Editor in Chief /Creative Director Mitchel Omolade
Design lead Mitchel Omolade
Design Co-ordinator Hansel Omolade
Sub-Editor/Writer Ibukun Anjorin
Co-Writer Simon Sinclair
HEALTH Writer Brenda Nwume Entertainment Writer Roi Gotar
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the latest issue of Mandh Magazine! In this edition, we delve into the captivating realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its ever-expanding impact on our lives. AI has emerged as a transformative force, revolutionizing various industries, from healthcare to finance, and everything in between.
In this issue, we explore the latest advancements in AI technology, showcasing how it’s shaping our future. We delve into fascinating topics such as machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing, offering insights into their applications and potential.
As we navigate this rapidly evolving landscape, it is crucial to understand both the immense opportunities AI presents and the ethical considerations that accompany its development. Join us as we unravel the potential and implications of AI, and envision the role it will play in our world.
Happy reading!
The year is 2059, you are in your self-driving car talking to your son about how their generation has it far easier than yours.…
Exactly 52 days ago, a debate was held in the International Conference Center, Landmark University, Omu-Aran about the development of Artificial intelligence, if it should be encouraged, its regulation and other important matters. I’ll borrow a line from the famous Apala maestro, Musiliu Haruna Ishola “Bi aye ba ti nyi lo, ka ma ba won yi” (when the world is progressing, we should progress with it).
The question that should be on everyone’s mind should be how to harness the power of artificial intelligence. While AI has its merits, it’s crucial for us to avoid becoming overly dependent on it.
Strive to cultivate hard skills that complement AI’s capabilities. Problem-solving, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and creativity will always be in demand, setting you apart from AI systems. Embrace AI’s advancements, but also remember the importance of human ingenuity and adaptability. Learning hard skills and staying adaptable will always be important, regardless of technological advancements Emmanuel
AI isn’t something that’s made overnight. It takes time for the deep learning platform to analyze data sets, spot patterns, and begin to derive conclusions that have broad applicability in the real world. The good news is that AI platforms are rapidly evolving to keep up with model training demands.
Instead of weeks to learn enough to begin to function, AI platforms are undergoing fundamental innovation, and are rapidly reaching the same maturity level as data analytics. As datasets become larger, deep learning models become more resource-intensive, requiring a lot of processing power to predict, validate, and recalibrate millions of times. Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) are advancing to handle this computing and AI platforms are evolving to keep up with model training demands.
An example of the efforts made in rapidly decreasing the training period of AI and increasing efficiency can be seen in the functionality of Reinforcement learning. This is a type of machine learning that teaches agents to learn via criticism and incentives. Many applications, including robotics, gaming and even banking, have made use of this strategy.
For instance, DeepMind’s AlphaGo used this approach to continually improve its gameplay and eventually defeat top human Go players, demonstrating the effectiveness of reinforcement learning in complex decision-making tasks.
Another effort to increase the workability of training models is seen in Independent deep learning. Even though Deep Learning has excelled in several fields, the technology’s reliance on huge amounts of data and computing power has always been one of its limitations. But the year 2023 might witness the integration of unsupervised learning in DL, where instead of training a system with labeled data, it is trained to self-label the data itself using raw forms of information.
Another method being used in machine learning strategy is Transfer learning. It involves applying previously trained models to address brand-new issues. When there is little data available for a new problem, this method is especially helpful. For instance, researchers have used transfer learning to adapt image recognition models developed for a particular type of picture (such as faces) to a different sort of image e.g., animals. This approach allows for the reuse of the learned features, weights, and biases of the pre-trained model in the new task, which can significantly improve the performance of the model and reduce the amount of data needed for training.
the Road Ahead.
o understand impact of the student loans, we must investigate the fine print of the bill and learn how the bill would actually work for a Nigerian who is in need of this government facility. In section 14(c) it is stated that an applicant must provide two guarantors which must be either a Director-level civil servant, a lawyer with 10 years post-call history, or a judge.
This is quite frankly out of reach for any Nigerian that is actually in need of this loan, another clause states that applicant’s families must have an income of not more than 500,000 Naira a year. This clause also excludes many Nigerians as many families make more than Five Hundred Thousand a year, but still live in penury. Applicants for this loan must also fit into other conditions such as not defaulting on any previous loan, and of course go through the bureaucratic trainwreck that is Nigeria’s government agencies.
In the US Public student loans did not arise until the 20th century. The federal government started administering federal student loans in 1965 under the Higher Education Act, which expanded the access and opportunity for higher education. By the 1990s, student loan debt began to skyrocket. In 1993, the average debt of a bachelor’s degree graduate was approximately $9,000; five years later, it was about $15,000. By 2003, it had jumped to approximately $17,500. Today, student loan debt is a major issue in America. According to Forbes, there are over 45 million borrowers who collectively owe nearly $1.7 trillion in student loan debt in the U.S. alone.
