It was in high school I began to hear about artificial intelligence (AI), back in 2010. I had never thought it to be something serious. Well, maybe because at the time, I was not exposed to computers so I couldn’t have understood the AI (artificial intelligence) topic.

My first real exposure to a computer system was when I got admitted into college to study Pharmaceutical Technology. Sigh… “Pharmaceutical Technology and computers!? How do they relate?” You might want to ask. Oh well, computer study was one of the required courses I needed to take to graduate. And that was the beginning of my interaction with computer systems till this very moment.

But, recently there has been a lot of buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) that spurred the need to really delve into this topic a little deeper.

Just like back in the days when computer systems were newly released and there was a lot of intoxicating excitement and fears about how they would take away all the jobs in the world. In the same way, the fear of artificial intelligence and robotics rendering everyone in the world jobless has covered the landscape of the entire world like the water covers the sea.

But follow me as I open this mystery layer after layer and lay it bare in bits and pieces just so you can devour it soothingly.

From the Beginning: History of Computers and Artificial Intelligence

First, we’ll start with the first thing; the history of computers.

Trust me, I am not going to bore you with historical tales. I will make it as interesting as your fav meal😍.

So, let’s go!

At some point in antiquity, there existed no technological device that could aid man in processing data, he solely depended on his crude ingenuity to make statistical calculations and solve hard problems.

But gradually, computers began to creep into (more like, walk into) human lives. Right from Abacus, invented about 4000 thousand years ago to Napier’s Bone and down to the most recent personal computers that we use, just like the one with you right now.😁

The Magic is Computers

Can you imagine the stress and ugly scene you would have to pass through visiting the filling station and you begin to pack fuel from the pit into your vehicle? But with super ease, you can inject the pump into your fuel tank and within a few minutes, it pumps in fuel, gives you the exact quantity of fuel you purchased and calculates the amount you need to pay with accurate precision. Now, that is the power of computers and subtly artificial intelligence

As an everyday citizen, you hear a prediction of weather change at a particular time and just as it was predicted, it happened and you wonder how they were able to come up with such a succinct prediction, well that’s just the power of computers at work.

I am beginning to wonder how long it took Moses to take a census of the children of Israel back in the days while they journeyed in the wilderness.

I am sure it must have taken him not just a lot of time, but a lot of manpower, logistics and a host of other things too.

But here is how the 1890 U.S. census was efficiently done (well, compared to previous years), through the help of a computer system that could tabulate statistics and record or sort data or information.

ENIAC may have performed more computations over a ten-year period than all of humanity combined, up until 1955 when a breakthrough occurred.

Throughout the history of the development of the computer system, the basic essence behind the innovative move is to help humans become more efficient.

But how did the first computer impact lives?

More Impacts

Thanks to computers, harder tasks became a lot simpler, new designs for cars and other forms of transportation were created, space exploration became a reality, entertainment improved, and more sickness remedies were discovered, among other things. The impact of technology on our life is extensive. They certainly made life easier, even though you might not realize it.

But there was a huge problem!

People began to fight these systems. In the UK, 19th century, a movement that became known as the Luddites struck back at the increased use of computers and automation. They rioted, smashed machines and even set fire on business owners’ homes.

Now Artificial Intelligence

This fear of AI and robotics taking over jobs still exists and is spreading like fire in the wild and yes, rightly so, there have been accounts of job displacements in big corporations like Google (12,000 workers sacked), Amazon (18,000), Microsoft (10,000) and a host of others.

Reports have it that by the mid-2030s one-third of all jobs could face the risk of being automated, consequently leading to the loss of jobs of those skilled in those areas.

Even the lawyer is at risk as history was made in February 2023 when an AI (artificial intelligence) lawyer defended his client in the law court.

And Medics too would have a pound of flesh.

But what does the future hold amidst all these fears?

According to many estimates, there will be more jobs created over the next few years than the ones lost to automation. This smiles a brightness of hope, right?

But how do you get prepared for this future of Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

And so, while big changes are coming, a little advanced planning — by workers who stand to be replaced and the companies that employ them — goes a long way.

In short, stop fretting and start acting!

There’s no doubt that the artificial intelligence or AI revolution will require re-adjustments and a great deal of sacrifice. But despairing rather than preparing for what’s here is unproductive and, perhaps, even reckless. We must remember that our human knack for compassion and empathy is going to be a valuable asset in the future workforce and that jobs hinged on care, creativity and education will remain vital to our society.

After all, it is just an AI (Artificial Intelligence) tool and not the Original or Human Intelligence.

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John

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