In the past two decades, artificial intelligence has grown from a rudimentary idea to powering nearly every modern device. AI of today, with its roots in machine learning, powers nearly every industry from medical research onward. It is no longer a bold claim to say no industry has been left untouched.
Where it already is
Combing through vast amounts of chemical combinations to find the balance that delivers a potent drug has only been possible because of systems that handle data faster than human minds. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology used AI platforms to discover a new class of drug, halicin, which can help wipe out many dangerous bacteria.
Services like Google Maps have been vital in faster travel, feeding on live data to decide the fastest way to your destination. AI already finds many uses in our homes, with assistants that let you place orders, play songs or make calls within a single conversation. Even online shopping experiences are tailored to show the products most likely to interest us.
Where it is going
Markets
Stock building and trading algorithms will become stronger and stagger the effect of man-made mistakes while still reaping the benefits of guided learning. Recognizing patterns of growth or downfall in the market will help guide national economic growth.
Wearables
Modern devices like smartwatches monitor health parameters such as heartbeat while learning from daily activity to analyze usage patterns and provide suggestions. The world of AI wearables presents opportunities for dynamically screening health parameters of millions of users every day.
Conversation
Personal assistants already power everyday devices. With research into this field, AI is fundamentally changing the way we hold conversations with our machines, from single-line commands today to a more immersive dialogue.
Recognition
Speech recognition for advanced talk-back, image processing techniques and fingerprint recognition promise a reality where man and machine blend more closely.
With constant research and funds being pumped into AI and machine learning, it promises to be one of the fastest growing fields of the century, and presents opportunities to propel growth in nearly all modern fields into a new age of communication and coherence.