Gartner debunks common AI misconceptions

IT and business leaders are often confused about what artificial intelligence (AI) can do for their organisations and are challenged by several AI misconceptions. Gartner says IT and business leaders developing AI projects must separate reality from myths to devise their future strategies. Gartner research VP Alexander Linden says, "With AI technology making its way into the organisation, it is crucial that business and IT leaders fully understand how AI can create value for their business and where its limitations lie. "AI technologies can only deliver value if they are part of the organisation's strategy and used in the right way." Gartner has identified five common myths and misconceptions about AI. Myth No.1: AI works the same way the human brain does AI is a computer engineering discipline. In its current state, it consists of software tools aimed at solving problems. While some forms of AI might give the impression of being clever, it would be unrealistic to think that current AI is similar or equivalent to human intelligence. "Some forms of machine learning (ML) – a category of AI - may have been inspired by the human brain, but they are not equivalent," Linden said. "Image recognition technology, for example, is more accurate than most humans but is of no use when it comes to solving a math problem.