TL;DR:
- AI has become deeply integrated into our everyday lives, from facial recognition technology and voice assistants to navigation systems and streaming services.
- Facial recognition technology uses the same methods as the human brain to identify faces and has become a popular alternative to traditional passwords, with 176 million Americans using it to unlock devices and access apps.
- Streaming services use AI algorithms to provide personalized recommendations based on each user’s watch history and preferences while also enlisting the help of humans to curate content suggestions.
- GPS and navigation apps like Google Maps use AI and machine learning to offer features like Street View and accurate ETAs, with Google’s partnership with AI firm DeepMind improving the accuracy of ETAs.
- Voice assistants, such as Siri, Alexa, Cortana, and Google Home, have become popular tools for completing tasks hands-free, with 97% of smartphone owners using these virtual assistants. However, privacy concerns remain a challenge with voice assistants, as human employees sometimes listen in on audio recordings to improve the AI’s transcription feature.
Main AI News:
Despite the recent attention that AI has received for powering cutting-edge search engines and chatbots, the technology is already deeply integrated into our everyday lives. This can be seen in everything from the algorithms used by streaming services to facial recognition technology, voice assistants, and navigation systems.
Facial Recognition Technology: A Pioneering Tool in AI
Facial recognition technology is revolutionizing the way we interact with our devices and the world around us. This innovative approach to AI leverages the same methods as the human brain to identify faces and has proven to be a popular and convenient alternative to traditional passwords. According to a recent report from the AI firm FaceMe, 176 million Americans use facial recognition, with 68% using it to unlock their devices and 58% using it to access apps.
Katharina Dobbs, a researcher at Justus-Liebig University Giessen, states that the human brain processes face and objects differently and that this is reflected in the way AI systems are designed to recognize and categorize them. The fusiform gyrus, located in the temporal lobe, is a dedicated area in the human brain responsible for facial recognition, which helps explain why some people who suffer temporal lobe damage struggle to recognize familiar faces.
Smartphones, social media apps, banking apps, and other platforms have adopted facial recognition as a secure and efficient means of authentication, providing seamless access to the content and services they offer. For instance, popular devices like iPhones and Androids, as well as apps like Bank of America, Instagram, and Twitter, are using facial recognition in place of traditional passwords.
Streaming Services: Personalized Recommendations via AI and Human Curation
Streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max have become integral to our entertainment experience, offering an extensive library of movies and shows to choose from. To enhance the user experience, these companies use AI algorithms to provide personalized recommendations based on each user’s watch history, preferences, and interaction with the service.
According to Business Insider, over 80% of all titles watched on Netflix are discovered through the platform’s recommendation system, which takes into account various factors, including the time of day the user watches, the devices used, the duration of each watch, and what other users with similar interests are watching. Netflix uses AI to analyze this data and generate recommendations tailored to each user’s viewing habits.
Similarly, HBO Max also uses an AI algorithm to develop recommendations, but it also enlists the help of humans to curate content suggestions. The company employs celebrities and employees to create “watchlists” for its users, similar to how music services like Apple Music and Spotify use experts and artists to curate playlists. Sarah Lyons, former senior vice president of product experience for HBO Max, emphasized the importance of human curation, stating that the lists created by actual people are just as crucial as the content itself.
Revolutionizing Navigation: The Power of AI in GPS and Navigation Apps
GPS and navigation apps have transformed the way we travel, providing real-time traffic updates and the accurate estimated time of arrival (ETA) predictions. One such app, Google Maps, leverages AI and machine learning to offer a wealth of features to its users.
Google Maps Street View feature is a prime example of the company’s use of AI. The app collects 360-degree images via its Street View car, which are then combined to create a 3D virtual world. In cases where workers cannot identify a business or street name from the images alone, Google uses a text recognition system to decipher the words. This system supports multiple languages, including Mandarin, Latin, and Japanese.
Another area where Google Maps leverages AI is in determining traffic patterns and ETAs. The app analyzes historical traffic data in a particular area and combines it with real-time traffic conditions to predict traffic flow. This information is then used to generate accurate ETAs for users.
Google’s partnership with AI company DeepMind has further improved the accuracy of ETAs. Despite Google Maps’ initial accuracy of around 97% of trips, DeepMind’s technology increased accuracy by 50% in cities like Washington D.C., Tokyo, Berlin, and Sydney.
The Rise of AI-Powered Digital Voice Assistants
Voice assistants, such as Siri, Alexa, Cortana, and Google Home, have become ubiquitous in our daily lives. As more than 85% of Americans own a smartphone, according to Pew Research, these AI-powered digital assistants have become a popular tool for completing tasks hands-free, such as making grocery lists, playing music, reading the news, and checking bank statements. A report from IDAP found that 97% of smartphone owners use these virtual assistants.
Voice assistants respond to voice commands and can run on a wide range of devices, including smartphones, laptops, game systems, tablets, smartwatches, virtual reality headsets, and cars. Despite their widespread use, privacy concerns remain one of the biggest challenges facing these products. Several companies have come under fire for revealing that human employees sometimes listen in on audio recordings of conversations made with virtual assistants to improve the AI’s transcription feature.
To provide accurate and reliable results, the AI used to power virtual assistants must process vast amounts of data to identify patterns. Jason Mars, CEO and co-founder of voice assistant company Clinic, told CNN that it takes 20,000 hours of audio to train an assistant before it can be rolled out to users.
Conlcusion:
The integration of AI into our everyday life is rapidly increasing, from facial recognition technology and voice assistants to navigation systems and streaming services. The popularity of facial recognition technology is due to its convenience and efficiency as a means of authentication while streaming services use AI algorithms to provide personalized recommendations.
GPS and navigation apps use AI to offer features like Street View and accurate ETAs. Voice assistants, such as Siri and Alexa, have become widely used tools for completing tasks hands-free, though privacy concerns remain a challenge in this field. As AI continues to advance, it is likely that we will see even more AI-powered technologies integrated into our daily routines in the future.
