During 2017 it was hard to escape predictions that artificial intelligence is about to change the world. In 2018, this is unlikely to change. However, an increased focus on repeatable and quantifiable results is likely to ground some of the “big picture” thinking in reality.
Don’t get me wrong - in 2018 AI and machine learning will still be making headlines, and there are likely to be more sensationalized claims about robots wanting to take our jobs or even destroy us. However, stories about real innovation and progress should start to receive more prominence as the promise of the smart, learning machines increasingly begins to bear fruit.
Here are my predictions for what we will see in 2018:
With any breakthrough technology comes hype. As the arrival of functional and useful AI is something that has been predicted for centuries, it’s hardly surprising people want to talk about it, now it’s here.
It also means that there’s inevitably a lot of hot air – for starters, take a look at my rundown of the most common AI myths. Inevitably this eventually dies down as the media moves onto the “next big thing”. In its place during 2018, I expect we should start to see real progress towards achieving some of the dreams and ambitions which have been talked up over the past few years.
All the indicators show that investment into the development and integration of AI and, in particular machine learning, technology is continuing to increase in scale. And importantly, results are starting to appear beyond computers learning to beat humans at board games and TV game shows. I expect 2018 to provide a continuous stream of small but sure steps forward, as machine learning and neural network technology takes on more routine tasks.
Spurred on by the successes achieved by innovators and market leaders in 2017, more and more businesses will launch initiatives involving AI.
With self-driving cars and ships, as well as life-saving medical advances on the horizon, it seems likely that the speed of technological change is only going to increase as the decade draws to a close. For many CEOs and CTOs, acting on the potential for change that has become available is an increasingly urgent priority.
Another strong motivating factor is the fear of losing out. With so much to gain, a mindset dictating that “we have to do something” with AI could emerge. While this could act as a spur, if action is taken too hastily, it could easily bring about my second prediction:
This is a sad fact about many projects involving new and often untested technology and has existed down the ages. In some cases it’s down to the risks accepted by every pioneer. When working on a new frontier the only certainty is that there will be unforeseen difficulties.