The United Kingdom also has a long history of student debt... sorry loans. Most students in the UK go to university through student loans. Universities in the UK can (and in most cases do) charge the UK student £9,250 a year for undergraduate tuition This is after the cost of university controversially went up from £3000 a year in 2012 which led to a large-scale student protest. The typical average debt after university education in the UK is quite high today; For example, if you did a three-year course at £9,250 a year and got £6,378 a year for a maintenance loan, you’d graduate with £46,884 of debt and this is before adding interest. The most controversial factor of student loans in the UK is that you also must pay interest on your loan at the Retail Price Index (a measure of inflation in the UK), plus 3%. This simply means that many graduates’ loan debt grows over time as inflation rises and they are not even capable of paying off all the interest, let alone the cost of the original loan.
Before we talk about what could be improved on the Student Loan Bill, let us first acknowledge what was done right. The zero interest policy on the loan is a step in the right direction, as it directly mitigates one of the main problems of Student Loans, which is interest rates that rise with inflation. That being said we need to focus more on what the bill leaves to be desired
It could be said that the success of Nigeria’s new student loan bill depends on three key factors: ensuring that the funds are free from corruption and ensuring that the debt is not too high for students to pay and finally making the loans available in the first place
To achieve the first goal, the government must put in place strict measures to monitor the disbursement of funds and ensure that they are used for their intended purpose. There also need to be laws and regulations put in place preventing Nigerian universities from artificially inflating the price of tuition for profit. This can be achieved by setting up an independent body to oversee the disbursement of funds and ensure that they are used for their intended purpose. The body should be made up of experts in finance and governance who have a track record of integrity and transparency.
To achieve the second goal, the government must work with financial experts to develop a repayment plan that is sustainable and does not put undue pressure on students. This can be achieved by developing a repayment plan that takes into account the income levels of students and ensures that they are not burdened with debt that they cannot repay. The government can also work with universities and other educational institutions to develop programs that will help students manage their finances and repay their loans. It will of course also be ideal that the economy is made stable and well managed.
And finally, the stringent conditions for receiving a loan must be relaxed to allow for any Nigerian who really wants education to have access to it. This new policy has already started off with harsh conditions for the loans. Maybe we won’t have to worry about the negative impact it could have since Nigerians would find it hard to get the loan on the first place. It is however more desirable that this new policy is implemented properly as education is one of the most important factors in developing a nation which is why this policy will improve Nigeria’s prospects if passed properly.
“It is quite interesting how this new president keeps giving us content through his quick creation of policies (through pen or tongue) and one of the latest and most important policies is the 2023 Student Loan Act which was signed into law on June 12 2023, Democracy Day”.
he global rise of Artificial Intelligence (A.I) will affect show business. Whether we like it or not is beyond our control but whether it will affect you positively or negatively is entirely up to you. But then I’m getting ahead of myself.
I’d like to break the tension now. Artificial Intelligence is not our enemy. Its not here to take over the world and kill us all,far from that. A.I is a tool humans created and so we can control it and use it to our advantage.
A.I should never be a replacement for us but an aid to us. Because, frankly speaking, A.I can provide valuable insights and suggestions but our creativity and artistic talents are still essential in creating contents.
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (A.I) will inevitably impact the entertainment industry, offering both positive and negative effects depending on how we utilize it.
Examples of A.I tools that can assist creators in show business include:
1. Jukedeck: This AI-powered platform allows users to create original music for various purposes, such as background music for videos, commercials, or even personal projects. Users can customize the style, tempo, and mood to generate unique compositions.
2. Scriptbook: Scriptbook applies AI algorithms to analyze film scripts and provide insights on their commercial potential. It assesses various factors like genre, characters, and story elements to predict a script’s success, helping filmmakers make informed decisions in script selection and development.
3. Adobe Sensei: Adobe Sensei is an AI framework integrated into Adobe Creative Cloud applications. It offers various AI-powered features, such as content-aware fill in Photoshop, automated video editing in Premiere Pro, and intelligent audio cleanup in Audition. These tools assist creators in enhancing their visual and audio content.
A.I’s ability to write realistic and compelling film scripts at a faster and cheaper rate poses a potential challenge to human script/screenwriters, requiring them to adapt and innovate to stay relevant.
With advancements in technology, the possibility of producing films without human actors may arise, posing a threat to traditional actors and their careers. Actors may need to explore new avenues or adapt their skills to work alongside A.I-generated content.
As A.I becomes capable of producing better content and influencing larger crowds, content creators and aspiring influencers must find ways to differentiate themselves and harness A.I tools to enhance their own creativity and expertise.
It is crucial to view A.I as a tool rather than a replacement. Collaborative efforts between A.I systems and human directors, producers, and editors can lead to the creation of more realistic and engaging stories while maintaining creative integrity.
