Over the last decade, cloud computing has stopped being a concept and has gradually turned into something that has completely “overrun” our digital lives. From mail services to storing intricate workflows, we rely on the cloud to access our personal and professional data. Albeit it is a rather new and radical way of looking at data storage/access, cloud computing is becoming better by the day. And now, with the advent of artificial intelligence and machine learning, the evolution is becoming even more visible. In this article, we shall discuss, at length, whether the ‘wedlock’ between cloud computing and AI is something that can push the boundaries of knowledge even further or not.
The desire to begift a machine with intelligence has been burning bright in the human heart. Literature offers an intimate glimpse into the world of intelligent machines that surpassed even their creators: Frankenstein, Talos – the Ancient Greek automaton with wings, Data from the Star Trekfranchise, and more.
Unfortunately, we are still far from constructing a machine that is as clever and resourceful as a human, but we have, nevertheless, taken the first steps to what is expected to be a wondrous journey.
Over the past couple of years, artificial intelligence and machine learning have left their incubators, becoming a part of our lives. Take Cortana for instance. A nifty little piece of code that can act as your assistant. You can talk to her, ask her to free up your schedule, find nearby eateries, and more.
However, behind this incredible pulsating circle lies a powerful AI-based algorithm that is capable of learning on the go. Each little mistake, such a misheard vowel, can make Cortana better and more accurate. And Cortana is just one of many examples of how AI became an indispensable tool.
For instance, Watson, an AI developed by IBM, is currently being used to fight cybercrime. Using a large database, one of Watson’s ‘duties’ is to watch out for stuff like ransomware, trojans, or any kind of cues associated with cybercrime. Granted that Watson is still far from being the Sherlock Holmes of cyber-detectives but do remember that failure is the first step to success.
Intelligent machines, as we often like to refer to them, can also be used in other fields. For instance, an AI developed by the Google-owned DeepMind Technologies managed to beat veteran Go players without any human help. The machine ‘simply’ analyzed the outcomes of millions of GO matches to develop new strategies.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that AI can’t go haywire. To name a few AI experiments gone terribly wrong, one can definitely recall the 2016 incident that involved TayTweets, Microsoft’s AI launched or rather unleashed upon Twitter. In just one day, TayTweets managed to go from the ‘lovable’ and innocent AI with a strong ‘desire’ to learn, to something so dark and twisted, that it wrote more than once that Hitler’s actions were not wrong.
