With artificial intelligence or AI growing ever more prevalent across global industries, queries are evolving, too. While AI is boundlessly useful in helping us reach targets more efficiently and develop innovations, is it threatening? Will AI remove the roles of inventors in startups across the globe? Let’s investigate.
How is AI Helping to Invent for Startups?
Artificial intelligence is helping to change the way we consider productivity, efficiency, and even possibility in the workplace. Without machine learning, some of the biggest streaming brands (such as Netflix and Spotify) may have struggled with marketing. Companies taking advantage of sales intelligence, too, may have spent exponential extra time in sourcing customer data.
However, we need to consider the role of the inventor in the average venture. In the healthcare industry, AI is helping to find new solutions to common ailments without the need for physical research. Machines learn about existing solutions and remedies and look for links that may not have previously been seized upon.
Moreover, AI is helping ventures find new ‘reasons’ to invent solutions. While machines may not always create tools or products outright, they are at least seeing the opportunities. This is colossal for growing startups needing a niche or a foothold. It also means that problems that may have taken years to solve previously are remedied in weeks.
This movement, however, has given rise to concerns that AI could replace human insight and innovation. Thankfully, it’s unlikely - and we’ll discuss this in a little more detail below.
Can AI Protect Patents?
US laws when it comes to AI creations are a little fuzzy. The US Patent Office is reportedly considering a change in legislation to adapt to AI creations. At present, the general rule of thumb tends to regard the ‘human in charge of the machine’ as the inventor. However, what if the invention was created purely by said machine, without any input.
This is largely where lawmakers are scratching their heads. The main line those in the industry are discussing is whether or not AI can be considered ‘sentient enough’ to claim copyright. Some also argue that there need to be clear discussions concerning intent. If a human being set a machine to invent (the AI didn’t claim rights over its creation), do the rights reside with the instructor?
Ultimately, the concept of AI patent protection is under discussion worldwide. In the UK, for example, legislators are readily considering if AI inventions should be protected at all. What’s more, said legislators are also considering what exceptions, if any, should be drawn up.
It’s a complex situation - one which will likely demand long conversations and analyses for years to come. As AI evolves and seeps into everyday manufacture, sales, and daily life, we need to consider its rights. Such discussions may sound like they are borrowing from science fiction; however, this is our future.
With that in mind, will innovators and inventors on board ventures need to worry about losing rights to machines?
Will AI Replace Entrepreneurs Outright?
Entrepreneurs and everyday workers can, to an extent, breathe a sigh of relief. At least, studies suggest that there will always be some roles that AI can never completely take over. While machines and automated services may take over accounting, marketing, and sales tasks to an extent, we won’t go extinct. Science fiction like ‘Terminator’ suggests otherwise - but we need to look at our situation pragmatically.
Consider various jobs and roles that are unlikely to benefit from AI solutions. Therapists, doctors, dentists, personal trainers - all rely on interpersonal and contextual approaches. While AI solutions in these niches exist and are successful, they cannot assume the entirety of their roles.
Even now, AI is limited. While the market for machine learning is exploding, and while it is undoubtedly an exciting movement, it has limitations. Even years into the future, AI will still be limited in scope and capability. The human brain and all its processes are impossible to replicate.
Machines and artificial intelligence, therefore, will always have boundaries. Yes, AI can help hugely with tasks and roles where overthinking and emotional input can halt progress. However, AI will always struggle in those roles where emotional intelligence and contextual understanding are essential.
We can apply this to entrepreneurism and innovation, too. Without the human innovator and their boundless capacity for thought and critical thinking, inventions will stagnate. For all, AI can search and correlate millions of data strands to save time and effort. There will only be so many creative avenues that artificial intelligence can work with. Beyond this, AI may not be able to learn ‘beyond’ its capabilities - we, the inventors and controllers, set the boundaries.
What Might the Future Hold?
The future is lucrative concerning AI and machine learning. It’s set to bring billions of dollars to industries far and wide, and it’s mainly in the name of convenience. The insight and research potential machines bring to the table are helping us to find new solutions every day.
That, ultimately, is the strand of thought we need to remember. Even though it is autonomous and astounding in its potential, AI will always require human input. Machines require contextualism and emotional information to put the pieces into the larger puzzle. Beyond this, AI capability will always be finite - the human brain is much more complex than many anticipate it to be.
Therefore, it stands to reason that venture innovators should embrace AI for its current support - and not fear it. As it stands, and with a great deal of confidence, we can say the rise of robots is firmly science fiction. As long as weights and measures are in place, humanity keeps control.
In the meantime, data on AI-centric firms and startups is constantly growing - and is available, real-time, through Fundz.
SOURCES USED
https://www.nesta.org.uk/feature/innovation-squared/ai-reinventing-way-we-invent/
Topic: AI Startups
