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The Great A.I. Awakening
Article

The Great A.I. Awakening

How Google used artificial intelligence to transform Google Translate, one of its more popular services – and how machine learning is poised to reinvent computing itself.


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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Applicable
  • Engaging

Recommendation

Writing for The New York Times Magazine, Gideon Lewis-Kraus’s article breaks down a complex, multilayered story of artificial intelligence into an absorbing, detailed read. The story of Google Translate involves many prestigious players, who all worked together to create an impressively improved translation tool in far less time than originally expected. This is a tale of the meeting of many minds to create a single truly powerful artificial one that will have future uses beyond translating from one language to another.

Take-Aways

  • A goal for artificial intelligence is to develop general AI, which won’t require explicit instructions but will be able to anticipate a user’s needs. 
  • Early algorithms relied on humans to spend lots of time teaching rigid rules and definitions. 
  • Google wanted more flexible algorithms that could learn and adapt from their environment. 

About the Author

Gideon Lewis-Kraus is a regular contributor to The New York Times Magazine, writing on topics including technology and travel.