An attendee tries out Sony's Morpheus virtual reality headset at the 2014 Electronic Entertainment Expo, known as E3, in Los Angeles, California June 10, 2014. There has been a rising interest in virtual reality platforms among publishers and developers, who hope the years-old technology -- which creates a 360-degree view that immerses players in fantasy settings -- can finally become a viable platform to reverse shrinking video game industry revenues and draw a new generation of users. Picture taken June 10. REUTERS/Kevork Djansezian (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) - RTR3TTXU
"There’s no institution in the world that cannot be improved with machine learning.”
Image: REUTERS/Kevork Djansezian




AI BOON AND BOOM
For Amzon founder and Blue Origin CEO Jeff Bezos, artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t something to be feared. Instead, it’s to be celebrated. Speaking at the Internet Association’s annual gala in Washington D.C., the renowned tech entrepreneur told the audience that AI is now enjoying a renaissance, as it helps to solve problems previously seen only as science fiction.
“It is a renaissance, it is a golden age,” Bezos said. “We are now solving problems with machine learning and artificial intelligence that were … in the realm of science fiction for the last several decades. And natural language understanding, machine vision problems, it really is an amazing renaissance.”
Instead of looking at AI as the harbinger of humanity’s downfall, the Amazon founder sees it as an “enabler” that “will empower and improve every business, every government organization, every philanthropy — basically there’s no institution in the world that cannot be improved with machine learning,” he explained.
AI, AMAZON, AND BEZOS
Of course, one can argue that AI can be referred to in two ways: as its current machine learning-based state, and asa future form of superintelligence. Bezos was obviouslyreferring to the former when he explained how Amazon’s been using AI through Alexa and more.
“[A] lot of the value that we’re getting from machine learning is actually happening beneath the surface. It is things like improved search results,” Bezos said. “Improved product recommendations for customers. Improved forecasting for inventory management. Literally hundreds of other things beneath the surface.”
Indeed, apart from improving services like Alexa, AI’s ability to learn has given it near human — or even better than human — skills. AI can now drive cars and see the way human drivers do. AI can do serious work as doctors,lawyers, or as burger flippers. It can even play competitive games against human players. AI can now also become artists by composing music or by painting.
Indeed, we are in a golden age of AI.