Greetings!

Below are the findings from my research on Artificial Intelligence. The research questions were:

• Explain the tech; what is it, how does it work, what hardware, software, and network does it need?
  Is it currently available to the public?
• Who (or what) invented or pioneered the technology?
• What “problem” does it solve for its users?
• Are there any potential drawbacks or dangers of using the tech?
• Offer one example of how widespread adoption of this technology might impact society.

Artificial Intelligence refers to computers that are capable of performing complex tasks that previously in the past only humans could do, such as reasoning, making decisions, or solving problems. It works by using Machine Learning and Deep Learning to perform given tasks. Machine Learning uses algorithms trained on data sets to create self-learning models that are capable of predicting outcomes and classifying information without human intervention. Deep Learning is a branch of machine learning that is based on artificial neural network architecture; the artificial neural network uses layers of interconnected nodes that work together to process and learn from the input data. AI, but especially Deep Learning, requires powerful GPUs, large amounts of RAM, and fast storage to handle the data and perform the necessary computations. There are AI applications available to the public, but also some that are used in private organizations, and some only available to personal users.

Alan Turing is commonly known as the person who did the earliest known research of AI technology. He described in 1935 the “Turing Machine”, not a machine in the regular sense but rather a mathematical model that reduces the logical structure of any computing device to its essentials. This would become the basis for all subsequent digital computers. In 1950, he introduced the Turing Test, a practical test for determining computer intelligence, which is still a standard in determining computer intelligence today.

The biggest problems that AI solves for its users are:

Automating Tasks and Processes

AI is does extremely well handling mundane, repetitive tasks that are time-consuming and error-prone for humans. This includes data entry, scheduling, report generation, and even basic customer service inquiries.

Data Analysis and Insights

AI can analyze vast datasets to identify trends and patterns that would be difficult for humans to see, and even be used to make predictions about future events. This can be applied in many fields, but especially finance to detect fraudulent activity or in healthcare to identify potential disease outbreaks.

Communication and Interaction

Because AI can recognize human language, this can used in chatbots that can provide customer service or virtual assistants that can automate tasks based on spoken instructions. It can also tailor recommendations for websites, personalize learning experiences for students, and even generate different kinds of text content like poems or scripts.

There are a few potential drawbacks, and even dangers, of using AI. Some of these are:

• Lack of Transparency – Particularly in deep learning models, which can be complex and difficult to interpret, lack of transparency is a critical issue. When people cannot see how the AI system came to its conclusions, it leads to distrust of the technology.
• Bias and Discrimination – AI systems can inadvertently show biases of the data or the algorithmic design. To avoid this, the developers of the AI should be sure to train the AI with unbiased material.
• Security Risks – As AI Technologies become more sophisticated, the security risks with their use and possible misuse also increase. Hackers and malicious actors can harness AI to develop more advanced cyberattacks, bypass security measures, and exploit system flaws.

One example of how widespread adoption of AI might impact society is improving learning experiences. It can personalize the learning experience for different individuals, provide specific recommendations for students, and even identify knowledge gaps to better improve academic outcomes.

I hope you enjoyed reading my final blog post. God bless you all!

~Katie

Sources:

https://www.coursera.org/articles/what-is-artificial-intelligence

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/in/business/software/what-is-ai/

https://www.coursera.org/articles/what-is-machine-learning

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/introduction-deep-learning/

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/hardware-requirements-for-artificial-intelligence/

https://www.makeuseof.com/public-ai-vs-private-ai-vs-personal-ai-whats-the-difference/

https://www.britannica.com/science/history-of-artificial-intelligence

https://www.britannica.com/technology/Turing-machine

https://stefanini.com/en/insights/news/what-problems-can-artificial-intelligence-help-us-solve

https://aiforsocialgood.ca/blog/the-impact-of-artificial-intelligence-on-society-challenges-and-opportunities

Greetings!

Below are the findings from my research on two mobile apps. The research questions were:

• What are they used for?
• Who is the target audience?
• What are the revenue streams for the publishers?
• Can you offer your readers any tips, tricks, or hacks for getting the most out of the app?

Two popular mobile apps are Instagram and Facebook Messenger. Both are owned by Meta (which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp).

Instagram is a social media app from Meta used for posting photos and videos. Users post things from day-to-day activities, art and fashion, to food, travel, and so much more. It also is a large hub for content, from following other users for fashion and art inspiration, to travel ideas, and even following large brands for staying up to date on their newest offerings.

Although people of all ages use Instagram, the main target audience is 18 to 24 years old, closely followed by 25 to 34 years old. As for gender, it is split quite evenly between who uses Instagram more. Males account for 51.8% of worldwide users, while females account for 48.2%. The most common revenue stream for Instagram is sponsored posts. This is when brands pay a user to create content that features their product or service and share it with their followers.

