Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field that has the potential to revolutionize the way we live and work. However, not all AI is created equal. There are two main types of AI, weak AI and strong AI. In this article, we will explore the differences between weak AI and strong AI with examples of each.
Weak AI
Weak AI, also known as narrow AI or applied AI, is designed to perform a specific task or set of tasks. For example, a self-driving car that is programmed to navigate city streets is a form of weak AI. The car’s AI system is not capable of understanding the complexities of human thought or emotion. It simply follows a set of instructions to complete a specific task.
Another example of weak AI is a virtual personal assistant like Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri. These AI systems are programmed to respond to specific commands to perform specific tasks, such as setting reminders or playing music.
Strong AI
Strong AI, also known as artificial general intelligence, is designed to have the same cognitive abilities as a human. It is capable of thinking, understanding, and making decisions. Strong AI is not limited to a specific task or set of tasks. It can adapt and learn as it encounters new situations. You can think of it similar to the character ‘Cortana’ used by Microsoft in their game series ‘Halo’. Cortana could steer spaceships, calculate and simulate battles with entire fleet of ships, infiltrate computer systems, are among many of her abilities.
Another example of strong AI is the robot in the movie “Ex Machina”. She is capable of understanding human emotions and making decisions based on that understanding. Ex-Machina is able to move and interact with the physical world in a human-like manner, using advanced robotics and motion-capture technology. She is able to repair and maintain itself, allowing her to operate for extended periods of time without human intervention.
A strong AI system would be able to understand and process information in a way that is similar to how a human brain does. It would also have consciousness and self-awareness. You can envision the capabilities of an Strong AI and how they might be helpful for humankind. However, if used or developed irresponsibly, Strong AI has capability to become a danger to us.
Conclusion: Weak AI and Strong AI
In conclusion, weak AI and strong AI are two distinct types of artificial intelligence. Weak AI is designed to perform specific tasks and is currently in use in many applications. While strong AI is still in the research phase and is designed to mimic human intelligence and consciousness. Understanding the differences between these two types of AI is important as it can help us to better understand the potential applications and limitations of AI technology.
More to read:
- An Introduction to Ethics in Robotics and AI by Christoph Bartneck, Christoph Lutge, Alan Wagner and Sean Welsh
- Artificial General Intelligence: Concept, State of the Art, and Future Prospects by Ben Goertzel
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