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Imagine the possibilities AI is transforming the future of work By Gene Jiao
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f a machine could learn to do some of your work and lighten your load, would it make you happy or afraid? This will soon be a question each of us will have to address, as with the evolution of technology, machines are now learning to do many of our jobs. Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way both businesses and individuals function. As AI continues to dominate headlines, what many don’t realize is that although it feels new, AI has been present in our lives for some time. We are already using the technology in some way, whether in the form of intelligent chatbots, digital assistants, targeted ads, or those innocent recommendations that appear on sites as you browse. And now, even in phones such as the Huawei’s Mate 10 series. The point is, AI isn’t coming to take over our lives– it is already here. The reason it’s being talked
about much more in recent times is because of its implications on the future of work as we know it. The ability to process, leverage, and learn from big data means machines are becoming more powerful in the one area they could not compete with humans: they can now think, and faster. At Huawei, we view this as an important turning point and a shift from the smart to the intelligence revolution. AI means some job descriptions might be heading for extinction– just as they did during the industrial and internet era. But it also means new jobs -less monotonous and more creative opportunities- will come to the front. For example, just as social media, smartphones, and the internet all created new and exciting jobs, so we believe will be the case with AI. In fact, it’s an area we’re most curious and excited about.
For example, AI-powered phones like our Mate 10 series means that app developers can now capitalize on the power of Huawei’s Kirin 970 chipset- a mobile artificial intelligence computing platform that runs on a Neural Processing Unit, which performs 25 times more with 50 times more efficiency. New game-changing AI apps could potentially replace the entire generation of apps we currently use with intelligent apps. We believe the Kirin processor will play an instrumental role in the intelligence revolution. Having AI do the work for us will also increase efficiency and productivity in the workplace, freeing up employees to work on more intelligent and creative tasks. It could also mean that we’re able to alter our lifestyles to reduced working hours with more efficient workloads. AI-powered ability and efficiency will ultimately lead to better and intelligent products and services for consumers across all sectors, bringing value to people’s daily lives with faster transactions, translation and a more enjoyable content sharing experience. The spirit of our Mate 10 series is built on that very concept– to create innovative devices that help make the lives of our consum-
Entrepreneur JANUARY 2018
ers easier. Today’s users need technology to be more humane, transparent and rapid, which is why the core of our devices revolve around intelligent power, intelligent speed and intelligent camera. A phone that adapts to a user’s behavior and needs, from auto adjusting camera settings to optimizing battery usage, for example, is just the start. From the wheel, to the printing press, to the light bulb, automobiles, phones, computers, mobile phones, the internet and more... all innovations that changed the world also transformed the way we live and work. Just as we now use gadgets we once thought were only possible in films, AI is no longer just the stuff of fiction from sci-fi films and futuristic cartoons. I, for one, am looking forward to an AI-powered, AI-assisted future. Imagine the possibilities.
Huawei Mate 10 PRO smartphone series
Gene Jiao is President, Huawei Consumer Business Group, Middle East & Africa.
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The Kirin 970 processor
images © huawei
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