Artificial intelligence (AI) is powerfully divisive. Some are embracing it with open arms while others are avoiding it altogether – perhaps due to fear, privacy concerns, or worries about job security. But whether we like it or not, AI is already everywhere and turning up in new places every day.
While AI does present some risks and should certainly be used with caution, the benefits are also huge. For example, AI systems are being used to analyse medical images and data to detect diseases, like cancer, earlier. Plus, AI is expected to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
With AI developing at lightspeed, avoiding it is set to become like trying to dodge electricity or the internet – and could mean missing out on significant perks. However, with everything changing so rapidly, keeping up with the latest advancements can be tricky.
So, what incredible things can AI already do for us two years after the launch of Chat GPT? Here’s our round-up of some of the best.
1. Detect diseases early
AI has the potential to save lives by detecting more than 1,000 diseases at earlier stages than ever before, with unprecedented accuracy.
Research suggests that the computer algorithm, MILTON (developed by AstraZeneca) can detect patterns in data collected by GPs. It’s believed that these patterns can be used to predict diseases years before they develop and create more targeted treatments.
MILTON was trained using data from 500,000 people who are part of the UK Biobank. The machine-learning tool analysed 3,200 diseases and 67 routine clinical biomarkers – including age, weight, and sex – as well as results from blood and urine tests, and blood pressure and respiratory checks. Its predictive performance was rated as “exceptional” for 121 diseases and “highly predictive” for 1,091 diseases.
Several Greater Manchester hospitals are also testing AI technology developed by health tech firm Annalise.ai to accelerate lung cancer diagnosis. An AI-powered chest X-ray decision-support system will be used to read chest X-rays and detect up to 124 findings related to lung cancer and other lung-related diseases.
2. Save bees
Bees are essential for global food security and biodiversity so extensive AI efforts are being made to save declining populations. For example, the company, Beewise, has developed smart hives that can detect threats, such as pesticides and pests, in real-time and provide features like thermal regulation and automated feeding – resulting in a 70% reduction in bee colony loss.
Leader in analytics, SAS, is also using sustainable AI to monitor hive health through real-time data analytics. By analysing factors such as temperature, humidity, and bee sounds, SAS helps beekeepers make informed decisions about their colonies.
Plus, the World Bee Project has collaborated with Oracle to use AI to monitor bee populations globally using sensors that collect data on hive health. The initiative helps identify patterns that could indicate colony stress or impending swarming so that steps can be taken to protect bee colonies sooner. Microsoft and Accenture are also using a BeeOimpact AI system to monitor pesticides and create more effective strategies to reduce them.
3. Strengthen early warning systems for natural disasters
Natural disasters can be devastating for the communities that have to face them. But AI is increasingly being used as a force for good in helping to improve warning systems.
In 2023, the National Weather Service (NWS) announced a partnership with Lilt, an AI translation company. The NWS reported that, as a result, the time needed to translate a hurricane warning from Spanish to simple Chinese went from one hour to 10 minutes.
A UN initiative is also guiding governments, organisations, and communities on how best to use AI for disaster management. This comes after meteorologists used AI weather forecasting models to predict where Hurricane Milton would land near Siesta Key, Florida.
But that’s not all… Tech giants Google, Nvidia, and Huawei have teamed up with European weather agencies. They’ve claimed that their AI-powered systems can produce precise medium-term forecasts thousands of times faster than traditional models, with lower computational demands.
Plus, start-up, SeismicAI, has reported collaborating with civil protection agencies in Mexico’s Guerrero and Jalisco, to create an AI-powered sensor network that can detect earthquakes in real-time.
4. Assist people with disabilities
AI can and is increasing accessibility for people with disabilities, allowing them to live more independently.
Voice technologies like Siri, Alexa, and Echo can describe text and images for people with visual impairments. At the same time, text-to-speech programs (like Google’s Parrotron) can help people with speech impairments to effectively communicate by translating their distorted speech patterns into fluent conversations.
There are also AI-powered braille tutor apps, which support people with visual impairments to learn braille so they can access more opportunities.
Other AI tools that can make life easier for people with disabilities include apps like Wheelmap. This uses AI to crowdsource accessibility information about public spaces so that individuals can plan their routes. Microsoft’s Seeing AI app also uses AI to provide audio descriptions of objects, people, and text around the user.
5. Fight against climate change
Climate change is the world’s biggest health threat so global leaders have been increasingly prioritising action against it. And, as AI develops, its uses in the fight against climate change are becoming more apparent.
For example, according to the World Economic Forum, AI can measure changes in icebergs 10,000 times faster than humans, allowing scientists to understand how much meltwater is being released into the ocean. AI satellite images are also being used to map the impact of deforestation and predict weather patterns, helping vulnerable communities become more adaptable.
AI is creating detailed maps of ocean litter, too, so that it can more easily be removed. Meanwhile, Greyparrot, a London-based software start-up is developing an AI system that helps waste processing and recycling facilities to recover and recycle more waste material.
6. Enhance personalised learning
AI-powered learning can deliver a more personalised, efficient form of education that can improve engagement and results.
For example, Khan Academy’s AI tutor, powered by OpenAI, adapts lessons based on student progress. If a learner struggles with a math concept, it provides targeted practice and explanations.
Similarly, Duolingo uses AI to adjust the difficulty of language exercises in real-time, helping learners stay challenged but not overwhelmed.
AI also powers tools like DreamBox, which offers adaptive learning for subjects like maths, adjusting lesson difficulty dynamically based on user inputs. Meanwhile, Grammarly assists with writing by offering personalised feedback on grammar, tone, and style.
7. Produce unique creative content
Not everyone would consider that robots can be creative – but AI can design unique images, write poetry, compose music, and produce videos.
With software like Chat GPT, for example, you can tell it what you want it to produce and it will bring your vision to life! I asked ChatGPT to “Create me a photographic image of a dog running through the grass” and it produced the image below. If you’re not happy with what you’re given, you can ask it to make adjustments.
Chat GPT and other tools like Claude can also produce unique written content in your chosen style – whether whimsical, formal, or realistic.
Of course, AI doesn’t have emotions or consciousness but can simulate creativity by using patterns or concepts from its training data. For example, to write a story, it considers character development, plot structure, and genre conventions; and to create poetry, it analyses patterns in language, rhythm, and structure from vast collections of text, including poems, songs, and literature.
Final thoughts…
AI is groundbreaking because it can perform tasks that traditionally require human intelligence – often at a faster and more accurate rate. It can provide detailed analyses of health scans, monitor the state of our environment, provide personalised learning experiences, and produce all sorts of creative content.
While it’s still under development and there are limitations – such as concerns over security and accuracy – AI has the potential to transform nearly every aspect of society in the coming years. And, as you can see in the cases above, it’s already doing some incredible things.
If you’d like to find out more about how you can start using AI in your daily life at a basic level, you might want to consider joining our interactive event on 10th January. Host Vicky will explore the fascinating world of AI and demonstrate how tools like ChatGPT can simplify tasks, spark creativity, and enrich your daily life.
What are your experiences of using AI? Do you think it’s helpful or harmful? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.