Facebook Messenger (often just referred to as Messenger) is an instant messaging service from Meta. You don’t have to have a Facebook account to use it, so anyone can use it. It can be used with Facebook on a computer, on Messenger.com, or the mobile app on iOS and Android devices.

The main target audience is millennials – people aged 25 to 34 years old. As for gender, 54.6% of Messenger users are females. For revenues streams, Messenger can be used for marketing purposes. A few ways to do this is to have a Messenger chatbot answer customer questions, using Messenger to directly send content to the target audience, and even using ads on Messenger.

As a final thought, I can give a couple tips for Facebook Messenger. One interesting feature you can do is add word effects to words and phrases. When you use this, you can choose an emoji to float up from the bottom of the screen to the top when you send a message. Another interesting feature is you can have a phone or video call from Messenger. This works on both mobile and desktop, and can be quite convenient if you don’t have cell signal, because all you need is an internet connection (like Wi-Fi!)

~Katie

Sources:

https://backlinko.com/most-popular-apps

https://www.rd.com/article/what-is-instagram/

https://blog.hootsuite.com/instagram-demographics/

https://wyomingllcattorney.com/Blog/Navigating-Instagram-As-A-Revenue-Stream

https://www.lifewire.com/facebook-messenger-4103719

https://blog.hootsuite.com/facebook-messenger-stats/

https://blog.hootsuite.com/facebook-messenger-marketing/

https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-use-word-effects-facebook-messenger/

https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/cool-tricks-and-secret-gems-inside-facebook-messenger

Greetings!

Below are the findings from my research on three cloud services I use. The research questions were:

• Would this application/system work as well NOT in the cloud?
• What are the advantages to having this system on a distributed network?
• Do you have any security or privacy concerns when using this system?

Three Cloud based systems that I use are Dropbox, Adobe Creative Cloud, and iCloud.

Dropbox is a cloud-based service used for storing files and collaboration. Not only can you store your files there, but you can also connect the apps used for viewing the files so you don’t need to switch between apps; it is all on Dropbox. It has plans for both individuals and businesses (free and paid as well). Dropbox would not work as well (or at all!) if it wasn’t in the cloud. Its whole service is rooted in cloud file storage. The advantages of having this system on a distributed network is that you can access it anywhere you have internet, either from the app or online. As with any system, there are always privacy concerns. There was an incident earlier this year (2024 as of writing) where a hacker accessed customers’ passwords and other information.

Adobe Creative Cloud is a subscription service with the Adobe graphic design applications, plus cloud storage and other features.  All plans are paid, but there are different plans for individual, student, and business. Adobe Creative Cloud could work without the cloud (because you can save files locally), but there are several nice features that require the cloud to work (e.g., fonts, internet access, etc.). An advantage of having Adobe CC on a distributed network is that you can access it from anywhere – at home, on your laptop, or even on the internet for some apps. One privacy concern that I have with Adobe is that there was a controversy earlier this year (2024 as of this writing) that it implied that Adobe (the company) can see users’ work and use it for training AI.  The controversy seems to have been clarified by the company that they do not use it for training AI, but certain personal projects I still save to my local drive.

iCloud is a cloud-based service that comes with every Apple product, but can be upgraded to iCloud+ (paid versions). It includes photo/file storage, calendar, notes, internet bookmarks, passwords, and even device backups. Like Dropbox, this would not work without the cloud, since it is the basis of the service. It needs a way to store the user’s files, so the cloud needs to be a part of it (especially with a name like iCloud!) The advantage of having this system on a distributed network is that you can access it anywhere – this is especially useful since you can access your iCloud email and files from the internet (if you are working on a project, you can sign in on the internet if you don’t have an Apple device with you).  I have minor concerns about Apple, because they rarely get hacked, but they can see things you put on iCloud. You can update the security settings so they can’t see as much, but email, calendar, and contacts on iCloud will always be able to be seen by Apple.

Some final thoughts I have about the Cloud is that it seems like a lot of these services are able to see what you put onto the cloud. Personally, I keep personal files that have sensitive information off the cloud in case it can be seen or the companies happen to get hacked.

I hope you enjoyed reading my comparison between three cloud services. You’d be surprised at how many applications use the cloud!

~ Katie

Sources:

https://www.dropbox.com/features

https://www.apple.com/icloud/

https://www.dropbox.com/basic

https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2024/05/02/dropbox-warns-hacker-accessed-customer-passwords-and-mfa-data/

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html#pick-a-plan-to-start-creating

https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/7/24173838/adobe-tos-update-firefly-generative-ai-trust

https://www.ibm.com/topics/distributed-cloud

https://proton.me/blog/apple-icloud-privacy