Some Ways Artificial Intelligence Will Affect Our Lives

Since the start of the 21st century, there's no question that mankind has made tremendous advances in the field of robotics. While modern robots can now mimic the movements and actions of humans, the next challenge lies in teaching robots to think for themselves and react to changing conditions. The field of artificial intelligence promises to give machines the ability to think analytically, using concepts and advances in computer science, robotics and mathematics.

While scientists have yet to realize the full potential of AI, this technology will likely have far-reaching effects on human life in the years to come.

Taming the Weather. Soon, meteorologists may be able to predict the weather more accurately by using AI software, which can examine complex data and spot patterns missed by the human eye. When this software sees a big storm coming, it will automatically issue alerts to warn residents and the media, and this may help save lives. By increasing the accuracy of weather predictions, AI software may also offer important benefits in crop development, forestry and agriculture. NASA is even working on programs that will guide aircraft around potential storms and danger spots, even in remote areas, which could increase the safety of air travel in the near future.

Tackling Dangerous (or Boring) Tasks. If you have a robotic vacuum cleaner in your home, you're already taking advantage of AI to tackle one of life's most tedious tasks. Facilities with large turf areas, like golf courses, rely on similar technology to mow their lawns without the need for human intervention. The same technology may soon allow robots to perform boring or repetitive tasks along an assembly line, or even sort trash and recycling at waste processing centers.

AI may also allow machines to perform tasks too dangerous for humans, such as mining or firefighting. Some countries have already put smart robots to work disabling land mines and even handling radioactive materials in order to limit the risk to human workers.

Saving the Planet. With AI, scientists may soon be able to use robots or other devices to clean up the environment and reduce the effects of air and water pollution. Advanced software programs will allow these machines to distinguish between biological organisms and potential pollutants like oil or hazardous waste. Smart software can also modify manufacturing processes to minimize air pollution.

Driverless Transport. Imagine cars that warn you of potential obstacles to help you avoid accidents, or even allow you to sit back and take in the sites as they drive themselves. AI may soon make all this possible, using cameras, sensors and special software built into the vehicle. Manufacturers already rely on this technology to make backing up and parking safer, while both the Toyota Prius and certain Lexus models can self-park at the touch of a button.

Driverless trains carry passengers from city to city in Japan without the need for human help, and self-driving cars may be closer than you think. In 2010, Google began testing its own line of driverless cars, which rely on lasers and sensors to spot obstacles, interpret signs and interact with traffic and pedestrians. AI not only takes the responsibility away from the driver, but also eliminates the danger of distracted driving and boasts a reaction time much faster than that of any human.

Pushing the Limits of Space Exploration. In the near future, advances in AI will allow scientists to travel well beyond the limits of 20^th-century space travel and explore more of the universe beyond our solar system. Today, NASA relies on unmanned shuttles to explore distant galaxies that would take years for humans to reach. Driverless rovers also allow researchers to explore and photograph Mars and other planets, where inhospitable conditions make human exploration impossible.

AI technology will also help scientists react more quickly to emergencies during manned flights. For example, a radio message from Mars takes roughly 11 minutes to reach Earth. Rather than waiting for advice from scientists on the ground when trouble arises, astronauts will work with onboard software systems to spot and prevent problems before they happen.

Protect Your Finances. As of 2010, roughly half of world stock trades are driven by AI-based software. These programs analyze financial data and can predict trends in the stock market. Some can even buy or sell shares based on these predictions, while others issue an alert to human brokers and advise them of the changes to come.

AI software may soon be able to protect consumers from fraud by detecting changes in spending or credit card use. If cards are lost or accounts are breached, the program can shut down the account and alert the holder of a potential problem to help limit losses.

Staying Safe. AI technology will soon help keep your family safe by protecting it from international threats as well as home burglaries. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security incorporates AI software into its monitoring systems, which scan phone calls and other communications. These programs can examine large volumes of data quickly and are even capable of distinguishing between casual conversation and potential threats.

