What’s the Deal with Data Science and Artificial Intelligence?

Sponsored by Bocconi University

It’s hard to think of a world without smart home assistant devices such as Amazon’s Alexa, ridesharing apps like Uber, fitness trackers, personalized music playlists or even mobile banking. While some of these innovations have only been with us for less than a decade, they’re now thoroughly woven into the fabric of modern society.

None of them would have been possible without advances in artificial intelligence and data science. Even sustainable fashion and medical research are using these technology tools to their advantage nowadays.

But what happens next? How much further can artificial intelligence and data science go? What are the risks involved? How many more benefits can it bring to society and business? Read on to find out.

There’s still a way to go

Believe it or not, we’re still in the infancy of understanding the limitations of artificial intelligence and data science. Its ability to not just solve problems, but use reasoning to communicate and even interact with the real world could lead to even greater developments in the future.

Already, its ability to understand, anticipate and even predict human behavior, attitude and habits can bring unprecedented benefits to business and industry.

Given the milestones reached when it comes to technology in the home, at work and public areas, we’re naturally curious about how much further we can stretch the potential of AI – and whether we should actually be allowed to…

Which leads us nicely on to our next point.

A help or hindrance?

Whether you’re at home or at work, AI and data science now play an integral role in everyday modern life. But while this may now be considered quite the norm, ethical questions and concerns are still being voiced surrounding advancements in artificial intelligence and data science.

After all, how much privacy and personal information are we willing to surrender for the sake of improved security or a more personalized online shopping experience?

Although a number of myths and falsehoods surrounding these technologies are frequently debunked, ethical responsibility and an improved discourse between machines and humans is still very much needed as advancements in technologies begin to outpace government regulations. Which again, leads us nicely onto our next point…

We need to adapt to technology and the likes of artificial intelligence and data science – not the other way around

With the growth of AI in the workplace, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that there’s a need for more (and different) training in order for businesses and society to keep up.

Realizing this, universities such as Bocconi University are rolling out specially designed degree programs to train students in advanced technologies and how to best implement them.

Their STEM-oriented graduate programs include Cyber Risk Strategy and Governance, Data Science and Business Analytics, Economics and Management of Innovation and Technology, while their “[BSc in Mathematical and Computing Sciences for Artificial Intelligence] program meets the increasingly urgent demand for new job profiles coming from the professional world as well as from academia and research,” said Professor Gianmario Verona.

“On the one hand, they [students] require a mastery of the most sophisticated mathematical, computational and modeling methodologies, and on the other hand, they [students] must understand the algorithms of modern artificial intelligence,” he added.

It’s worth nothing that we’re only at the tip of the digital era iceberg when it comes to not just the volume, but the variety of technology that comes out of AI and data science. Although we may still be unsure where we’re going next, it does look exciting!