机器学习(Machine learning)、深度学习和人工智能现在都是炙手可热的流行语。这些计算技术加上计算机性能(computer performance)的重大飞跃正在改变世界。
从可以快速识别皮肤癌的软件到帮助我们预测任意数量的复杂结果的预测模型，世界上几乎没有任何东西不会受到下一代人工智能的影响。
很容易感觉到这场AI 革命(AI revolution)正在“外面”的某个地方发生，但事实是，即使是您的智能手机也已经装满了丰富的AI 驱动软件(AI-powered software)。今天销售的每部智能手机和平板电脑(smartphone and tablet)附带的任何语音助手都广泛使用人工智能来理解你所说的话并了解你的习惯和需求。
现在也有许多AI 驱动的应用程序(AI-powered apps)使用机器学习(machine learning)来完成令人难以置信的壮举。最好的部分是您不必阅读它。这里有五个AI 应用程序(AI apps)，您现在可以下载到您的设备并亲自体验。这只是即将发生的事情的冰山一角，但这只是一个开始！
此外，如果您对AI 的东西(AI stuff)感兴趣，请务必阅读我们关于创建您自己的聊天机器人和8个非常聪明的AI 助手的其他帖子。(8 AI assistants)
Prisma – AI 照片编辑(Prisma
– AI Photo Editing)
当Prisma首次推出时，有很多人试图访问这个人工智能云(AI cloud)服务，如果应用程序承认你的存在，你会很幸运。从那时起，开发人员已经修复了资源问题，并且大部分时间都可以正常工作，但该应用程序实际上做了什么？
嗯，它使用基于云的神经网络来拍摄您的照片并将它们转换成艺术品。想要一幅像大理(Dali)画的肖像吗？Prisma确实会吐出一些非常有说服力的东西。
此时，该应用程序有 300 多个过滤器可供选择，如果星星对齐，您可以获得一些非常壮观的结果。当您真正了解神经网络在转换图像方面投入了多少“工作”时，您会欣赏到现代机器学习软件的(machine learning software)复杂性和强大(complexity and power)功能。
虽然该应用程序有高级订阅版本(subscription version)
，但您几乎可以免费体验它所提供的一切。
为Android(Android)或iOS获取它
Magisto – 人工智能视频编辑(Magisto
– AI Video Editing)
在 20世纪(Century)，最重要的读写能力是阅读、写作和理解文本的能力。能够胜任视觉艺术是为电影学院(film school)学生和其他艺术家保留的。
如今，快速制作视频通常比写信息更容易，而且由于每个人都随身携带高清摄像机(HD camera)，因此坐在大量素材上的几率非常高。
问题在于将原始素材编辑成
令人愉悦(something pleasing)和有效的东西是困难(hard)的！它涉及学习一种全新的视觉语言。这不是每个人都(something everyone)
想做的事情，这就是为什么人工智能对视频编辑(video editing)有着令人兴奋的希望。
最好的例子之一就是Magisto。一种利用 AI 的端到端视频创建工具(video creation tool)，因此您无需成为专家。
虽然专业版订阅有点贵，但您可以免费试用基本版本，并充分了解该软件的功能。Magisto获取您要编辑的素材并询问您喜欢的风格。
然后，它使用人工智能来分析这一切，并生产出通常非常专业的最终产品。对于需要制作营销视频但买不起专业人士的小企业来说，这已经是一个可行的选择。这是我们不久前永远不会相信的事情。
为Android(Android)或iOS获取它
微软Seeing AI——盲人会说话的相机(Microsoft
Seeing AI – A Talking Camera for the
Blind)
可访问性(Accessibility)是现代计算中极其重要的一部分。让感官和行动不便的人能够接触到应该是重中之重。对于残障人士来说，技术可以对他们的日常生活产生最大的影响。
微软(Microsoft)的这款会说话的相机应用程序(talking camera app)就是这样一款软件。如果它变得足够可靠和完善，它可能会对合法失明或视力严重受损的人产生巨大影响。
该应用程序使用人工智能来分析相机所看到的任何内容。将它指向一个人，它会尝试识别他们的脸，或者至少描述他们的性别和估计年龄等信息。您将相机指向的任何文字都会立即被大声朗读。
还可以扫描产品上的条形码以获取有关您要购买的信息的信息。AI还可以分析和描述整体场景，所以如果你想知道你面前是什么样的情况，它也可以做到。
虽然这项技术(technology isn)还不完美，但与十年前相比，它几乎是奇迹。遗憾的是，它目前似乎只适用于 iOS 设备，但希望将来会看到
更广泛的版本(wider release)。
为iOS(iOS)获取它
Replika
– A Friend 24/7
如果你看过电影Her，你就会熟悉那里的警示故事，警告不要过于依赖 AI 机器人。在电影中，华金·菲尼克斯(Joaquin Phoenix)扮演一个爱上Siri的人。然而，这部电影的一个重要主题是主角如何度过一段艰难时期。他的新AI 朋友(AI friend)帮助他度过了难关。
在现实世界中，这个概念已经（某种程度上）以Replika的形式出现。虽然这个先进的AI 聊天机器人(AI chatbot)并非旨在充当浪漫伴侣，但它旨在在您需要时成为朋友。
感到沮丧、焦虑或孤独的人可以与Replika聊天。机器人始终为您服务，即使其他人没有时间。由于自然语言技术(language technology)和会话UI(UIs)的重大进步，与Replika聊天确实感觉就像和朋友一起轻松愉快。即使您不觉得有必要将Replika用于其预期目的，该技术也绝对令人着迷。
为Android(Android)和iOS获取它
猎犬 - 自然搜索人工智能(Hound
– A Natural Search AI)
当我们在iPhone 4S(iPhone 4S)发布时第一次尝试使用Siri时，感觉未来终于要发生了。Siri流利理解语音和(speech and respond)智能响应的能力是当时聊天机器人的一大进步。然而，日常使用的限制很快变得明显。Siri今天已经有了很大的改进，但许多(today but plenty)其他人工智能助手可以说已经超越了它。