Homes equipped with smarter security systems alert the homeowner and local law enforcement when an intruder enters the property. While older systems simply relied on motion detectors and sensors, modern security includes AI that allows the system to distinguish between occupants and unknown persons.

A Little Help Please. While the world may not be ready for flying cars, families may soon enjoy the perks of robotic servants to handle household chores. Robotic assistants may also offer help to the elderly or disabled. Through voice-recognition software, these personal servants will guide the blind or even fetch items on command.

Virtual assistants are also likely to take the place of traditional secretaries and medical assistants. They'll greet clients, interact with patients and handle typing and correspondence, all without ever taking a sick day.

In the nearest future voice recognition and natural language understanding will be a reality. If a computer is able to understand natural languages, it will also be able to translate from one language to another. A person could have a real-time conversation with another person, who speaks a different language, using a real-time translating computer. Such a useful tool might even be built in our mobile phones in the future. Possible applications for such a device seem limitless.

Space-Age Medicine. While robotic servants and driverless cars offer a certain wow factor, AI in medicine is already helping doctors detect diseases and save lives. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center relies on special software to examine the heart and stop heart attacks before they occur. Artificial muscles feature advanced smart technology that allows them to function more like real muscles.

All of this considered, medical devices that allow a computer analyze and make judgments on its own, cars that can see the world around them and drive safely... these are all steps forward, but AI is still far from being able to hold a conversation or form a complicated emotion. Can human intelligence surpass itself and create its own image? Even if such artificial intelligence is created, will it share our sense of morals and justice?

So AI began as an attempt to answer some of the most fundamental questions about human existence by understanding the nature of intelligence, but it has grown into a scientific and technological field affecting many aspects of industry, commerce and society.

In which way does AI affect your life today?

What applications of AI would you like to see in the future?

Are there any spheres where using AI-based systems should be avoided? Why?

Do you agree that when an AI-based technique reaches mainstream use, it is no longer considered AI?

(b) Search the text for the English equivalents:

1) человечество совершило гигантский прогресс в области робототехники;

2) оказывать воздействие, влекущее серьезные последствия;

3) увеличить точность прогнозов погоды;

4) решить одну из наискучнейших задач;

5) без необходимости вмешательства со стороны человека;

6) выполнять повторяющиеся задания на конвейере;

7) обращаться с радиоактивными материалами;

8) уменьшить воздействие загрязнения воздуха и воды;

9) исследовать вселенную за пределами солнечной системы;

10) непилотируемый (космический) челнок;

11) выявлять изменения в расходовании (средств);

12) включать «разумное» программное обеспечение в системы слежения;

13) программараспознаванияголоса.

E-books vs. Conventional Printed Books: Pros and Cons

20. Do you prefer electronic books (and e-readers) or traditional paper books? Sort out the advantages and disadvantages of e-books from those of paper ones by putting a tick (√) in respective boxes below:

+	-	+	-
1) become obsolete as technologies rapidly change
2) bulky and heavy; carrying more than 2-3 around can become a problem
3) can be bought and wrapped for a present
4) can be damaged from being dropped
5) can be purchased, downloaded, and used immediately
6) can be signed by the author
7) can potentially contain thousands of titles
8) can remain readable for many years
9) cheaper and easier for authors to self-publish
10) don't need power to function
11) don't normally cause significant eye strain
12) easily portable and takes up little room
13) have the ability to use Text-to-speech software to read the text aloud for visually impaired or elderly people
14) theirbatteryrequiresrecharging
15) their production doesn’t consume paper
16) may be readable in low light or even total darkness
17) may malfunction and data loss can occur
18) millions of free books are available for download
19) need a sufficient light source to be readable
20) need to be converted to another file type over time due to the format constant change
21) non-biodegradable, and the disposal of batteries containing toxic substances raises environmental concerns
22) non-visible or tangible due to its digital nature
23) provide the physical feel of the cover, paper, and binding
24) require bookstores for retail distribution
25) up-to-date devices incorporate an e-ink technology, which resembles paper

Study the infographic from “Newsweek” and add more upsides and downsides.