"Alexa, What is AI?"

Artificial Intelligence. It is a term that we hear a lot. AI does this, AI does that but what really is AI? I am certainly guilty of shouting ‘Alexa’ at my echo dot to complete simple tasks, such as ‘what’s the weather today?’ or ‘play country music’. Tasks which at the click of a button could have been completed on an iPhone. But Alexa can do it quicker. AI has been created as a means to help out humans. Although taking away these mundane tasks could just be the slippery slope into a lazy generation.

Warranted, AI is useful for playing what some might call my ‘questionable’ music taste but Alexas have also been integrated into our homes so we can turn the heating up before we get home, because who likes a cold house? The future is automated cars, fridges which know what groceries we have run out of. AI is developing within the world of technology and leading to a growth of legal technology. Contract automation, live updates to clients and drafting functions as some of many new features.

Technology itself is booming. The UK is one the largest investors in FinTech and investments are only increasing. A 44% rise in investment from 2018 to £10.1 billion in 2019. The UK is the third in the world for tech unicorns. The UK is third in the world for investing in emerging technologies like AI, Robotics, IoT and VR. Over £19 billion was invested in AI in 2019. This investment reflects AI's use and effectiveness.

At its simplest, AI is a study of computer processing which enables intelligent thinking. The ultimate intelligence is that of the human brain and hence AI is trying to replicate that. It is important to note that AI has not overtaken human intelligence but tries to act as a sidekick to enhance our performance and makes living our lives easier. With this growth in AI there are many regulatory and ethical issues attached to its development.

AI is an international risk. Technology does not stay within borders. With the growth of a new area, there needs to be a growth of regulation and compliance. Technology’s growth has only just started. The launch of Elton Musk’s rocket, Dragon, into space is creating a whole new realm of commercial flight. Questions in relation to regulation and the span of multi jurisdictions (and space) should be at the forefront of all our minds. This is just one example of technology growth.

With regulation comes the issue of data and ethical bias. New laws and regulations need to be implemented with the input of all diversities. AI is typically created by white privileged males and hence the data set is better at picking up white males’ voices. I have talked about this issue in my report on AI regulation in Canada and the EU. I completed this whilst on my year abroad in Canada. Although this is not based on UK law it touches upon the needs and gaps in AI regulation and is good guidance into what the UK should be looking into.

‘Alexa’ upload.

References

Tech Nation 2020 https://technation.io/report2020/