Question

Assignment Descriptions

Megatrend Reflections (5% each, 35% total)

Each week in the first half of this course, we discuss a megatrend that vastly impacts the world we live in

and its implications for Canada. Your Megatrend Reflection will have you think about how these impacts

affect you and your life. For example, will you plan your life differently because of the megatrend? How

will it affect your career? Will you delay milestones in your life (e.g. marriage, buying a house) because

of the megatrend? Any way that the megatrend impacts your life is legitimate to write about.

Your Megatrend Reflection Topic is Artificial Intelligence.

1.Discuss how the megatrend (Artificial Intelligence) will impact Canada over the next 30 years

2.Discuss how the megatrend (Artificial Intelligence) will impact you personally over the next 30 years

This assignment should be a maximum of 300 words long and is due on the Friday of the following week

after we discuss the megatrend. Only submit .doc, .docx, or .pdf fil

Answer 1

Artificial intelligence (AI) is actually a machine or a computer that shows human cognitive abilities like speech, perception, decision making etc. This machine is actually trained by feeding it with appropriate data to such an extent that it can identify different materials and things and living beings. AI has permeated the world and even the life of a commoner to such an extent that now it is said to be second digital revolution much more powerful than the first. Previously the computer had to be programmed with a set of instructions, but now, the machine learning has been introduced where the machine learn by itself based on the data provided to it. It is employed in a large variety of applications such as personal assistants such as Siri and Alexa, call centre chatbots, driver assistants in cars and has even registered its applications in medical financial and industrial fields.

In the manufacturing sector it can be used in areas of inspection, or logistics planning. It can be used for environment monitoring to find out the contaminants in water supply. Self driving cars have been developed based on this technology. It can help a doctor to analyze a large quantity of data within no time helping to diagnose a problem precisely within a short period of time.

Canada is emerging as a global leader in AI technology mainly because of the research works in this field. Throughout the world, over 90 industries are being catered by the AI scientists in Canada and the list is growing at a rapid pace. These companies are in different stages of maturity as far as AI is considered. For instance, a company related to agriculture sector has very little AI introduced. But in Canada even those sectors are becoming more and more interested in this field and bringing up with innovative ideas so that AI can be explored even more.

As far as the life of a common man is concerned, Alexa, Siri and smart phones have already changed his life to such an extent that he finds it unnecessary to seek the help of a friend or a family member to carry out most of the daily activities. The need to go to office itself is not necessary as the work can be done at home. Lack of social activities and interactions can affect the general health as well as mental health in the long run. There will be unemployment in some of the sectors as most of the work can be done more precisely than humans by the machines.

Thus it can be seen that Canada has already put her signature in the map of AI and is introducing it in the various sectors of the country. AI can take economy of the country to great heights because of the innovative initiatives and accuracy in the delivery of different services. Life of a common man has become much easier because of this technology, however lack of social interaction between the citizens of the country may affect its integrity in the future.