What is AI? (Artificial Intelligence)
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines or software, as opposed to the intelligence of humans or animals. It is a field of study in computer science which develops and studies intelligent machines. Such machines may be called AIs. AI provides a computer program with the ability to think and learn on its own. It is a simulation of human intelligence (hence, artificial) into machines to do things that we would normally rely on humans. There are three main types of AI based on its capabilities - weak AI, strong AI, and super AI.
Now this may sound very smart and hard maybe even scary but AI is no such thing. It improves our lives every day.
With all the hype around Artificial Intelligence - robots, self-driving cars, etc. - it can be easy to assume that AI doesn’t impact our everyday lives. In reality, most of us encounter Artificial Intelligence in some way or the other almost every single day. From the moment you wake up to check your smartphone to watching another Netflix-recommended movie, AI has quickly made its way into our everyday lives.
The benefits of AI include efficiency, data analysis for informed decisions, assistance in medical diagnosis, and the advancement of autonomous vehicles (cars that can drive themselves). The drawbacks of AI include job displacement (who needs to drive a car if it can drive itself or a weather woman when you can ask Siri straight away), ethical concerns (is it good for mankind) about bias and privacy, security risks from hacking, a lack of human-like creativity and empathy.
We all know that computers don't have emotions so they are not like humans but shortly they will be able to perform human tasks better than us and will become a huge factor in our daily lives. This is why we must learn about the good and bad of AI now to be prepared for the future.
Let's all hope Terminator doesn't make a comeback!
A Heads-Up on AI: SEC Issues Warning for Leaving Cert Coursework
In a digital age where technology is king, Leaving Certificate students in Ireland are getting a friendly caution from the State Examinations Commission (SEC) about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in their coursework.
The SEC has updated its guidelines to make it crystal clear: any content created by AI tools should be treated like work not done by the students themselves. Translation? Using AI-generated content without giving it proper credit is a no-go, and it's considered plagiarism. The consequences? Well, it might cost students all the marks for their coursework.
Why the fuss? AI tools like ChatGPT make it super easy for students to create essays, images, or videos in the blink of an eye. But, with coursework accounting for up to 40% of final marks in many Leaving Cert subjects.
So, for Leaving and Junior Cert students, the takeaway is simple. While tech shortcuts might seem tempting, the SEC's watching, and integrity matters. This isn't just about exams; it's about using technology responsibly and keeping the education game fair and square.