Technology is transforming our lives at an astonishing pace. This rapid change can often frustrate many efforts. Recently, Apple shelved its electric and autonomous car project, which cost $10 billion. This is not an isolated incident. Research reveals that $2.3 trillion is wasted globally on failed digital transformation programs.
Digital transformation and the artificial intelligence (AI) we frequently discuss require “costly and complex business strategies” for most individuals and organizations. Generally speaking, businesses invest significant amounts of money in digital transformations, but data shows that over two-thirds (70%) of these initiatives fail to yield positive results.
$3.4 trillion pie
Why is this important? According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Global Digital Transformation Spending Guide, digital spending for future success is expected to reach $3.4 trillion by 2026, with a growth rate of 16.3 percent.
In my previous article on artificial intelligence investments worldwide, I emphasized, “Let’s not miss the age of artificial intelligence!” How should the USA position itself within this massive budget and rapid transformation?
Adopting a proactive stance in the age of artificial intelligence can be challenging, especially for resource-constrained countries. However, it also offers an opportunity to develop innovative and creative solutions. In this context, let’s consider how countries like ours can keep pace with and benefit from the AI revolution.
Inventions published in the last 10 days
I would like to explain the topic with concrete examples, each drawn from scientific articles published in the last 10 days. I believe that the USA’s human resources can make groundbreaking discoveries, produce solutions, and drive technological and scientific transformation by leveraging artificial intelligence applications across various sectors.
Although many of us use AI for searches in ChatGPT, it has now become a crucial tool for mind-boggling inventions, particularly in the fields of medicine and chemistry.
AI signature to health
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have applied artificial intelligence (AI) to a technique that produces high-resolution images of cells in the eye. They report that imaging with AI is 100 times faster and improves image contrast by 3.5 times.
AI will provide heart transplant surgeons with new decision-making data. According to researchers from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) in Prague, artificial intelligence will help doctors better assess the complex factors that affect patient outcomes, significantly improving the heart transplant process by 80 percent.
Algorithms are designed to make our lives easier and fairer. Health services need to be offered to patients who need them most, but people are biased and may not always make the right choices.
According to Carey Morewedge, a professor of marketing at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, and Everett W. Lord, a distinguished faculty scholar, AI applications can recognize biases and help make more informed decisions. This development can be applied not only in medicine but also in human resources, the judiciary, and many other fields.
Secrets of natural life
AI is not just a system that concerns human communities; it can also be used to detect wild animals and prevent accidents. In an article published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers have developed software that detects wild animals on roads in wilderness areas in Brazil and warns about possible traffic jams. It is known that endangered animals such as anteaters, wolves, and tapirs often appear on the roads in Brazil.
- Researchers at UMass Amherst are listening to insects to better gauge environmental health. A recent study by the University of Massachusetts Amherst identifies the best AI method for monitoring insect populations. The research assesses how well machine learning can identify different types of insects by their sounds, from malaria-carrying mosquitoes and grain-eating insects to crop-pollinating bees and stem-sucking cicadas.
Listening to the insect world allows us to track changes in insect populations, providing insights into the overall health of the environment (Journal of Applied Ecology).
- Chinese scientists have revealed the spinning mechanism of the silkworm. Mulberry silk, known as the ‘second skin of the human body’ and the ‘Queen of fibers,’ is a natural protein fiber that is light, soft, and fine. China is the origin of the world’s silk cultivation industry, with the earliest use of silk traced back to the Jiahu ruins of about 8,500 years ago. The Silk Road facilitated large-scale exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations.
Previously, Chinese scientists made a groundbreaking invention by deciphering the genetic codes of mulberry silk fiber and spider web fiber using artificial intelligence.
- New research shows that AI can be used to detect invasive Asian hornets and raise the alarm. Hornet infestations, especially those involving honey bees, negatively impact the ecological balance. Researchers at the University of Exeter have developed VespAI, an automated system that lures wasps to a monitoring station and captures standardized images using a top camera.
When an Asian hornet visits, VespAI can identify the species with near-perfect accuracy, allowing authorities to take swift action.
Increase in drug discoveries
We have also started to see the effect of artificial intelligence in drug inventions. AI analysis of DNA fragmentomas and protein biomarkers has confirmed that ovarian cancer can be detected non-invasively. According to a retrospective study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting held from April 5-10, AI can distinguish patients with ovarian cancer from healthy controls or patients with benign ovarian masses.
