Part 1 - Simplify AI: The AI Introduction

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field with the potential to transform our lives in countless ways. From self-driving cars to virtual assistants, AI is already being used in a wide variety of applications.

AI is here, now, and it's changing everything from how we shop to how we learn, and how we launch and grow new businesses!

Don't Fear Change... Prepare for it! 

There is a lot of hesitation about AI because it is so new and relatively unknown.  There are also fears that AI will eliminate jobs and job industries; however, the best way to face a big change is to be a part of it!

It is not AI itself that will replace humans and opportunities; it is the humans that know how to use AI that will replace humans and future opportunities.

While the potential benefits of AI are immense, many individuals and entrepreneurs are hesitant to dive into learning it. Have you experienced hesitation, overwhelm, or felt intimidated about trying to learn AI to accelerate your future?

The vast amount of information available on AI can be overwhelming, making it difficult to know where to start. AI often involves complex technical terms and concepts that can be intimidating for those without a strong high-tech background, and the field of AI is constantly evolving, making it challenging to keep up with the latest developments and best practices.

Trying to learn AI may trigger stronger feelings as well, like fear of failure, anxiety, lack of confidence, procrastination, negative self-talk about learning, or a lack of motivation. 

All of these feelings are normal when it comes to learning a new knowledge base, new vocabulary or new skills; however, if you approach it with an excited and relaxed mindset, you will feel much more at ease. 

The truth is that learning AI can be fun and simple. 

It really is not as hard as it might seem at first, and once you know even a little bit about the power of what it can do and create, it can ignite a spark within you to use your newfound skills to create and launch a business that will help you have the freedom to work the way you want and help you unlock unlimited earning potential.

A Brief History of AI 

Believe it or not, AI started way back in the 1940s with early attempts to create intelligent machines capable of problem-solving and learning. In 1943, Warren McCulloch and Walter Pitts proposed a mathematical model of a neural network, laying the foundation for the study of AI.

Then in 1950, Alan Turing introduced the Turing test to assess a machine’s ability to exhibit intelligent behavior indistinguishable from that of a human.  While progress was slow in the early years, technological advancements have led to a surge in AI development and applications in recent decades.

The availability of large datasets and increased computing power, that took rise during the 1990s and expanded exponentially in the 2000s, fueled the development of machine learning algorithms.

Now in the 2020s, AI is advancing rapidly with new applications, in all types of fields and industries, being launched weekly!

Before we start using AI we need to understand what it is, and know its capabilities and limitations.

What is AI? 

Simply stated, Artificial intelligence (AI) is the use of computer programming to imitate human intelligence. The goal of AI is to use computer programs to complete everything from simple tasks to complex problem solving to make daily life easier and more convenient.

That means that AI can help us get more done in less time, make boring tasks fun or eliminate them, and make life less stressful.  AI can be an extremely useful tool both in your personal life and as a powerful accelerator in business success.

AI can help you with basic tasks like scheduling, task management, household organization, writing, and note-taking, business applications like website design and construction, product development and customer service, and even some tasks you might not have considered like being a resource for accelerated learning, performing self-assessments, developing new skills, and creating personal success.  It can even help you solve problems and make decisions.

In short, AI can be a game changer to help you automate tasks, provide important insights, and support you in ways you haven’t yet imagined!

What is generative AI? 

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that has the ability to create new information. It can create text, images, audio, and video. 

It has the ability to learn from existing information and then generates new content that is similar in style and format but different in details, artistic expression, and ideas.

This ability makes generative AI exciting and fun to learn and explore.  But how does generative AI actually work? 

It works because computer programming can be trained or can learn in two different modes: machine learning and deep learning. Let's use the concept of dog training to simplify and understand the two modes of computer programming. 

Machine Learning

By formal definition, machine learning is ‘a subset of artificial intelligence that allows computers to learn from data without being explicitly programmed.’ However, that definition is confusing if you are brand new to AI. 

Basically, machine learning is like teaching a computer to learn from experience. Instead of being told exactly what to do, the computer learns by looking at examples (sometimes thousands or even hundreds of thousands of examples) and figuring out patterns on its own.

It’s like teaching a dog new tricks by showing it what to do and rewarding it when it gets it right.

In other words, machine learning uses algorithms to analyze data, identify patterns, and make predictions or decisions.

A real-life example of machine learning at work is the posts you see pop up in your Facebook or Instagram feed because of prior posts you have liked, shared, or commented on.  The algorithm is learning what you liked in the past and showing you more things that are similar, so that you will enjoy and be entertained or interested in the new information you see. 

Deep Learning

Deep learning is ‘a type of machine learning that uses artificial neural networks with multiple layers to learn complex patterns from even larger datasets.' Neural networks are mathematical models that are inspired by the human brain.

In this case, deep learning is also like teaching a computer to learn from examples and experience but in a really smart, fast, and sophisticated way.  Deep learning works more like our brains where there are thousands of tiny, connected parts, and we can experience multiple thoughts, ideas, or feelings at the same time. 

