Moore’s law states that the number of transistors will increase by twice on a chip every two years. If we look around at the pace at which everything progresses, we can apply the same law to every other technology, i.e., exponential growth.
Consider this: the first computer, ENIAC, was invented in 1945, and just 24 years later, NASA achieved the remarkable feat of landing a person on the moon in 1969. How was it possible? Answer: Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) played a vital role in the success of lunar landings enabling the safe journey of the spacecraft to the moon and back to the Earth.
The significance of AGC is evident from the fact that it allowed the Apollo modules to travel to the moon safely and return to the Earth in one piece. Furthermore, compared to the computers of that time, scientists had to build a computer that was not only small but also much more powerful.
The development of the computer had a significant influence since it made it possible for people to set foot on the moon. Computers have changed from massive equipment to small gadgets with better performance and more valuable outcomes. Computers have become an essential component of our life in the modern world.
A good example is the smartphone you have in your pocket. Unlike the reliance on newspapers in the past, it offers rapid access to local and international news, saving us a great deal of time. Interacting quickly with someone on the other side of the globe has revolutionized communication, as it used to take months for a letter to reach.
Recent advancement in technology aids us in speeding up our daily routine and processes, enabling us to utilize our time much more effectively. This speeding up of processing fosters rapid and effective innovation and technological advancement, significantly impacting our daily lives.
The launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 revealed the full potential of AI technology, marking a significant technological turning point. ChatGPT has significantly impacted the IT industry, sparking community conversations and discussions. Upon closer inspection, it is evident that ChatGPT has dramatically increased productivity and unlocked new levels of creativity in various sectors.
As we delve into the subject, we first examine what exactly artificial intelligence is.
What is AI?
John McCarthy, emeritus professor of computer science at Stanford University, defined Artificial Intelligence in his 2004 paper, “What is Artificial Intelligence.” It states that:
“It is the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs. It is related to the similar task of using computers to understand human intelligence, but AI does not have to confine itself to biologically observable methods.”
Artificial intelligence is a topic that, in its most basic form, combines computer science and substantial datasets to facilitate problem-solving. Additionally, it includes the branches of artificial intelligence known as deep learning and machine learning, which are commonly addressed together. These fields use AI algorithms to build expert systems that predict or categorize information based on incoming data (IBM).
How AI helps?
Particularly in the context of exponential development, artificial intelligence is playing a revolutionary role in accelerating innovation.
A critical stage in innovation is creativity. Ideation means brainstorming different ideas related to a specific topic in order to find the most feasible one. This process is often time-consuming and sometimes requires careful consideration. With the release of AI tools such as chat-GPT, it has become much easier to brainstorm ideas about a specific topic.
Massive amounts of data may be processed by AI systems, which can then find patterns and correlations that people would not immediately see. As a result, researchers and innovators can better understand the world around them, make data-driven decisions, and spot fresh chances for invention.
Analytics forecasting future trends and results are based on historical data analysis and AI algorithms. Businesses and innovators may make proactive decisions and adjust to changing conditions more quickly, anticipating client needs, market demands, and technical improvements.
AI-powered automation allows it to streamline and optimize boring and repetitive tasks, freeing human resources to devote themselves to more inventive and creative projects. This increased efficiency makes faster development cycles and the opportunity to consider more options possible.
AI algorithms can optimise complicated systems and processes by simulating several situations and determining the most effective configurations. This shortens the time and expense of development by enabling innovators to quickly test and improve ideas without the requirement for physical prototyping.
Artificial intelligence provides the capability to speed-test a system with greater accuracy and offer much more precise results and feedback on how the system would perform in the real world by testing it in a simulated environment based on real-life scenarios.
Faster information retrieval, analysis, and comprehension are now possible thanks to AI-powered language processing and machine learning approaches. By utilizing these tools, innovators can quicken their learning and creativity processes by keeping up with the most recent findings, scientific advancements, and industry best practices.
Real-Life Examples
Here are a few examples of where AI has transformed the innovation process.
In 2020, Alphafold, a Google’s Deep Mind subsidiary, introduced a technology that can predict the shape of highly complex protein structures in minutes.
As stated by Alphafold, one of the significant issues in biology is predicting the 3D structure of proteins. We may significantly deepen our understanding of human health, disease, and our environment by overcoming this obstacle, especially in areas like drug development and sustainability.
Proteins support all biological activities in all living things, not simply those within your body. They serve as the basis for life. The ability to forecast the structures of millions of as-yet-unidentified proteins would help us better comprehend life itself and help us fight sickness, and identify new treatments more quickly.
The latest data release of Alphafold secures around 200 million protein structures (Alphafold).
Now imagine the quickened pace at which scientists will be able to have a better understanding of diseases and the development of the right drugs to counter them. In an example provided by Alphafold, researchers at the Center of Enzyme Innovation (CEI) are already using Alphafold to uncover and recreate enzymes that can break down single-use plastics.
Another example, or another AI tool I have encountered recently, is Copilot ai. I was working on an academic writing project the other day and thought that if there is a chatGPT-type AI tool that helps a person understand the research paper much more quickly and efficiently.
You see here, even I am looking for tools that will speed up the working process. This is exactly what I am writing about – AI helping us speed up the innovation process.
At first, I should seek help from a developer to develop an AI tool for research purposes. But, not surprisingly, I found similar tools on the internet. The tools allow you to converse with the research paper and help find more papers on a similar topic.
It usually takes a lot of time for me to read and adequately understand a research paper, but with these helpful tools, I could complete my project relatively quickly. Which ultimately allowed me to work on more projects in the same amount of time allocated for just one project.
Considering the above examples, I can say for sure that AI will definitely transform the way of innovation and technological advancement for us.
As we can see the rapidly evolving field of AI, we can also see its potential to transform the aspects of human lives. From healthcare to finance to entertainment, AI is helping us in countless ways. It enables us to unlock new levels of creativity and productivity.
If it keeps evolving like this, it isn’t that far that we will be able to answer some of nature’s biggest mysteries. But one thing that may be of concern to some. Since this technology is still in its infancy, experts are unsure about the extent it can reach its full potential. Hence, it is necessary to regulate the use of AI to ensure that the tech is being used for the betterment of humanity.
References
ScienceDirect, Technology Review, Insights, ML-Science, IBM, Alphafold, Deepmind
Also read: HOW DATA SCIENCE ACCELERATES SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS
Adnan Baig is a space science graduate who also served as a student research assistant at the Leibniz Institute of Astrophysics, Potsdam, Germany. He has co-authored several international research publications. Adnan is interested in space research, astrophysics, environmental science, nature photography, writing, reading and watching movies and anime.
