What is AI and how will it change our lives? NPR Explains.

By Danny Hajek,

Bobby Allyn, Ashley Montgomery

Published May 25, 2023 at 9:30 AM EDT

<strong></strong>AI is a multi-billion dollar industry. Friends are using apps to morph their photos into realistic avatars. TV scripts, school essays and resumes are written by bots that sound a lot like a human. — AI is a multi-billion dollar industry. Friends are using apps to morph their photos into realistic avatars. TV scripts, school essays and resumes are written by bots that sound a lot like a human.

Artificial intelligence is changing our lives 鈥� from education and politics to art and healthcare. The AI industry continues to develop at rapid pace. But what exactly is it? Should we be optimistic or worried about our future with this ever-evolving technology? Join host and tech reporter Bobby Allyn in NPR Explains: AI, a podcast series exclusively on the NPR App, which is available on the or .

NPR Explains: AI answers your most pressing questions about artificial intelligence:

- Artificial intelligence is a multi-billion dollar industry. Tons of AI tools are suddenly available to the public. Friends are using apps to morph their photos into realistic avatars. TV scripts, school essays and resumes are written by bots that sound a lot like a human. AI scientist Gary Marcus says there is no one definition of artificial intelligence. It's about building machines that do smart things.

- As technology gets better at faking reality, there are big questions about regulation. In the U.S., Congress has never been bold about regulating the tech industry and it's no different with the advancements in AI.

- AI tools used to generate artwork can give users the chance to create stunning images. Language tools can generate poetry through algorithms. AI is blurring the lines of what it means to be an artist. Now, some artists are arguing that these AI models breach copyright law.

- Earlier this year, Microsoft's chatbot went rogue. It professed love to some users. It called people ugly. It spread false information. The chatbot's strange behavior brought up an interesting question: Does AI have common sense?

- From hiring practices to medical insurance paperwork, many big businesses are using AI to work faster and more efficiently. But that's raising urgent questions about discrimination and equity in the workplace.

- Geoffrey Hinton, known as the "godfather of AI," spent decades advancing artificial intelligence. Now he says he believes the AI arms race among tech giants is actually a race towards danger.

Learn more about artificial intelligence. Listen to NPR Explains: AI, a podcast series available exclusively in the NPR app. Download it on the or .

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de 黑料吃瓜网, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programaci贸n que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para m谩s reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscr铆base a nuestro bolet铆n informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

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