Artificial Intelligence would make an enormously positive impact for us in the healthcare sector in Nigeria. Have you seen the state of our medical system? Trash! There’re healthcare professionals using the trial-and-error method with medication on patient’s health, refusing to dig deeper on what would be causing these drugs to be ineffective for the individual. Instead, they exploit them by continually making them buy various medications which may be costing them quite a lot of money.
There are medications that don’t work well with certain genetic make ups, there are certain meals that may cause damage to systems of people having a certain blood group, there are times when a certain medical problem requires more research in order to attain the needed forms of therapeutic interventions but what if the time it takes makes us lose our patient because we took too long.
I know we are not God, gods or have magical powers to completely heal people from all ailments, we can only do our best but now our best has a higher set of limitations and we should embrace those higher limitations with open arms and bravery because now we can do more and we can do better!
AI is finding its place in healthcare robotics by providing efficient and unique assistance in surgery. Surgeons get an increased level of dexterity to operate in small spaces that might otherwise require open surgery. Robots can be more precise around sensitive organs and tissues, reduce blood loss, risk of infection and post-surgery plan. Robotic surgery patients have also reported less scaring and shorter recovery times due to smaller incisions required.
In 2017, the Maastricht University Medical Centre in the Netherlands used an AI assisted robot to suture small blood vessel, some no larger than 0.3 mm. The robot is controlled by a surgeon whose hand movements are converted into more precise actions that are performed by robot hands. AI can stabilize any tremors to ensure the robot moves correctly during the surgery.
We briefly touched on the importance of data quality for effective AI solutions earlier in this article. It’s a challenge that comes towards the top of the list in most industries. But is arguably more critical in healthcare where it is highly personal information and lives could be at risk. For example, AI is being used for disease diagnosis and operates much faster than humans. However, the accuracy of results relies on the quality of training data. AI processes millions of data points to make a decision, but if the data it uses comes from unreliable or biased sources, the outcomes will be flawed. 96% of organizations say they are hindered by data-related issues when trying to drive AI success.
In one example, an AI algorithm used healthcare costs as a proxy for health needs. The problem is that less money is spent on black patients with the same level of need under normal circumstances, and the algorithm concluded black patients were healthier than they were in reality.
Nestled along the picturesque coastline of Nigeria lies a hidden gem waiting to be discoveredAkwa Ibom State. Known for its breathtaking natural beauty, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality, this enchanting region has become a must-visit destination for travelers seeking an authentic Nigerian experience. From its pristine beaches and lush rainforests to its rich heritage and mouthwatering cuisine, Akwa Ibom offers a tapestry of wonders that will captivate the senses and leave visitors yearning for more.
Akwa Ibom is blessed with an abundance of natural wonders that showcase the diversity of its landscape. Picture-perfect beaches like Ibeno and Eket with their sparkling turquoise waters invite visitors to soak up the sun, indulge in water sports, or simply unwind amidst the serene coastal surroundings. For nature enthusiasts, a visit to the captivating Ikot Abasi Beach and the mesmerizing Mbo Forest Reserve is a must, where one can explore lush greenery, spot unique wildlife, and experience the harmony of nature firsthand.
Beyond its natural allure, Akwa Ibom boasts a rich cultural heritage that reflects the traditions and history of its people. The state is home to several ethnic groups, including the Ibibio, Annang, and Oro, each with its own distinct customs, music, and dance. Visitors have the opportunity to witness colorful festivals such as the Ekpe masquerade, the Nkerefi Festival, and the Iri-Ji (New Yam) Festival, where age-old traditions come alive through captivating performances and vibrant displays of traditional attire.
No visit to Akwa Ibom would be complete without savoring its delectable cuisine. The state is renowned for its mouthwatering delicacies, with a particular emphasis on fresh seafood. Indulge in sumptuous dishes such as Afang soup, Edikang Ikong, and Atama soup, all made with locally sourced ingredients and bursting with flavor. For a unique culinary experience, try the mouthwatering Uyai Mbakara, a traditional street food market, where you can sample a variety of local dishes while immersing yourself in the bustling atmosphere.
One of the hallmarks of Akwa Ibom is its warm and welcoming people. Known for their friendly nature and hospitality, the locals are always eager to share their stories, traditions, and customs with visitors. Whether you’re exploring the bustling markets, interacting with artisans, or participating in community events, you’ll be greeted with open arms and genuine smiles, creating lasting memories and a sense of belonging.
Akwa Ibom State is a destination that embodies the essence of Nigeria’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and warm hospitality. From its pristine beaches and lush rainforests to its vibrant festivals and mouthwatering cuisine, this captivating region offers an immersive experience that will leave visitors spellbound. Whether you seek adventure, relaxation, or a cultural awakening, Akwa Ibom has it all. So, pack your bags, immerse yourself in the enchantment of Akwa Ibom, and let this hidden gem of Nigeria leave an indelible mark on your soul.
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