce blindness. According to statistics, the results are promising and is way above generalists.
Using AI, it can also be used to protect plants and make food safer. For example, farmers can now use technology to diagnose the plants when they are attacked by diseases. Immediate action can be taken then waiting to send samples to the nearest lab. Time saved would have saved plots of vegetables.
The short session gave attendees a better understanding of how these technologies will affect our life in the near future. I find them especially useful in life sciences. Will it eventually replace a lot of the front desk workers or even doctors with AI. There seems to be the case and there is a growing trend towards that.
How will AI and ML affect you ? Discuss