在当前这一代 AI 助手中，
Hound可能是最令人印象深刻的。从给我们Soundhound(Soundhound)的同一个人那里，这个机器人可以以一种几乎像魔术一样的方式理解查询。使用
Siri及其同类产品，您可以快速学会以特定方式表达您所说的话。如果你不这样做，你可能会浪费时间重述你的查询，因为
软件(software doesn)并没有完全理解它。
使用Hound似乎几乎总是可以正确理解查询，而无需重新表述。更好的是，实际结果也始终具有相关性。Hound还集成了一系列服务，可以为您预订优步(Uber)。
有了这个应用程序，证据就在布丁中。尝试一下，如果您一直在使用其中一种，这可能会给您留下深刻的印象。
在Android(Android)和iOS上获取它
不完全是天网
围绕人工智能有很多恐惧和虚假信息。(fear and disinformation)其中一些归功于虚构，另一些归功于媒体歪曲了这项技术。当然，有很多真正的担忧，我们的一些最优秀的思想家已经强调了它们。
然而，当谈到我们在这里强调的那种有限的人工智能应用程序(AI apps)时，很难想象会因为它们而发生任何不好的事情。也就是说，除非有人决定专门滥用该技术，就像我们在所谓的“深度伪造”中看到的那样。
对于我们其他人来说，人工智能驱动的应用程序(AI-powered apps)代表着真正让生活更轻松并释放创造力的东西。在某些情况下，它甚至可以为我们提供改变生活的帮助。这绝对是值得自己尝试的事情！
5 Amazing AI Apps You Can Try Yourself
Machine learning, deep learning and artifіcial intelligencе are all red-hot buzzwоrds right now. Theѕe computing techniques coupled with major leaps in computer performance are changing the world.
From software that can quickly identify skin cancer to predictive models that help us anticipate any number of complex outcomes, there’s hardly anything in the world that won’t feel the impact of next-generation AI.
It’s easy to feel that this AI revolution is happening somewhere “out there”, but the truth is that even your smartphone is already packed with a wealth of AI-powered software. Any of the voice assistants that ship with every smartphone and tablet sold today uses AI extensively to understand what you say and learn about your habits and needs.
There are also now many AI-powered apps that use machine learning to accomplish come pretty incredible feats. The best part is that you don’t just have to read about it. Here are five AI apps you can download to your device right now and experience for yourself. It’s just the tip of the iceberg of what’s coming, but it’s a heck of a start!
Also, if AI stuff interests you, make sure to read our other posts on creating your own chatbot and 8 AI assistants that are pretty smart.
Prisma
– AI Photo Editing
When Prisma first launched there were so many people trying to access this AI cloud service that you’d be lucky if the app even acknowledged your presence. Since then the developers have fixed the resource issues and most of the time it works just fine, but what does the app actually do?
Well, it uses cloud-based neural networks to
take your photos and transform them into works of art. Want a portrait to look
like it was made by Dali? Prisma will spit out something very convincing
indeed.
At this point the app has more than 300 filters to choose from and if the stars align you can get some really spectacular results. When you really look at how much “work” the neural net has put into transforming the image, you’ll get an appreciation for the complexity and power of modern machine learning software.
