Can we really leave AI and machine learning to it so that we can ponder more strategic matters? - TechNative

The slightest mention of AI and machine learning (ML) was enough to strike fear into the hearts of many not so long ago. To be fair it's not surprising, particularly given the cultural references we've been fed over the years – see Skynet (Terminator), Hal (2001: A Space Odyssey), and Ava (Ex-Machina) – it's little wonder there's been a smidgen of anxiety. However, in recent times, technologists have started to acknowledge that AI and ML are actually good at automating the laborious processes we as humans and businesses can't be bothered with – most of the time they do this more accurately too. The question still remains though, do we really have anything to worry about when it comes to automating our working lives via ML and AI? Taken on the findings of a recent PwC report, there's still some substantial negativity among the general population when it comes to automation, with 60% of people believing that it will take their job (and there are further concerns raised when you start to mention the AI elements). That is really two questions in one though: can we automate everything, and can we make that a full end-to-end process?