https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p Alexa- AGI en-us 2018-11-12 14:44:17 UTC 2018-11-15 04:12:10 UTC hello@padlet.com sburne0358 https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/303281857 Artificial intelligence- also called AI, is a computer system or machine that is able to perform and mimic tasks that would usually require human intelligence, such as translating languages, answering questions, calculating math equations, and making decisions. There are three categories of AI; ANI, AGI, and ASI.

“What Is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? - Definition from Techopedia.” Techopedia.com, www.techopedia.com/definition/190/artificial-intelligence-ai  ]]> 2018-11-12 14:48:20 UTC https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/303281857 sburne0358 https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/303295453 1. ANI- Artificial Narrow Intelligence- the computer system/machine can only focus on one narrow set task that is given. An example of this would be Google Translate.
2. AGI- Artificial General Intelligence- General intelligence is when the machine's "intelligence/knowledge is comparable to humans' intelligence. One example of this would be Eliza (http://www-ai.ijs.si/eliza/eliza.html)
3. ASI- Artificial Super intelligence- The level of intelligence an ASI machine would possess would be beyond the intelligence of any human. At this time, there is no machine/computer that reaches this level of intelligence.

“3 Types of AI: Is the Third Even Possible?” Codebots, 27 July 2018, codebots.com/ai-powered-bots/the-3-types-of-ai-is-the-third-even-possible. ]]> 2018-11-12 15:08:36 UTC https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/303295453 sburne0358 https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/303738038 The AI I chose to research is the Amazon Echo (Also known as Alexa). The purpose of the Echo is to assist the owner. Amazon Echo is capable music playback, voice interaction, making to-do lists, setting alarms, providing real-time information, and some can even be linked to turn your lights and other appliances on and off.

“Amazon Echo.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Nov. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Echo. ]]> 2018-11-13 14:21:31 UTC https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/303738038 sburne0358 https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/303745741 The Amazon Echo comes in many different forms- The Echo Dot, Echo Auto, Echo show, Echo Plus, Echo Smart Speaker, and Echo Look.

 If you purchase any Echo Smart Speaker, it can range from a short to tall cylinder figure with a light ring around the top that lights up when you say "Alexa." The speakers also includes a power button, and 3 volume adjustment buttons. (see video below)

Amazon Smart Screen devices have a screen that can show you all of the questions you are asking it, the weather, song information, it is essentially like a tablet or phone screen.

Amazon also occasionally develops random forms Amazon Echo devices that cannot be put into one category, because the physical attributes are just too different from one another. One example of a random device is the Echo Look; The purpose of the Echo Look is to take photos of a person's outfit- it is tall and slim, has a camera, and has a little stand to keep it standing upright in order to take a photo of the person.


Geekyranjit, director. What Alexa Can Do an Overview. YouTube, YouTube, 9 Mar. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbV_398ngdA. 

]]> 2018-11-13 14:33:12 UTC https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/303745741 sburne0358 https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304624220 As of right now, the Amazon Echo cannot learn and develop new concepts from the initial purchase of the device. The Echo is only able to answer questions and do a task you command it to do, such as play music, gather real-time information, etc. If you would like your Amazon Echo device to build more skills and learn new game, content, and music skills, you must purchase the Alexa Skills Kit. If you purchase this kit, you can make Alexa much more smarter and advanced than the standard-purchase Alexa.

“Alexa Skills Kit - Build for Voice with Amazon.” Amazon, Amazon, developer.amazon.com/alexa-skills-kit.]]> 2018-11-15 02:36:16 UTC https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304624220 sburne0358 https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304626247 The definition of artificial intelligence is a computer system or machine that is able to perform and mimic tasks that would usually require human intelligence, such as translating languages, answering questions, calculating math equations, and making decisions. Amazon Echo devices (Alexa) does match the definition of AI. Alexa is able to translate many different languages, answer most questions you ask her (including those which require real-time information such as the temperature outside), calculate any math equation you give her (such as 19274x928257), play music and radio stations, and turn lights on and off (if you have the additional plugs that are available for purchase which can be connected to your Amazon Echo device).