While there is a premium subscription version
of the app, you can experience just about everything it has to offer for free.
Get it for Android or iOS
Magisto
– AI Video Editing
In the 20th Century, the most important type
of literacy was the ability to read, write and understand text. Being competent
in the visual arts was something reserved for film school students and other
artists.
These days, it’s often easier to quickly make a video than it is to write a message and since everyone always carries an HD camera around with them, the odds of sitting on stacks of footage is pretty high.
The problem is that editing raw footage into
something pleasing and effective is hard!
It involves learning a whole new visual language. That’s not something everyone
wants to do, which is why AI holds exciting promise for video editing.
One of the best examples has to be Magisto. An end-to-end video creation tool that leverages AI so you don’t need to be an expert.
While the pro subscription is a little pricey, you can try the base version for nothing and get a good feel for what the software can do. Magisto takes the footage you want to edit and asks you what your preferred style is.
It then uses AI to analyze it all and produces and end product that’s often shockingly professional. For small businesses that need to make marketing videos, but can’t afford a pro, this is already a viable option. This is something we would never have believed not too long ago.
Get it for Android or iOS
Microsoft
Seeing AI – A Talking Camera for the
Blind
Accessibility is an incredibly important part of modern computing. Giving access to people with limited senses and mobility should be a top priority. For people with disabilities, technology can have the greatest impact on their daily lives.
This talking camera app from Microsoft is just such a piece of software. If it becomes reliable and polished enough, it could have a huge impact on people who are legally blind or have significantly impaired vision.
The app uses artificial intelligence to analyse whatever the camera is seeing. Point it at a person and it will try to recognize their face or at least describe things like their sex and estimated age. Any text you point the camera at will be read aloud immediately.
Barcodes on products can also be scanned for information on what you want to buy. The AI can also analyse and describe overall scenes, so if you want to know what sort of situation is right in front of you, it can do that as well.
While the technology isn’t perfect yet, it’s
almost miraculous compared to what was possible just ten years ago. Sadly it
only seems to be available for iOS devices at present, but hopefully will see a
wider release in the future.
Get it for iOS
Replika
– A Friend 24/7
If you’ve seen the movie Her, you’ll be familiar with the cautionary tale out there warning against getting too attached to AI bots. In the movie Joaquin Phoenix plays a guy who falls in love with what’s essentially a version of Siri. However, one important theme in that film is how the main character is going through a rough time. Something which his new AI friend helps him get through.
Here in the real world, that concept has come (somewhat) to life in the form of Replika. While this advanced AI chatbot is not designed to act as a romantic partner, it is designed to be a friend when you need it.
People who are feeling depressed, anxious or
lonely can chat with Replika. The bot is always there for you, even when no one
else has the time. Thanks to major advances in natural language technology and
conversational UIs, chatting with Replika really does feel like shooting the
breeze with a friend. Even if you don’t feel the need to use Replika for its
intended purposes, the technology is absolutely fascinating to try out.
Get it for Android and iOS
Hound
– A Natural Search AI
When we first got to try Siri all the way back with the release of the iPhone 4S, it felt like the future was finally happening. Siri’s ability to fluently understand speech and respond intelligently was a big step up from chatbots of the day. However, limitations in daily use have quickly become apparent. Siri is much, much improved today but plenty of other AI assistants have arguably overtaken it.
Of the current generation of AI assistants,
Hound is perhaps the most impressive. From the same people who gave us Soundhound,
this bot can understand queries in a way that seems almost like magic. With
Siri and its ilk you quickly learn to formulate what you say in a particular
way. If you don’t, you risk wasting time restating your query because the
software doesn’t quite get it.
With Hound it seems that queries are almost
alway understood properly without needing reformulation. Even better, the
actual results are also consistently relevant. Hound is also integrated with a
bunch of services and can do things like book an Uber for you.
With this app the proof really is in the
pudding. Try it and if you’ve been using one of the usual bunch, this is likely
to really impress.
Get it on Android and iOS
Not Exactly Skynet
There’s quite a lot of fear and disinformation around AI. Some of it thanks to fiction and some thanks to the media misrepresenting the technology. Of course, there are plenty of real concerns and some of our best thinkers have highlighted them.
When it comes to the sort of limited AI apps we have highlighted here, however, it’s hard to imagine anything bad happening because of them. That is, unless a human being decided to specifically misuse the technology, as we have seen with so-called “deepfakes”.
For the rest of us, AI-powered apps represent
something that really makes life easier and unlocks creativity. In some cases
it can even provide us with life-changing assistance. That’s definitely
something worth trying for yourself!