With deep learning, it would be like having a really smart dog that can learn new tricks very quickly, and even come up with its own tricks by combining a combination of tricks it has been rewarded for in the past.

Deep learning allows computers to learn very complex information like face recognition or understanding language.

Both machine learning and deep learning play a crucial role in the creation of generative AI.

Machine learning sets the foundation for generative AI by providing algorithms and techniques for learning from data and making predictions, and deep learning improves and elevates generative AI due to its ability to learn complex patterns and representations from extremely large sets of data. 

In essence, generative AI uses machine learning and deep learning techniques to learn from existing data and generate or create brand new, original works.

Now that we know what artificial intelligence is and what generative AI is, we can take a look at the different types of AI that are available and easy to use right now!

What are the Types of Generative AI? 

1) AI Text - written, language, and numerical generators

Text-Based AI are typically known as NLP (natural language processors). This type of AI focuses on the interaction between computers and human language. NLP systems can understand, interpret, and generate human language such as articles, poems, scripts, or educational information.

Examples of text-based AI include data processors, language translators, or chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini, or customer service bots often found in the lower right-hand corner on websites.

2) AI Visuals - image, video, and artistic generators

Visual-Based AI deals with the interpretation and understanding of visual information. Computer vision systems can identify, track, and classify objects in images and videos.

AI image and video generators can generate realistic images, artwork, sketches, graphic designs, and video clips all from text descriptions or other user inputs.

Examples of visual-based AI include Midjourney, Promo AI, DALL-E, Invideo, Veed.io, DeepAI, SteveAI, and Synthesia .

3) AI Audio - voice, sound, and music generators

Audio-Based AI focuses on audible information. Speech recognition technology enables computers to recognize and understand spoken language while audio generators have the ability to generate sound effects, music, or even spoken words. 

Examples of audio-based AI include Siri, Alexa, and Jukebox.

4) AI Hybrid - integrated AI applications (programs or apps)

Hybrid-Based AI combines multiple types of AI to perform complex tasks. It is often found in complex industries like healthcare or finance, but there are also a variety of hybrid based AI applications now appearing within business tools, organizational tools, and interactive media tools.

Examples of hybrid-based AI within business applications include Canva’s Magic AI Studio, Descript’s Underlord, and Notion AI.

Now that you know what types of AI exist, let’s take a brief look at how AI is already integrated into our daily lives.

Part 2 - AI in Everyday Life

Even if you haven’t started actively using generative AI tools, you are likely interacting with a lot of AI models in your everyday life.  Let’s take a quick look at some of the most common AI tools you most likely use daily to help you see how AI is already benefiting you and creating convenience for you!

Have you ever jumped on the internet and run a Google search?  Of course you have! Search engines like Google, Bing and even Pinterest use AI to understand search queries and provide relevant results.

Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok use AI algorithms to personalize content recommendations, target ads, and detect fake information.

Virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa are examples of AI-powered tools that can perform tasks like setting alarms, playing music, providing weather and directions, and answering questions.

Online shopping sites like Amazon use AI to customize product recommendations, predict customer behavior, and optimize the shopping experience.

AI is even one of the prominent tools that filter spam from your email inbox, detect and provide fraud detection on your bank and credit card accounts, and recommend the next great hit TV series for you to binge on Netflix!

AI already is and has been a significant contributor in the high-tech world we live in, but now with the evolution of generative AI, we are poised for the next big transformation. 

Let’s discuss the Future of AI and the incredible opportunity it presents for you as an entrepreneur!

Part 3 - AI & The Future of Business

This is an exciting time for ambitious and aspiring entrepreneurs. 

There are so many ways that AI can enhance and improve business opportunities, creativity, and performance that the list is potentially endless.

Forbes magazine says, “AI has the potential to be among the most disruptive technologies across global economies that we will ever develop – by bringing endless possibilities and applications that will help simplify our lives to a great extent!”

AI is poised to have a profound impact on the global economy. According to a study by McKinsey Global Institute, AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. This growth will be driven by increased productivity, innovation, and new business opportunities. Did you hear that? New business opportunities!

Generative AI is rapidly improving and becoming increasingly sophisticated everyday creating significant implications for fields like art, design, and business marketing.

AI is being used for social good to address social and environmental challenges such as climate change, healthcare, and education. In more technical fields like science, finance, and product invention, AI is being utilized to create new ideas, new methods, and new innovations. 

While AI is advancing, efforts are underway to make it more explainable.  Efforts are being made to make AI models more transparent and understandable, allowing us to better comprehend how they make decisions and provide information. This is crucial for building trust and ensuring ethical AI development.

This means that over time, as AI continues to develop and more and more people interact with it and use it daily, AI will become more ‘normal’.  It will become more trustworthy, and it will become an integrated part of our daily life. 

Need More Help Getting Your Business Started with AI? 

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