The term “artificial intelligence” or AI was originally coined at Dartmouth College in 1956 and was used to describe a broad framework of computer engineering that pulled information from human intelligence. In the time since artificial intelligence has become an integral part of our society. We use it on our cell phones, through programs like ChatGPT, and even when writing emails.
But, if we’re being honest, pop culture and the evolving employment landscape have created an ambivalence toward the tech. “Artificial intelligence (AI) is any technique that enables a computer to do complex tasks similar to those humans can do – like make predictions, generate text, and find patterns in things they see or read,” says Ava Amini, a senior researcher at Microsoft Research.
To demystify artificial intelligence and give us tips on how to maximize its use in our everyday lives, we sat down with two AI experts at Microsoft, Ava Amini and Karmel Allison, who gave us nine things we should know.
There’s a Difference Between “AI” and “Generative AI”
“The term ‘generative AI’ refers to AI models that generate new content like text, pictures, and videos. AI models that, for example, classify images or recommend products have existed for a long time, but generative AI brings new types of models that expand the set of things we can do with AI,” says Karmel Allison, an advisor to Microsoft’s CTO. “While the term itself is relatively new, generative AI models are just the most recent step in a long history of AI development that started way back in the mid-1900s.”
Generative AI Is What Has People Buzzing
New programs like ChatGPT, which have generative AI tech is what people have been talking more and more about lately. “The generative AI models you see today really are amazing; the combination of bigger supercomputers and better algorithms has resulted in incredible leaps forward in what the models are capable of, even when compared to what was possible just a few years ago,” Allison, who has over 15 years of experience in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, says. “One of the big benefits of the new generative AI models is that they ‘understand’ (or take as input) natural human language, which makes them very easy to use.”
“Deep Learning” Is the Precursor of Modern AI Systems
“Today’s artificial intelligence systems are based on a type of computer program called deep learning. Deep learning systems are computer programs that can learn from data without explicit rules about how to learn or what to look for,” says Amini, who works at the intersection of AI, medicine, and biology.
You Don’t Need to be a Tech-Wiz to Understand AI
Amini advises that it's critical to learn the foundations of the tech while using it for your projects. “I see two complementary but equally important ways to learn more about AI: First, learning the foundations, and second, experimenting – trying and practicing with AI yourself. I believe the best way to learn anything – AI, computer science, or otherwise – is to start with the foundations and build intuition about what that thing is all about. There are so many awesome resources online to learn more about AI and deep learning. I teach and design a course, Introduction to Deep Learning that teaches the foundations of AI, starting from intuition. We have had students of all ages (literally, from teenagers to 80-year-olds!) and all stages and backgrounds of life study our course – so you don’t need to have a background in computer science to get something productive from it.”
The Best Way to Familiarize Yourself with AI? Just Use It!
There’s no better way to learn a new subject than getting your hands dirty — in this case, hop on your computer and explore. “Pick something you want to do – a project, a club, a design – and brainstorm how you can use AI like ChatGPT, or Microsoft Designer powered by DALL-E 3 as a tool and copilot alongside you in working on your project,” Amini says. “This is an exciting time to be alive—there are so many new tools and technologies, and the field is moving so fast that there is no rulebook or ‘one right way’ to start engaging with AI.”
“Say you are trying to make a website for a school club. Maybe ChatGPT can help write HTML code to build that website, even if you haven’t coded before, and DALL-E or Designer can help design new visuals to bring your ideas to life. With your creativity and vision, and guidance from AI, the possibilities could be limitless – all you have to do is start.”
AI Is for Everyone — From Fashion Designers to Medical Students
Yes, technology can sometimes seem intimidating (especially for us right-brained people), but AI is truly for everyone. “AI will revolutionize – and is already revolutionizing – many different industries, from fashion design to communications to finance,” says Amini. “This means that AI will be an important tool regardless of our passions or career path. We will all bring different perspectives to how we think about and use AI in the future. Complement your learning and experimenting with AI with other subjects and topics that you are passionate about. ”
Adding, “For me, that was biology, because I have always been fascinated by the way life works and maintains balance in such a chaotic world, how it goes awry in human disease, and how we can understand it all to make better medical treatments to improve human health. In my role at Microsoft Research, I am building new AI methods to answer some of our most challenging and impactful questions in medicine and biology – like how we can build AI to design cancer treatments that are the best for an individual’s unique biology and background. Whether you pursue a career in marketing or in STEM or anything in between, AI will continue to be infused in the tools you use to create and learn. Find what you are passionate about and get curious about how AI can play a role there.”
There Are Blinds Spots in AI — But Improvements Are Happening
There’s been a lot of discussion about tech being non-inclusive for people of color. At Microsoft, they’re addressing these gaps through research and development. “AI is like any other technology. If we don’t use it correctly, it can reflect and perpetuate societal inequities, but on the other hand, as developers and users of AI, we can work to create and use AI systems that are responsible, by design,” says Amini. “A lot of the time, bias in AI models happens because the models are trained on data that doesn’t represent everyone. For example, if there is not enough data from people of color or certain parts of the world, the AI might not work as well for those groups. At Microsoft, we’re working hard to address these issues in a lot of ways, including creating computer programs that can help AI perform reliably for everyone and studying the widespread cultural impact of AI from a sociological lens.”
Humans Control AI Not Vice Versa
“When we use AI, we need to understand the risks and limits of these systems so that we can understand when they can be trusted or when they may be lacking information,” Amini notes. “Above all, AI is a technology meant to be used by humans, for humans. So, we need to drive the conversation, grow our knowledge to be aware of its limitations when using and developing AI, and contribute all our voices, perspectives, and creativity towards responsible and reliable use.”
AI Engineers Are Working to Make the World a Better Place
Yes, there are some scary things about Generative AI tech — we’ve all seen those Deepfakes. But AI tech is overwhelmingly working to actually make the world more efficient, solve everyday problems, and support medical advancements.
“We are at the beginning of a truly exciting time where AI has so much potential to make positive impacts in our world and society, and the capabilities can extend beyond the generative AI you might be interacting with today,” says Amini. “AI can help drive new scientific breakthroughs: like discovering new drugs for devastating diseases like cancer; predicting and preventing future pandemics; and designing more energy-efficient, sustainable materials. Making these visions a reality is what motivates me and my team at Microsoft every day in our research and work. ”
To learn more about AI check out Explaining AI: the fundamentals and the frontiers a resource from Microsoft.