FEATURE
Some insight on AI’s role in creative industries BY MEGHAN MCCRATE PHOTOS BY PEARL SPURLOCK DESIGN BY MATTHIAS AGGANIS
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he rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is making it an essential topic of discussion in society, as it influences industries and everyday life. Recognizing the importance of the technology, Ohio University introduced new courses that break down the essential, yet complicated concepts of AI. By incorporating courses like Artificial Intelligence 2100 into its curriculum, OU ensures that students are prepared to navigate and engage critically with a world increasingly shaped by intelligent thinking machines. It seems like an AI generated image or video goes viral once a week on platforms like Facebook. Although the average person is exposed to that content, uncertainty about AI’s future and its implications remain. Will AI take away jobs? Could AI even take over the world? Those concerns are valid, but it is crucial to approach them logically by understanding AI’s nuances across different fields. The impact of AI at OU is undeniable. It has become a common tool for students to sort through data, break down complex concepts and even generate entire essays. The key to truly understanding AI lies in recognizing its origins, the developments that have brought it to its current state and how it functions.
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backdrop | Fall 2024
AI has been around since the mid-1950s. In 1956, a team of Dartmouth scientists discussed the possibility of what they called “thinking machines.” In 1979, the American Association of Artificial Intelligence was founded, which has since expanded to become the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI). The AAAI is dedicated to advancing scientific understanding of AI and promoting research on its responsible uses. The more known forms of the technology are traditional and generative AI. Generative AI was introduced in the 1960s in the form of chat bots but expanded greatly in its ability to create images, videos and audio in 2014. Traditional AI can analyze data to make predictions. On the other hand, generative AI can create new content, with its basis coming from pre-existing material in anything from written to painted work. Online chess is one of the best examples of traditional AI. It uses pre-programmed algorithms and vast amounts of data to predict the best move, allowing it to outsmart even professional players within the game’s strict set of rules. However, generative AI operates on a much more complex level. Unlike traditional AI, which follows a defined set of guidelines, generative AI uses self-learning models that do not only process data, but also actively create new content and solutions. AI can be a valuable tool for students, professionals and anyone who works with large volumes of content and data. Federico Olivares, a junior studying management information systems at OU, serves as the president of the Society of Artificial Intelligence Learners and Designers (SAILD). Olivares has many opinions on AI, having integrated it into his own education.