Why is this important? Federal statistics list ovarian cancer as the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States, with a five-year survival rate of 50 percent. Early diagnosis can be the key to overcoming cancer.
Can AI read our genes?
Can language models read the genome? This means they can decode mRNA to create better vaccines. mRNA vaccines are a new breakthrough for the pharmaceutical industry. According to research from the Princeton University School of Engineering, this is both possible and proven. This code contains instructions for all functions of life and follows rules similar to those that govern human languages. Each sequence in a genome depends on a complex set of grammar and syntax, which are meaning-making structures. Just as changing a few words can radically alter the meaning of a sentence, small variations in a biological sequence can significantly affect the forms the sequence encodes (journal Nature Machine Intelligence).
Last week, another similar study was published. Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems like ChatGPT have taken the world by storm. From recommending the next popular TV show to helping navigate traffic, there’s not much they can’t do. But can AI systems learn the language of life and help biologists uncover exciting breakthroughs in science?
In a new study published in Nature Communications, a team of researchers in the Department of Organic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB) at Harvard has pioneered an AI system that can decipher the complex language of genomics.
Flexible frame for robots
.Robots are everywhere, but they are still solid and steeled. MIT engineers are designing soft and flexible ‘skeletons’ for muscle-powered robots, naturally with the help of artificial intelligence. The new modular, spring-like devices maximize the work of live muscle fibers so they can be used to power biohybrid bots. This represents a new opening for “biohybrid” robots.
Scientists are also accelerating chemistry discoveries with automation. A new statistical modeling workflow is helping to advance drug discovery and synthetic chemistry. Developed by scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), this new automated workflow allows researchers to analyze the products of reaction experiments in real-time. This is seen as a key capability essential for future automated chemical processes.
Can the climate problem be solved?
Many new studies on climate change are being published, utilizing artificial intelligence applications. One of the most recent articles focuses on Antarctic meteorites. Using artificial intelligence, satellite observations, and climate model projections, a team of researchers from Switzerland and Belgium has calculated that for every tenth of a degree increase in global air temperature, an average of about 9,000 meteorites disappear from the surface of the ice sheet.
This loss has major implications. Meteorites are unique examples of extraterrestrial bodies that provide insight into the origin of life on Earth and the formation of the Moon. By 2050, about a quarter of the estimated 300,000 to 800,000 meteorites in Antarctica will be lost due to glacial melt (Nature Climate Change journal).
Understanding the human brain
The researchers tested the biological robustness of the artificial network using information theory. The biological brain, particularly the human brain, is a highly desirable computing system due to its low energy consumption and high efficiency. To create a similarly effective computing system, many neuromorphic scientists are focusing on designing hardware components that mimic the brain’s complex learning mechanisms.
Recently, a team of researchers approached this goal from a different angle, focusing on measuring knowledge transfer. Their methods, tested through biological and simulation experiments, proved effective in an electronic neuromorphic system (published in the Journal of Intelligent Computing).
The quest to understand intellect and unravel the workings of the mind has always been considered the holy grail of the natural sciences. While many mysteries remain, animals can offer valuable insights into the origins and organization of both mind and intelligence. Most recently, a study from the Department of Ethology at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) discovered that dogs may possess an important intelligence component known as the ‘g factor’. These findings could bring us closer to understanding how canine (and human) cognition is organized and how cognitive decline progresses with age.
Solution to the energy problem
It takes a tremendous amount of energy to interact with Google, talk to Siri, request something from ChatGPT, or use AI in any capacity. Without addressing the energy problem, transitioning to more widespread artificial intelligence could exacerbate existing issues.
A new study predicts that by 2027, AI servers will consume as much energy as Argentina or Sweden. In fact, it is estimated that a single ChatGPT prompt uses as much energy as forty mobile phone charges on average. Recently, three scientific articles have been published that focus on using artificial intelligence to save energy.
AI-generated writing and illustrations emit significantly less carbon than their human counterparts. Research shows that while the energy use of AI is much lower, it cannot fully replace humans. A recent study found that AI systems emit 130 to 1,500 times less CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per page of text generated compared to human writers, and illustration systems emit 310 to 2,900 times less CO2e per image than human artists.
