Tuesday 16 July 2024

What is Artificial Intelligence and how can Namibians use it?

 First let us look at what AI is?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems or machines that can perform tasks usually requiring human intelligence. In other words, AI can assist a person in doing much more work than what is normally possible.

These tasks include learning from data (like humans learn from experience), recognising patterns (such as identifying faces in photos), making decisions, and understanding natural language (like how we talk to each other).

For an average user this means three levels of usage, namely: 

  1. How can you use existing AI for improving your life; 
  2. How is AI used ON (or against) you; and
  3. Creating AI chatbots with information you upload to assist in answering questions suited to your needs and wants.

Use existing AI for improving your life

One of the most popular and well-known AI applications is ChatGPT, (an advanced conversational AI model), which allows questions, provides personalised answers and can engage in conversation. This is but one of many assistants that can enhance personal productivity, learning and overall convenience.

Here are some examples of what conversational AI can do:

  • Students can use ChatGPT for homework help, understanding complex subjects, and preparing for exams;
  • Employees and business can seek advice on business strategies, marketing, and customer service improvements;
  • Individuals can get preliminary health advice and wellness tips (without the knowledge of parents, friends, etc);
  • Farmers can ask about best practices, crop management, and sustainable farming techniques.
  • In daily life anyone can use ChatGPT for cooking recipes, travel recommendations, and personal finance tips.

How is AI used on, or against, you

AI is used in various ways to improve our lives, interacting with you almost unseen. There are amongst others:

  • personal assistants to help manage your schedules, set reminders and even control smart home devices; 
  • health monitoring wearable devices to help you manage your help; 
  • AI tutors and homework help applications provide explanations; and 
  • recommendations services such as advertisements on Google, which movie to watch on Netflix, and suggest friends on Facebook.
 These same service can be used against you without your permission, for example:

  • privacy issues when data is misused or not protected;
  • tracking of your movements without your knowledge;
  • manipulated advertising, (as an example see the graphic below showing my own personal "sunburst" to determine my buying actions)


Creating AI chatbots

"A "created ChatGPT" typically refers to a ChatGPT model that has been set up or deployed for a specific purpose. This could involve customising the model to better suit a particular application or integrating it into a specific environment, like a customer service chatbot, a personal assistant, or a tool for educational purposes. It means leveraging the capabilities of ChatGPT to generate human-like text based on the input it receives." source: ChatGPT 4.0

In Namibia, AI can be used in various sectors such as education for personalised learning, healthcare for disease diagnosis, agriculture for precision farming, and business for customer service automation. By integrating AI, Namibians can improve efficiency and access to services across these sectors.

As an example of a personalised GPT, I have uploaded all information about myself such as personal details, my work history since 1990, my personal writings and poems created by my early twenties, my newspaper columns in The Namibian and New Era, my personal blog as well as my book, Future Namibia. 
 

This customised ChatGPT allows people to interact with me - in other words my history, writings and almost any other question that an answer can be found for in the uploaded files or anywhere on the Internet.

Some of the questions asked of my bot:

  • What are Milton's economic policies?
  • How can we engage more young voters in Namibian elections?
  • Tackling unemployment in Namibia
  • Does Milton propose Public Private Partnerships?
  • Write a biography of Milton in  less than 120 characters

Try it yourself. Here is the link to my ChatGpt bot: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-c5tyqslsF-ask-milton-louw-2029. 

Remember to reload the ChatGPT app if you have registered for the first time, and then click on the link.

Conclusion

In Namibia, AI can be used in various sectors such as education for personalized learning, healthcare for disease diagnosis, agriculture for precision farming, and business for customer service automation. By integrating AI, Namibians can improve efficiency and access to services across these sectors. 

And of course, we need the curiosity of our people to try new ways of using this technology!


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