In a March 2023 post on GatesNotes, Microsoft brain trust Bill Gates shared his perspective on the progress of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential implications. Gates recollected the past September, when synthetic intelligence system ChatGPT took on questions from a college level biology test and gained 59 out of 60 points. Gates said of the technology that it is likely to revolutionize how humans work, learn, move, get medical treatment, and communicate with each other in general. Entire markets will realign themselves to perfect this technology, according to Gates, which he dubs “The Age Of AI.” The way to expand this area of science and technology and extract maximal value is by bringing in AI and machine learning. While they are both quite related, the two must not be confused as they have distinct characteristics.
AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is the science of mimicking human intelligence featuring capabilities such as reasoning, problem solving, natural language processing, and more. It is the field of technology that takes in the aim of enabling computers to think and function like humans, or even better. It generally is seen as the advanced development of the technology. AI has been around since the 1950s and has made remarkable developments since then.
Machine learning, on the other hand, is the branch of AI that is based on the structure of computers. It focuses more on making the interaction and relationship between machines and data more efficient and effective. Machine learning is used to train the computers to respond to data without having to pre-program them. It also offers the benefit of being able to respond to future data inputs and thus improve the technology even further. The use of machine learning can result in the production of autonomous and self-guided systems which will only become stronger over time.
ChatGPT is a big name in the world of AI and machine learning at the moment, however, it is just one part of a larger encompassing wave of modern tech development. It is vital to understand the basic differences between the two terms so that the full potential of the science can be realized. Bill Gates has provided immense insight into this technology, and it looks likely that the Age of AI is here to stay.