The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne has introduced a new approach to a traditional method. While industrial wind turbines are commonly imagined as horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs), the first wind turbines from the 8th century in the Middle East were vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs), which rotate perpendicular to the wind. The new study uses artificial intelligence to build more efficient vertical wind turbines.
Scientists at the Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials Research Center (CiQUS) have achieved a breakthrough by integrating non-native photosensitizers into mammalian cells. Plants use chlorophyll to capture sunlight and initiate photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical fuel and producing oxygen. This process is crucial for metabolizing carbon dioxide and water into sugars. This study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), represents the pioneering demonstration of synthetic chemical bond formation within cells through photocatalysis.
Artificial intelligence in agriculture
A new “Deep Learning” model predicts water and energy demands in agriculture with great accuracy. Researchers are developing a model based on the ‘Transformer’ architecture to assist irrigation communities in their decision-making processes. Water scarcity and high energy costs are significant challenges for these communities, which manage and allocate water for agricultural purposes. Researchers from the University of Córdoba (DAUCO) are applying artificial intelligence technology to precision agriculture through the HOPE project. This project aims to develop a comprehensive precision irrigation model that incorporates AI to guide decision-making.
- Can an earthquake be predicted? Earthquake prediction remains a major interest worldwide, as it is one of the least predictable natural disasters. A new review published by KeAi, with contributions from researchers in France and the USA, explores potential new solutions in this field. KeAi, founded by Elsevier and China Science Publishing & Media Ltd, aims to uncover high-quality research globally and publishes more than 100 open-access journals across all scientific disciplines.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is ushering in a new era of human history, with rapid developments in the field. According to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and other recent advancements, the potential of AI is boundless, and we can only speculate about what the future holds.
To be proactive:
The USA needs to allocate more resources for AI research and development, a task that should be undertaken collaboratively by both the private and public sectors.
Countries with limited resources can achieve their economic and social goals by strategically leveraging AI and cloud computing technologies. Cybersecurity measures will ensure these technologies are used safely, while quantum computing and IoT will provide new approaches to security. The opportunities and risks presented by these technologies will be pivotal in shaping future national strategies.
The infrastructure necessary for AI advancement, including fast internet, data centers, and high-performance computers, must be developed to support its growth.
To apply AI across various fields, specialized human resources are essential. Thus, AI education should be integrated into university programs, and researchers and engineers in this domain should be adequately trained.
An ethical and responsible approach is crucial for ensuring that AI benefits humanity. The potential risks and harms associated with AI must be considered, and necessary precautions should be implemented. The European Union (EU) exemplifies this approach by making significant decisions on sectoral regulations and oversight.
AI has the potential to revolutionize many industries through its data analysis, automation, and learning capabilities. For countries with limited investment capabilities, AI can enhance efficiency and reduce costs in diverse areas such as healthcare and education. Cloud computing democratizes access to data storage and processing power, enabling small and medium-sized businesses to remain competitive.
Cybersecurity is fundamental for the safe use of cloud computing and AI technologies. Cyberattacks can result in financial losses, reputational damage, and decreased customer trust. Thus, implementing measures like cybersecurity education, using strong passwords, maintaining up-to-date software, and backing up data is crucial.
Quantum computing provides computational power and speed beyond the reach of classical computers, especially for analyzing large and complex data sets. The Internet of Things (IoT) connects everyday devices to the internet, opening new possibilities for data collection and analysis. While these technologies introduce new cybersecurity threats, they also offer more advanced detection and response capabilities.
USA’s opportunities:
In addition to the points mentioned above, it’s important to highlight the following opportunities for the USA in the field of AI:
- Dynamic and Young Population: The USA’s youthful and vibrant population represents a significant potential for learning and developing AI technologies.
- Strategic Geographic Location: Positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, the USA has the potential to become a central hub for the development and dissemination of AI technologies.
- Advanced Software Industry: The USA’s highly developed software industry provides a strong foundation for the creation and advancement of AI applications.
Artificial intelligence holds immense promise for humanity. The USA should seize this opportunity to evaluate its potential and aim to be a leader in AI innovation.
For third-world countries, taking proactive steps is crucial to not miss out on the AI revolution. Strategies such as leveraging local resources, investing in education and collaboration, supporting open-source initiatives, and focusing on localization can enable these countries to make significant contributions to the AI field.
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