Artificial intelligence (AI) was once often considered something that existed in the world of science fiction films. The image of smart robots and technology that could think and interact independently seemed to be a mere fantasy.
However, over time, this view has changed drastically. Now, this technology has become an inseparable part of everyday life, including in the business world. In the business world, the role of AI is increasingly significant and can no longer be underestimated. According to Forbes 2024 data, this technology is already widely used, especially in customer service.
As many as 56% of companies have utilized this technology to improve efficiency and personalization of services, such as the use of chatbots and virtual assistants. This technology allows companies to provide faster, more efficient, and more relevant responses to consumer needs.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
In addition, AI is a mainstay in facing increasingly complex cybersecurity challenges. With its ability to detect and prevent cyber attacks quickly and accurately, this technology has been used by 51% of companies in various sectors.
Not only that, the technology also facilitates the automation of administrative tasks, such as inventory management, accounting, and procurement, so that employees can focus more on strategic and creative tasks.
AI also plays a major role in analyzing customer data to provide more targeted product recommendations. In fact, this technology is now popularly used in the recruitment process to find the best candidates more efficiently.
One interesting example of the application of AI comes from Muriel Makarim, Country Marketing Manager of Google Indonesia. He explained how this technology is able to optimize various stages in the marketing strategy, from increasing brand awareness to facilitating customer conversion.
"At the top funnel, AI helps create marketing assets such as advertisements more efficiently. If previously we needed days or weeks for production, now AI allows the creation of various versions of advertisements in a short time," said Muriel at the TRENDING event on YouTube Marketeers TV.
In addition, AI also helps brands target advertisements to consumers who are highly likely to buy the product. This not only increases marketing effectiveness but also reduces costs, so that the marketing budget can be used more efficiently without sacrificing target accuracy.
However, Muriel emphasized that although AI can automate many aspects, creativity and strategy still require a human touch.
"AI can only be a tool. Insight, strategy, and creativity still depend on humans," he said.
One of the AI technologies that has attracted attention is Gemini by Google, which is based on the Large Language Model (LLM). This platform is available in free and paid versions and supports use in Indonesian.
"Gemini can be used for various daily needs, such as making holiday itineraries or even writing marketing briefs. With good prompt quality, the output is very useful and right on target," said Muriel.
According to Softonic 2024 data, the use of Google Gemini shows interesting variations among users. With its various advantages, Gemini is increasingly popular, not only among companies but also individuals.
Although AI brings many benefits, concerns about the potential replacement of human jobs remain. However, with the right approach, AI can be a partner that supports humans in various fields. With its continued adoption, AI is predicted to continue to have a positive impact on the business world, driving efficiency, innovation, and growth in various sectors.
The Beginning of AI: Turing Test and Dartmouth Conference
The discovery of computers centuries ago became the forerunner of the emergence of artificial intelligence. Starting from this, the concept of artificial intelligence emerged which was first introduced by a famous mathematician and computer scientist from England. His work is considered a pivotal point in the development of AI for years. He is Alan Mathison Turing. Alan Turing, also known as the Father of Artificial Intelligence, is one of the influential figures in the 20th century.
He is famous for his innovative work in ushering in modern computer science. His paper, "On Computable Numbers" published at the age of 24, in 1936 led to the Colossus computer which was created to break the Enigma code. Even after World War II, Turing continued to develop some of the first computers that became the basis for the concept of artificial intelligence.
Then, in 1950, his paper entitled "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" introduced the concept of the Turing Test to test machine intelligence. The idea then gave rise to an interesting discussion, “Humans use available information as well as reason in order to solve problems and make decisions, so why can’t machines do the same thing?” However, the term ‘Artificial Intelligence’ was only officially introduced in 1956 by John McCarthy, who held a conference at Dartmouth College. This conference is considered the birth of AI as an academic and research field.
The Golden Era and Winter Era of AI
In the 1960s to 1970s, AI research experienced rapid development. One major breakthrough was the creation of expert systems, programs that can provide advice based on certain knowledge. Expert systems are used in various fields, such as medical diagnosis or solving engineering problems.
However, even though AI was developing, computer technology at that time was still very limited. These programs often could not handle more complex tasks, resulting in a period known as the AI winter, which was a time when AI research experienced a decline in interest due to results that were not as expected.
The Rise of AI: AI in Everyday Life
Entering the early 2000s, AI began to rise again thanks to rapid advances in computing and the availability of big data. With machine learning and deep learning, AI is able to analyze large amounts of data and recognize very complex patterns. One of the main breakthroughs was the development of a system that can recognize images and voices, such as those used in facial recognition applications on gadgets or virtual assistants, such as Siri or Google Assistant. Now we are very familiar with AI in everyday life.
AI is now used in various industries, such as health, education, automotive, and e-commerce. Then, when using the autocorrect feature on gadgets, interacting with chatbots on websites, or talking to virtual assistants, we are interacting with AI. In fact, the music or movie recommendations we receive from platforms, such as Spotify and Netflix, are also the result of AI analyzing our habits.
Well, Bibliophers. With such rapid technological advances, the future of AI is full of potential and challenges. Some experts believe that AI will be a major part of our lives in the future, helping in various aspects of life, from work, education, to entertainment. However, there are several challenges that must be faced, such as ethical issues in the use of AI and the possibility of replacing human jobs by machines.
In addition, privacy and data security issues are also important concerns as AI technology becomes more sophisticated. So, we must remain careful and ensure that AI is used for the good and progress of humanity. So, look forward to the next article about AI.
