How AI (Artificial or Automobile Intelligence) will Change our Lives?
January 30, 2023
Over the years, we have heard more and more news of artificial intelligence (AI) in both the real world and the world of science fiction. One major area that always seems to be present is how AI operates and interacts within the automobile industry. There is a long history in the automotive industry and its relationship to robotics. As far back as the 1950’s, we have been exploring and experimenting with how robots can help make our lives easier, and safer through automation and simulated intelligence. For a quickoverview, you can read below to see a more in-depth history and development of AI: https://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/ai-robotics/
AI and Robotics – A Brief History
1950 — A neurophysiologist, Walter, built wheeled automatons to experiment with goal-seeking behavior. They are considered the first robots that were programmed to “think” the way humans do.
1951 — Squee: The Robot Squirrel uses two light sensors and two contact switches to hunt for,” nuts” (actually, tennis balls) and drag them to its nest. The original Squee prototype is in the permanent collection of the Computer History Museum.
1977 — The fascination with futuristic vehicles and self-aware robots (AI) is showcased through C3PO and R2D2, who play a critical role in 1977’s blockbuster hit movie Star Wars. C3PO and its companion robot, R2D2, served as a mechanic, computer interface specialist and co-pilot for the film’s main protagonist Luke Skywalker.
1979 — The Stanford Cart was a long-term research project undertaken at Stanford University. In 1979, it successfully crossed a room on its own while navigating around a chair placed as an obstacle. A television camera, mounted on a rail at the top of the cart, took pictures from several different angles and relayed the image information to a computer.
2002 — DARPA’s Centibots project, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), sought to prove that up to 100 robots could survey a potentially dangerous area, build a map in real time, and seek items of interest.
2004 — CalTech designed both the Opportunity and Spirit Mars Rovers, which landed in 2004 and ran 20 times longer than their planned lifetime of 90 days.
2005 — Stanford Racing Team’s autonomous vehicle “Stanley” wins the 2005 DARPA “Grand Challenge” held near Las Vegas, Nevada. The Volkswagen Touareg R5 drove autonomously on an off-road on a 175-mile-long desert course wining the challenge. The autonomous vehicle was able to finish in less than 7 hours with no human intervention exceeding its expectation of the 10-hour limit. For winning the challenge, the Stanford Racing Team took home a $2 million-dollar prize.
2018 — Although the advancement of AI contributes for improving our lives, it isn’t always good news. There has been at least one incident reminding us of the risk and pain we had to pay for this innovation. Uber’s self-driving car killed a pedestrian, resulting in the first fatal autonomous vehicle crash. https://money.cnn.com/2018/03/19/technology/uber-autonomous-car-fatal-crash/index.html
The Struggle for Robotic Automation
Robotic automation and the development of a truly autonomous AI are more a reality than science fiction in our present world. While we don’t have the ability to travel through space like they do in Star Wars or Star Trek, and we don’t have self-aware cyborg companions who are just like us, we do have several things that are making our world easier to navigate with less human interaction. It makes sense that a number of the technological advancements would take place in the automotive industry, as it is one of the most influential markets on a global scale. There is so much more to automotive autonomy than regular people having the ability to buy cars that drive them everywhere.
In previous blog posts we covered the subject talking about the shift of job market in near future. We are currently seeing how it can benefit the shipping industry with semi-trucks that drive themselves to each destination without putting truckers at risk of overworking or overtaxing themselves. How long before we see medical vehicles that can automatically come to your address when you need assistance? Maybe we’ll get automated taxies too…so no more middle-aged drivers yelling at you “Where to!!??”.
Future of job market — what jobs will remain and grow?
Data analysts — more and more data will be gathered online or in the cloud (web browsing histories), including everyday changing driving conditions gathered by autonomous cars, trucks, drones etc…naturally more and more people will be required to organize and analyze the data.
Computer software engineers and analysts — with more advancements in technology comes the need of more people who understand how it all works so it can be improved upon, and this will continue to grow
Hardware engineers, including artistic engineers — will be needed, as these creative skills cannot be replaced by AI currently
Troubleshooting of machines (vehicles), repair technicians, installation professionals — more advancements in machines means there is a need for more people to build and repair those machines
Company management — assisted by AI for data collections but situation analysis and decision making will still to be done by humans
Sales/Marketing jobs — machines can “predict” a lot of things using advanced algorithms, but they still cannot read the human mind. There is a lot of data collections and analysis that can be done by AI, but humans are still needed to interpret that data and make plans for more accurate sales/marketing decisions and providing better sales tools.
Service Industries — Teachers as human interactions are necessary in learning, Chefs always need to be creative for satisfying human taste, etc.
Fashion Designers — can be assisted by AI to increase workflow efficiency, but the need for a human design element will never go away
Health Care — Pharmacists will be eliminated as pharmacies will become more and more automated. Pharmaceutical Companies continue to grow, and more drug research scientists will be needed, as the Aged Society is coming, it’s possible that people will continue to work until their 90’s as technology continues to improve. Nurses can be assisted by robots for carrying patients and other technical things, freeing up their ability to give better attention and care to their patients.
So What Does It All Mean?
A future of robotic assistance and maybe even dependence is coming close with each passing year. These machines (in all sectors) are meant to improve human life, which helps open up so many other areas of human study.
It is better to start studying or start acquiring the knowledge for sustainable skills and experiences before your job will be at risk of being eliminated due to robotic or AI replacement. This will give you a chance to move up and try something NEW that you never would have before. And as you learn, you can guide your children and future generations to take these jobs and continue to lift up the human experience. The key is to be creative, do things with your OWN motivation!