Machine Learning: Will It Ever Replace Humans?

A question that is sure to have formed in the minds of many over the years and one which will continue to crop up in discussions and debates around the world is this: will machine learning ever replace humans?

While it is undoubtedly a question that many have considered at some point or another, has anyone come to a conclusion? 

It can be challenging to answer a question such as this. One might ponder over something like this for some time and still fail to reach some sort of answer. That being the case for some, if you are interested in finding out more about whether machine learning will ever replace humans, read on for more. 

We have detailed a bit about what machine learning is – for those who have no clue as to what this entails – and a little about the industries that machine learning is prevalent in and the ways that it has grown the way it has over the years.  

What is Machine Learning? 

As stated by the MIT Technology Review, Machine Learning is the algorithm used to find patterns in data. From small amounts of data to masses, Machine Learning is the process that is used by many platforms and services on the internet. Long story short, as the Technology Review states, if the data can be stored online in a digital manner, it can be accessed and used by Machine Learning.  

Concerning platforms like Netflix and Spotify, Machine Learning uses the actions that you take on these platforms to create and suggest what media it thinks that you should next consume.  

As the platform collects more data about you – the things you like watching or listening to, and other related information – it provides the Machine Learning algorithms with more data to process, create more patterns, and offer you more ideas.  

Machine Learning is also known by another name, of which we are confident that a lot of people reading this are more familiar with. We are talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI). This is something that many people find a terrifying prospect; machines that can think, act and learn more information by themselves.  

First introduced to the world in the 80s by innovator Geoffrey Hinton, AI has developed and advanced to include algorithms like Machine Learning.  

How Has the AI Industry Grown the Way That It Has? 

This question could be answered a lot easier than the previous one, even if you do not possess much knowledge about Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. The quick answer: the AI and Machine Learning industry has grown the way it has, with the development of more products, services, and algorithms.

On the other hand, investors have been doing a lot of work in the AI industry, and have contributed large amounts of money to contribute towards its continued growth and development. Technologist leader Tej Kohli is one of the many people getting onboard with investing into AI and Machine Learning, and is not the only one. 

Bill Gates and other entrepreneurs are famous for investing in these types of industries throughout the years, but it is not just the household names who are investing in this sort of technology. 

Mohamed Mansour is part of one of Egypt’s most influential families, who has spent his time in the last decade as one of the global billionaire club members. Of whom he has also invested a great deal of money into AI growth.  

Naturally, with more services and products appearing throughout the technology industry, Machine Learning and other similar AI machines have more opportunity to learn information.  

Investment into multiple industries - including the likes of healthcare, manufacturing, and other sectors – could boost the work that each of these industries could do separately and contribute towards the work they could complete collectively.  

Will it Replace Humans? 

To some people, this question is easy to answer. In some respects, robotics has already replaced humans, particularly in the manufacturing industries. In manufacturing, robots can work faster than the capabilities that a human possesses. Which, in turn, speeds up the processes of a company and could make them more productive.  

Following research conducted into this exact question, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that there has been a 20 percent increase in the number of businesses that are opting to use robots in the manufacturing processes within their companies.  

Concerning whether AI and Machine Learning will replace humans, this is, once again, something that could already have happened. 

Regarding the way that Netflix and Spotify use Machine Learning within their algorithms, you know as a user that there is not someone sat on the other end at all times, monitoring what you are doing, and then choosing what to suggest to you.  

This job has already been assigned to Machine Learning algorithms and will continue to be used in this way due to the algorithms' success thus far.  

One thing is sure, AI and Machine Learning have changed the way that we consume media and how we use the internet in general.