When we think of artificial intelligence, images of a digital butler or a robot that can think like a human come to mind. However, AI is not just about machines that can mimic human behavior.
It’s also about creating computer programs with the ability to think for themselves and take actions based on logical conclusions instead of pre-programmed instructions.
Human intelligence (HI) and artificial intelligence (AI) are two different things. While HI refers to natural intelligence that all humans possess as individuals, AI is the science of making machines appear intelligent by programming them to perform specific tasks.
Here’s an in-depth comparison between AI and HI, their pros and cons, and how they are used in various industries –
What is Human Intelligence?
Human intelligence is the ability to think, reason, and solve problems creatively. The human brain has the largest and densest neural network in the animal kingdom, which gives it the unique ability to learn, create, and solve problems.
Human intelligence is divided into two categories – general intelligence and specific intelligence.
General intelligence is the ability to understand and adapt to different situations and environments, while specific intelligence is the ability to use particular skills and knowledge to perform tasks.
General intelligence is more relevant to the workplace, while specific intelligence is used to manage daily life and social interactions.
Humans are also able to use their emotions and feelings to make logical decisions and solve problems creatively. This combination of logic and emotion is what makes us different from machines.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence is the science of creating machines with the ability to think for themselves and take actions based on logical conclusions instead of pre-programmed instructions.
- AI uses machine learning, statistical modelling, and other advanced techniques to make computers “smarter”.
- AI uses complex algorithms to identify patterns in a dataset and make predictions based on these patterns. It can learn from its mistakes and improve over time.
- AI relies on data to make decisions and predictions, meaning that if the data is faulty, the results will also be inaccurate or misleading.
- AI is used for a wide range of tasks, including predicting outcomes, analyzing data, predicting customer behavior, and making recommendations.
- AI machines can outperform humans in many different areas, including medical diagnosis, stock trading, customer service, and weather prediction.
Differences between Human Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence
Human intelligence and artificial intelligence are different in a lot of ways.
- Human intelligence relies on emotions and creativity, while AI machines rely on data and logic.
- Humans need years of training to develop their intelligence, while machines can be “programmed” to perform complex tasks.
- Human intelligence also refers to the specific skills and knowledge of an individual, while AI is the ability of machines to perform complex tasks.
- Humans are easily distracted and prone to errors, while AI machines aren’t prone to distraction and generally make fewer errors. However, AI machines have the ability to learn and improve over time, making them better than humans in many ways.
Pros and Cons of AI
Pros
- Better Decision Making: Machines that use artificial intelligence make better decisions and have a higher success rate than humans in many situations. They are also less prone to emotional bias, which means that they can make logical decisions even in high-pressure situations. AI machines can analyze data from various sources, collect data from sensors, and make predictions based on patterns in the data. They can also draw conclusions from incomplete data and make recommendations based on the data they have collected.
- More Efficient Work: Humans are prone to making mistakes, getting bored with repetitive tasks, and making poor time management decisions. Machines that use AI don’t get bored, don’t make mistakes, and can perform tasks 24/7 without getting tired. This makes AI machines more efficient at completing tasks than humans.
- Better Customer Service: AI technology is increasingly being used in customer service to identify and solve customer problems. Human customer service agents are prone to making mistakes, forgetting important information, and being rude to customers due to limited patience and emotional exhaustion. AI machines eliminate these problems and provide better customer service.
Cons
- Overreliance on Data: AI machines learn from data and collect data to make decisions and predictions. This means that AI machines are prone to logical errors if the data they use is faulty or incomplete. For example, AI machines used for weather prediction will make inaccurate predictions if the data they collect is inaccurate.
- Lack of Creativity: Machines that run on AI use pre-programmed logic to solve problems. This means that they lack the creativity of humans, who can improvise and solve problems creatively. This can be problematic when AI machines are used for creative tasks, like product development and marketing, as they are unable to think outside the box.
- Little or No Improvement: AI machines can improve their performance over time by identifying patterns in their data and making improvements. However, AI machines can’t improve to the level of human intelligence because they lack the ability to feel and be curious about the world around them.
Pros and Cons of HI
Pros
- Creativity and Curiosity: Humans are creative and curious, meaning that we can explore new things, solve new problems, and create unique solutions to problems. This ability to improvise and solve problems creatively makes us unique from machines.
- Ability to Perform Multiple Tasks: Humans are capable of performing multiple tasks at once, meaning that we can multitask. Machines that use AI can only perform one task at a time, which means that they can’t multitask.
- Ability to Make Rational and Logical Decisions: Humans are capable of making rational and logical decisions, which means that we can think logically and use emotion and creativity to solve problems. This is something that machines that use AI can’t do.
Cons
- Lack of Focus: Humans are prone to distractions, which means that we can’t focus on a single task for long enough to complete it. Machines that use AI can focus on a single task for days or even weeks without getting distracted.
- Prone to Human Error: Humans are prone to making mistakes and forgetting important information. Machines that use AI can solve complex problems and perform repetitive tasks with high accuracy, but they sometimes make mistakes because of human error.
- Lack of Ability to Scale: Machines that use AI can only perform tasks that are programmed into them. Humans can use creativity and improvise to solve problems, which is something that machines can’t do.
Final Words
The debate over who wins in the battle of artificial intelligence vs. human intelligence will likely never end. Both AI and HI have their pros and cons and are used in different industries to tackle complex problems.
However, it’s important to note that both AI and HI are necessary in today’s world. AI can perform complex tasks that humans cannot and make decisions based on logic, but it can’t solve problems creatively.
Humans can solve problems creatively but aren’t capable of performing complex tasks. When used together, AI and HI can solve complex problems and make the world a better place.