Sustainability Magazine August 2022 | Page 39

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

As the main driver of technologies such as big data , robotics , and the Internet of Things ( IOT ), Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) is the most omnipresent emerging technology of the fourth industrial revolution . But what exactly is it , and what does it do ?

Simply put , Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) is computer systems that can sense their environment , think , learn , and act in response to what they sense and their programmed objectives . The technology operates on vast amounts of data and learns from such insights , to the extent that it can carry out or assist with everyday human activities .
Industries that use AI the most include healthcare , education , marketing , retail and ecommerce , financial markets and services . AI today is helping : medical professionals diagnose diseases and develop clinical pathways ; teachers adapt lesson plans for students with different learning needs ; and recruiters match individuals ’ skill sets and aptitudes with job openings . It is also being used in online shopping and advertising , web searches , language translation software , voice recognition , chatbots and digital personal assistants — the list is endless .
In fact , the pervasive ( and continually growing ) nature of AI across industries means that PricewaterhouseCoopers ( PwC ) estimates the global economic growth AI will provide by 2030 has the potential to amount to a staggering $ 15.7tn .
AI opportunities If used in the right way , AI can help transform traditional sectors and systems to address climate change , deliver food and water security , protect biodiversity and bolster human wellbeing . Indeed , a recent
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