Smith, Dave. “I've Owned an Amazon Echo for Nearly a Year Now - Here Are My 19 Favorite Features.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 5 Oct. 2016, www.businessinsider.com/amazon-echo-features-2016-10#alexa-hows-the-weather-outside-today-2.

]]> 2018-11-15 02:48:31 UTC https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304626247 sburne0358 https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304629279 Amazon Echo devices (Alexa) fits into the Artificial General Intelligence category. Alexa is able to correctly answer questions that a human is able to answer such as "what is the time and date right now?" and "what day of the week is it today?" Sometimes you can even ask your Amazon Echo device questions that SOME people wouldn't know and some people would know, such as "What are the three branches of the United States government?" Alexa cannot fit into the Artificial Narrow Intelligence category, because unlike an ANI machine/computer, Alexa is able to do multiple things at once, such as have a timer running and play music. Alexa cannot fit into the Artificial Super Intelligence, because there is no computer/machine in the entire world that can reach this level, because all computers/machines cannot have emotions, which is what sets apart human intelligence from artificial intelligence.

Chin, Monica. “What Is the Amazon Echo?” Tom's Guide, Tom's Guide, 6 Nov. 2018, www.tomsguide.com/us/amazon-echo-faq,review-3377.html. ]]> 2018-11-15 03:05:56 UTC https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304629279 sburne0358 https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304631900 The biggest issue with the Amazon Echo devices is voice recording everything. In order for your Echo device to work, you must say "Alexa." In order for this feature to work, the device must be constantly recording your voice in order to know when you say her name (Alexa). In 2018 of May, a New York husband and wife had their private conversation accidentally recorded, and it was shared with the husband's co-workers. The husband and wife were freaked out by the incident, so they unplugged all of their Echo devices, and now they are living Alexa free.

Chokshi, Niraj. “Is Alexa Listening? Amazon Echo Sent Out Recording of Couple's Conversation.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 25 May 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/05/25/business/amazon-alexa-conversation-shared-echo.html. ]]> 2018-11-15 03:19:47 UTC https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304631900 sburne0358 https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304633503 Acoustic processing is the ability to record, store, and transmit audio content. Amazon Echo devices can preform acoustic processing because Alexa must record your conversations in order to respond when you say "Alexa" and preform the tasks you give her.

“Introduction to Audio Signal Processing.” Reasons Students Plagiarize or Cheat | Academic Integrity | RIT, www.rit.edu/press/introduction-audio-signal-processing. ]]> 2018-11-15 03:28:55 UTC https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304633503 sburne0358 https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304635679 Speech recognition is a machine/computer's ability to identify works spoken and convert them into a machine-readable format. Alexa must use speech recognition in order to work. The user has to say "alexa" before asking any questions/giving commands. Without speech recognition, you would just waste your money on a little device that can't do anything except turn on and off.

“What Is Speech Recognition? - Definition from WhatIs.com.” SearchCRM, searchcrm.techtarget.com/definition/speech-recognition. ]]> 2018-11-15 03:42:22 UTC https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304635679 sburne0358 https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304636591 Facial recognition is software that can identify/verify a person by comparing and analyzing patterns based on the person's facial features. Amazon Echo does not preform this, because none of the devices have a camera to preform the task, and even the Amazon Look (with a camera) does not have the facial recognition feature since it can only take photos.

“What Is Facial Recognition? - Definition from Techopedia.” Techopedia.com, www.techopedia.com/definition/32071/facial-recognition.

]]> 2018-11-15 03:48:32 UTC https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304636591 sburne0358 https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304638054 The Amazon Echo devices could cause a "rise of the machines." We just need to make sure that Alexa stays at an AGI level, and cannot reach an ASI level. We can do this by making sure that Alexa cannot understand human emotions very well, and only allowing the devices to complete tasks when humans command them to, not just whenever they would like to.

Kharunya Paramaguru. “Rise of the Machines: Cambridge University to Study Technology's 'Existential Risk' to Mankind.” Time, Time, 29 Nov. 2012, newsfeed.time.com/2012/11/29/rise-of-the-machines-cambridge-university-to-study-technologys-existential-risk-to-mankind/. ]]> 2018-11-15 03:58:14 UTC https://padlet.com/sburne0358/vxavxz32tt8p/wish/304638054