The Intelligence Of An Artificial Entity

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a popular trend these days, but it seems so abstract that it is easy to assume only people savvy with technology should be concerned about it. This is far from the truth.AI is not a passing trend that will one day become popular, rather it is at the centre of every leading industry in the world today.American computer scientist, John McCarthy, who was also one of the founders of the discipline of artificial intelligence, defined AI as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs. It is related to the similar task of using computers to understand human intelligence.”This means that the goal of AI is to create machines that think and act like humans and use human intelligence to solve problems and perform tasks that are ordinarily done by people but in a more efficient manner. AI is already a part of our everyday lives. We use it when we check emails while shopping online and for ease of connection with our friends and family on social media. Google uses AI to predict what you want to search for online and finishes your sentences for you. Also, when you get directions to a venue with your digital maps, you are using AI.

It is, therefore, evident that, just as AI has changed our daily lives, it will also change how we do business, manage finances and invest wealth.The financial world has evolved and developed smart solutions to keep up with the unique needs of consumers in the digital age. Here are a few ways that AI has changed and is changing the world of finance and investing:Technology is currently being used to spot credit card fraud and money laundering by monitoring large deposits and unusual activity. Money can be moved around very quickly online and this has caused an increase in fraud. AI-based systems can now analyse normal customer behaviour and quickly detect when something is out of the ordinary.

Personal banking applications are also a product of AI and they are used to provide customized services to the consumer at the touch of a button. Customers no longer need to go to the physical bank branch to carry out routine tasks such as checking balance, requesting statements and monitoring account activity.There’s no denying that AI has brought disruptions to the world of businesses. The landscape is changing rapidly and all organizations and their customers will need to adjust accordingly. However, it is safe to say that the improvements already brought on by AI have made this change something we can look forward to rather than dread. Experts have submitted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can assist countries, especially the developing ones, in tackling climate change. AI's unique capacity to gather, complete and interpret large, complex data sets on emissions, climate impact ad more, the technology can be used to support all stakeholders in tackling a more informed and data-driven approach to combating carbon emissions and a building a greener society. It is also a vital tool for economic development and countries worldwide are investing heavily in AI research development, and deployment.

Though a coin has it two sides, so I'll say we should also stare more at its disadvantages to the society. Despite the many benefits of AI, the technology also poses significant risks and challenges that need to be addressed. In Nigeria and other countries, the potential impact of AI is enormous, but so are the risks and threats.

The negative impacts of AI must be carefully considered, and policies and regulations should be developed to mitigate these risks.

Examples of these risks are Deepfakes are videos or images that have been manipulated using AI technology to create a false representation of reality. These videos have the potential to be used for malicious purposes, such as spreading fake news or propaganda.

There have been several reported incidents of deepfakes being used for malicious purposes in Nigeria and other countries. Here are some notable examples:

In Nigeria, deepfake videos were used during the 2019 presidential election to spread misinformation and fake news. One video showed the opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, allegedly speaking at a public event and promising to “grant amnesty” to Boko Haram terrorists if elected. The video was later proven to be a deepfake.

In the United States, a deepfake video was created of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appearing to slur her words and speaking incoherently. The video was shared on social media and viewed millions of times before being exposed as a deepfake.These incidents demonstrate the potential harm that can be caused by deepfakes, particularly in the context of political manipulation and the spread of misinformation.

Deepvoices are when scammers use audio made by AI to pretend to be someone else to get access to private information or make financial transactions. There have been few reported cases of “deepvoices” in Nigeria or other countries, but the potential for this type of AI technology to be used for fraudulent purposes is a concern.

In 2019, a UK-based energy company was scammed out of approximately $243,000 after fraudsters used AI-generated audio to mimic the voice of the company’s CEO and request an urgent money transfer.

AI technology has also been used to create sophisticated online scams and frauds that are difficult to detect. These scams can result in significant financial losses for individuals and businesses. In Countries, online scams and frauds are prevalent, and AI technology is increasingly being used to create more sophisticated and convincing scams.

There have been several cases and incidents of AI-powered online scams and frauds in countries. Here are some examples:

In 2020, a group of fraudsters in South Africa were arrested for using AI-powered voice technology to impersonate bank employees and steal money from customers’ accounts.

In 2018, a group of fraudsters in the United States were arrested for using AI-powered software to create fake social media accounts and scam people out of millions of dollars.These examples highlight the growing trend of AI-powered online scams and frauds, which can be difficult to detect and prevent. It is important for individuals and businesses to be vigilant and take steps to protect themselves from these types of threats. In addition to, Nigeria can also benefits from AI by applying it in politics. Experts say artificial intelligence (AI), when deployed at scale, has the potential to change the outcome of any election and political discourse, as social media has done in recent years. It is therefore important to consider the ways the technology can be of benefit.

According to an expert in AI who wanted to remain anonymous to speak freely, one way AI can be applied in politics is through targeted campaigns. Here, AI is used by political aspirants to run extremely targeted campaigns on a national scale. This may involve combining generative AI with programmatic marketing such that ads can be run targeting specific locations and the video will be made to look personalised.

For example, one of the top three candidates in the presidential election can use AI to generate a video of himself addressing people living in 774 local governments in Nigeria, and then run a YouTube or Facebook ad targeting people in those locations.

“People in Obio Okpor local government will be watching a video of the candidate speaking to them about his plans for the country and how it affects their specific local government. Peter Obi will only need to shoot one video, and generative AI will be able to reproduce that video for all 774 LGAs,” the expert said.

The videos can also be translated into local languages such that someone in rural communities across the country is able to watch the candidate speak to them in local language concerning his plans for the community and region and how the plans will make their lives better. At the last presidential election, there were several cases where the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were unable to upload pictures of the results to the IReV portal. Deploying AI in subsequent elections would solve this. The AI would not just upload the pictures, it is able to scan result sheets and convert the images to text. When the text is authenticated, the AI is capable of uploading the result to the server, thereby ensuring that all the results from across the country are accumulated in real-time with less human interference. Reported by Business Day Technology. To conclude with, A lot of people are completely unaware of these algorithms and technology in my country(Nigeria), hence I will make maximum effort of at least passing the potential benefits of AI to colleagues in my school with the help of the podium, Microphone and the Public Address System. By creating efficient awareness of AI to the public and also warning them of the disadvantages and risks.