Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence

AI 101: What is artificial intelligence and where is it going?

Algorithms, the building blocks of artificial intelligence, are detailed, step-by-step instructions for completing a task. (James Abundis / Seattle Times)
Algorithms, the building blocks of artificial intelligence, are detailed, step-by-step instructions for completing a task. (James Abundis / Seattle Times)

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is quickly permeating every aspect of our lives. From Amazon's voice-activated Alexa to writing technology that helps managers craft job postings, it's in our hearts, homes and workplaces. Here's a primer on some of the concepts and controversies behind what experts are calling the fourth industrial revolution.

Ben Hamm invented an AI-assisted door called Critterblock to stop his cat Metric from carrying prey into the house. 3V3uJy07FxaTB-xSo5Fd

Inventions including AI-assisted cat door highlighted at GeekWire Summit

The final day of the eighth annual technology conference drew more than 800 people in policy, tech, business and media to downtown Seattle’s Hyatt Regency for panels, demos and fireside chats around technology’s impact on society.

EMBARGO UNTIL OCT. 1 — A cheese pizza is made during a demonstration of an automated assembly platform designed for hospitality industries, at Seattle-based Picnic, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019 in Seattle. The 16-inch pizza took a little over a minute to come out, and was then run through an industrial conveyor oven. 211557

Seattle company is using artificial intelligence to make pizza; check out the assembly line

The Seattle company Picnic wants to perfect its pizza production and later plans to expand into the production of salads, bowls and Mexican food using its automated platform.  VIEW

A Kiva robot zooms away at right as Byron Struble removes packages from the container on top of the robot at left and then places them onto a conveyor belt. The Amazon Fulfillment Center in DuPont, WA, full of new Kiva Robots, is over 1,000,000 square feet. Shot Friday, February 26, 2016.

Talk to us: What impact could artificial intelligence have on your workplace?

The Seattle Times is examining the social, economic and ethical implications of artificial intelligence in a series of stories exploring the pros and cons of the technology and its impact on work. If you have questions about AI, ask us here.

The A.I. Age

FILE- In this March 21, 2019 photo a robot called “Pepper” is positioned near an entrance to a Microsoft Store location, in Boston. Microsoft, a company that often tries to position itself as an early thinker on ethics and privacy issues, published its principles around developing artificial intelligence, released a short book that discussed the societal implications of the technology and has called for some government regulation of AI technologies. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

Talk to us: What are your questions and concerns about artificial intelligence?

In this Feb. 22, 2019, photo, Washington County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jeff Talbot demonstrates how his agency used facial recognition software to help solve a crime at their headquarters in Hillsboro, Ore. The image on the left shows a man whose face was captured on a surveillance camera and investigators used the software to scan their database of past mug shots to match that facial image with an identity. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus) RPGF201

Group calls for federal ban on government use of facial-recognition technology because it misidentifies people of color, women  VIEW

This photo taken Tuesday, May 7, 2019, shows a security camera in the Financial District of San Francisco. San Francisco became the first city to ban the use of facial-recognition technology by municipal agencies, followed last month by Somerville, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) FX401

Tech and police groups urge lawmakers to not ban facial-recognition technology

Microsoft’s Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer addresses board members and shareholders during Microsoft’s annual shareholders meeting at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue on November 28, 2018. 208590

Tech leaders and policy makers talk regulation at GeekWire Summit

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