Business

It’s time to think Artificial Intelligence

Dr Austin Tanney
Dr Austin Tanney Dr Austin Tanney

ALL I see these days, particularly on social media is artificial intelligence (AI). It features in the mainstream media, advertising, movies and TV shows.

There are academics and technologists at either end of the spectrum with one side arguing that “it’s just math” while the other side are claiming, “it’s an existential threat”.

There are neuroscientists and philosophers trying to figure out if we can ever actually generate artificial consciousness and what the potential consequences of that would be.

Beyond these theoretical arguments, AI is just quietly ingratiating itself into our everyday lives. From start-ups in Belfast to major multinationals, tech companies are embracing it and making it a core part of their business.

Whether these companies are involved in commerce, cyber security, fintech, healthcare or the automotive industry, AI is becoming an instinctive part of business operations.

Back in 2010, Eric Schmidt, then the chief executive of Google, announced that the global search giant was becoming a “mobile first” company. Smartphones were not new, with around one in three people in the UK owning one. Now, it’s rare to find someone who doesn’t own a smartphone.

Google’s decision to focus on “mobile first” in 2010 was not an attempt to blindly predict the future. They were backing the right approach based on clear trends and evidence.

So when Google chief executive Sundar Pichai announced in 2017 that Google was becoming an ‘AI first’ company, this was a significant move in a direction as obvious as the penetration of smartphones.

Have you used Google? Apple? Amazon? Uber? Facebook? Twitter? LinkedIn? Have you talked to Alexa? Siri? Cortana or Google’s sadly nameless AI? The chances are, like me, you have used an AI-based service many times today and will continue to do so. Our daily rituals is testimony to the understated but increasing role that AI plays in our lives. This is not just momentary hype.

I was involved in launching an organisation called AINI. A community networking group for AI practitioners and enthusiasts. We announced our first event on a Friday morning and by the Sunday, it was fully booked with 110 people signed up and 40 others on a waiting list. There is a real appetite for greater knowledge of AI and interest as to how we can use this to put Northern Ireland on the map.

The Northern Irish tech community has talented pool of people with a potent in understanding of AI. On the night of the event, we had speakers from Philips, Liberty IT, Auromind and Ulster University discussing their work on AI and machine learning.

If we utilise the skills and companies that we have and really embrace this new wave of interest in AI, Northern Ireland has the potential to make a name for itself on the global stage.

At this year's BelTech on May 2 & 3 (www.BelTech2018.co.uk) I will be chairing the AI session, a half day of talks with excellent local and international speakers who will be talking about their work in AI. BelTech will be a fantastic opportunity to focus on moving beyond the hype and to see how AI will really impact our lives.

:: Dr Austin Tanney is head of life science and healthcare at Analytics Engines