Types of AI

Artificial Intelligence is growing these days and is attractinmg attention of scientists and managers from across the globe.

Referring to the article 7 types of Artificial Intelligence, in Forbes of June 2019 where the seven different types of AI classifications are briefly mentioned.

The basic classification of Artificial Intelligence is of two types based on the likeness to the human mind and the ability to analyse.

According to the classification of AI based on it's likeliness to the human mind, Reactive, Limited Memory, Theory of Mind and Self Aware AI are the different classifications.

1. Reactive AI machines are 

• limited in their applications.
• do not have memory based functionality
• no ability to learn from previously gained experiences
• can only respond to a limited set or combination of inputs
• cannot improve their operations

An example is IBM's famous chess playing Super Computer Deep Blue. 

2. Limited Memory AI is what we observe in chatbots, Personal Assistants like Amazon echo, Google Home, Microsoft Cortana and Apple Siri, all self-driving vehicles.

In addition to the capabilities of Reactive Machines, these AI machines can learn from historical data to make use in decision making. Image recognition that makes use of Machine Learning and Deep Learning is an example of this. 

Image Courtesy, Forbes.

3. Theory of Mind AI is futuristic and exist only as a concept or work-in-progress

A Theory of mind AI will be able to better understand the entities by being able to discern the needs, emotions, beliefs and thought processes of the entities it is interacting with.  Theory of Mind AI tries to understand humans better.

4. Self Aware AI is akin to the human brain with all it's rationalising and emotional capabilities.

Though it may takes decades or centuries to fully realise and understand this type of AI, it can change humanity for the better or consign it for doom or disaster. The potential for self-preservation of these AI machines, can take over or spell the end of humanity, which can be a great threat to the world.

The other three types of AI are 

• Artificial Narrow Intelligence which we see in all our current applications with learning capabilities and ability to perform repetitive tasks autonomously using human like capabilities. 
• Artificial General Intelligence is futuristic and is the ability of machines to learn, perceive, understand and function like human beings. They develop competencies across multiple capabilities and domains with reduced learning time to carry out tasks efficiently and accurately.
• Artificial Super Intelligence is the ultimate in AI development. Because of their multi faceted intelligence these machines will be better capable at doing all things better than humans because of their faster memory, data processing, analysis and decision making capabilities. These machines can also spell the doom of humanity, thus being a great risk. 

How can humanity make effective use of these different types of AI to help in growth of humanity and not its doom is a serious question facing human civilization now. Can we, if not control, at least co-exist with AGI or ASi to help humanity for the next millennia ?

George.