Hi ,
The simplest type of AI is a rules engine - a set of if-else statements that lead to a clear decision.
For example:
- If 'four equal sides' and 'four equal angles' then 'square'
- If 'four equal sizes' and 'angles not all equal' then 'rhombus'
etc.
But real life is rarely that simple - which is why most AI models are typically far more complicated.
Yet, even the most complicated AI model, at its heart, still comes down to patterns and rules.
Here's the thing...
Even if you don't realise it, most people love rules. They make us feel safe. It's a loss
aversion thing.
Life would be so much easier if there were just a set of rules we could memorize and follow to guarantee success.
But outside of artificial environments, such as the classroom, these rules simply don't exist.
In the real world, to quote indie-consultant strategy advisor and friend of the list Rod Aparicio:
"Rules, tools and other things are there to help us and not to follow them mindlessly. Especially in business, where rules... well, they're made up as we go."
This also means that, no matter how accurate your complex AI models may seem, they will never truly capture the intricacies of real life.
Use AI as a guide, by all means, but recognise that, in
an uncertain world, a guide is the best it can ever be.
Talk again soon,
Dr Genevieve Hayes.
