AUSTIN, Texas -- Even the experts find it hard to say exactly how fast Artificial Intelligence, or AI for short, is advancing.
"There has been gradual, steady progress over the past 60-65 years—sometimes a little faster than others," Peter Stone, Ph.D of the Learning Agents Research Group at the University of Texas said.
Interest into the world of AI can be captivating and sometimes a little frightening but experts on the topic of an AI doomsday isn't likely at least not in our lifetimes.
“That’s just not the case. A program that can beat the world champion can’t fold your laundry or unload your dishwasher or drive your car," Stone said.
It has less to do with the technology and more to do with the user.
"Like any technology, artificial intelligence technologies by people for both good purposes and for nefarious purposes," he said.
Peter Stone is a researcher, part of a team charged with looking at ways AI can improve quality of life over the next 10-15 years.
In his study AI 100, one of the fields of interest includes using AI to improve traffic.
"Right now we have traffic signals and stop signs but if you look at an intersection there are long periods of time often where there are no cars moving through the intersection," he said.
When it come to concerns of automation taking jobs, Dr. Stone said technology has always had a role in changing the landscape.
"There was a time where when two people placed a call a human operator would physically connect the wires to make that call go through. When the switch was invented, the automatic switch, all of those jobs went away instantly," he says.
Instead of thinking of technology as a threat Dr. Stone said it creates more opportunities.
"It’s easy to imagine the jobs that could be replaced. It’s much more difficult to imagine the new jobs that will be created."
To view the AI100 report, click here.