Opinion: Artificial intelligence can no longer be ignored - we need policies to deal with it

WE ARE AT the start of some of the most significant changes in human history that will result from the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) in virtually every area of life. The speed of some of these changes will be exciting or frightening, depending on your perspective. In medicine, AI is being used already to diagnose and remotely treat patients, as well as to identify potential new drugs and make prescriptions. Job applicants are shortlisted using AI and credit ratings are determined by the same technology. Data is increasingly being used to determine large swathes of public policy, from policing to transport planning. In science fiction, the cyborg is this part human, part machine where the technology can carry out many of the traditional functions at speed of the human.