Much has been written in recent times about the existential threat posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the way we live and work. Staring into the abyss of the unknown naturally instils a degree of fear in human beings, but how much of this fear is based on what technology has the potential to offer compared to what is actually occurring in the race to develop AI capabilities? At GHD, we are applying facets of AI to real world scenarios on a daily basis to help create lasting community benefit.
For years, AI has been something ambiguous, instilling fear in many, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who regularly voices his concern over our rush to embrace the technology. "AI is a fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization in a way that car accidents, airplane crashes, faulty drugs or bad food were not — they were harmful to a set of individuals within society, of course, but they were not harmful to society as a whole," he said.
And yet some of the people who are closest to the development of AI have much lower levels of concern, based on what they are currently seeing take place, and the potential they see for computers to have full capabilities for being intelligent. Speaking recently on the BBC TV show Click, Microsoft Chief Technology Officer for AI Joseph Sirosh said that “perhaps what we have now should be called assistive intelligence”. His definition of AI is “the opposite of natural stupidity”. He has not seen computers exhibit true AI just yet. Instead, most of what he sees is machine learning — data crunching in order to make some base assumptions about what the data represents. The ability only extends to identification of situations and states using patterns — the computer is not really making a decision and applying instant complex reasoning based on the information at hand. Even the use of algorithms to process the data leads to a summarized view of what that data represents — not a holistic response to what the data entails for the environment within which it sits. Humans are capable of instant intelligent insights based on multiple factors including past experiences, current data sets, and the complex role emotions play in determining potential outcomes. Computers can only provide the summarized data which leads to formulation of the insight. Sirosh thinks it will be many decades before computers can really emulate the way in which humans think, if indeed they ever achieve that feat.
Using AI for the benefit of humanity
For now, what matters is whether the advancements in machine learning on the road to full AI are being used for the benefit or detriment to society. Technology has always had the potential for both. At GHD, our team is using facets of AI to benefit our clients. Working together, we decipher where their problems lie and how AI can provide solutions. Our adoption of machine learning and our strong interest in the development of AI capabilities is already seeing us engage in exciting projects.
We have recently assisted a Victorian council to determine efficient and strategic locations for Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) — raingardens, tree pits, and permeable paving - to improve storm water quality. This was achieved using GHD’s "InDeGO” proprietary methodology which applies spatial multi-criteria analysis to datasets from multiple infrastructure services layers. Detailed spatial prioritisation (hot spot analysis) helped identify valuable opportunities under different themes for locating the WSUDs, resulting in optimal locations for investment in streetscape improvements. This is just one example of how we are delivering innovative solutions with our clients in this new AI-driven business landscape.
While the current state of technological advances seems to indicate that full AI capabilities are a long way off, rapid advancements are being made. Machine learning in particular is already showing that positive things can be achieved when humans use computers to create lasting community benefit, and GHD is excited to be part of that journey.
