Briefing the concept
Virtual Intelligence (VI) is a form of artificial intelligence (AI) existing inside a virtual world. VI as a technology is created and optimized to perform particular tasks to help users around a considered framework. The functioning of any virtual intelligence machine acts as a smart system looking at how it interacts with humans, but it is not real.
Virtual intelligence is a set of code or programs that work within a limited area it is actually created for. It does not hold the ability to generate spontaneous solutions and responses as it happens in AI. The functioning of virtual intelligence ultimately depends only on pre-determined factors.
Virtual intelligence is merely visible in everyday devices such as Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation software, chatbots, virtual assistants, interactive maps, and wearables. Even though virtual intelligence poses the ability to learn from its interactions to elucidate performance, it is confined only to the original functionality it was designed for.
How is it different from AI?
Artificial intelligence is a rapidly growing industry. Many organizations and start-ups continue to modernize technologies that aim to make human life more comfortable. Even though both the elements of technology work according to defined algorithms, virtual intelligence is often confused with artificial intelligence. But they are different. Both AI and VI are capable enough to mimic or even replace human capabilities in a system.
Virtual intelligence is not a new concept, but it is also not as common as AI. It has been used for several years in various apps such as Waze, Google Maps, Garmin, or Fitbit. These technologies are termed ‘smart’ as they help find directions to unfamiliar places or even recommend workout routines and diet programs. It shows that some devices are capable of virtual intelligence and are not an entire AI toolset, which implies that these apps cannot produce outcomes.
The devices mimic decision-making and curate recommendations based on a predefined set of criteria. Expecting these devices to work more than what they are programmed for is difficult.
The best example illustrating VI is Waze. If the app instructs to take a left on the next intersection and fails to, it won’t instruct about the wrong turn. Wherein it will only recalculate results after taking the wrong turn. On the other hand, an AI-friendly app warns about the intended action before it happens. It implies if Waze was AI-capable, missing the turn won’t happen.
The artificial intelligence foundation is based on four primary components: discovery, prediction, action, and learning. All these actions are part of an algorithm for every computer system. It is programmed to discover hidden patterns within a data set, predict outcomes based on the data, takes actions based on the discovery and prediction, and learn to improve itself. It is capable of learning and improving every step with repetition. Contrarily, VI acts both as an open and a closed system. It follows a more scientific approach to generate pre-determined results.
When encountered with any issue, AI can auto-correct it before it turns into a major problem. With its self-built intellectuality process, the system can determine the possible outcome without waiting for the process to complete. This outcome is mostly based on active damage control.
As learned earlier about VI, it works on pre-determined factors that need to be developed before the results can be calculated. The average VI system cannot make changes to its program without creating all of the components first. Calculation of the factors is conducted first before implementing any possible changes.
Practical usage of VI
Artificial intelligence already has multiple applications in different fields; the list is never-ending. While learning about virtual intelligence, let’s understand how different technologies harness it –
1. Task Trainer VR
As a part of its virtual training simulation, the Duke University School of Nursing has developed a Task Trainer VR. It helps test nurses’ ability to perform procedures that would determine their ability to make patient-care decisions. A recorded criterion filled in the Task Trainer VR is used to track the reaction of the nurses’ responses.
2. MyCyberTwin
MyCyberTwin is yet another virtual intelligence that improvises business operations. The application supports cutting-edge chat solutions that help businesses to look after their customers’ needs. The tool plays a significant role in improving customer engagement processes as interacting with it improves its performance over time.
3. CUTLASS
The military is a field that benefits from a host of virtual intelligence applications on a large scale. To handle it, Northrop Gruman, an American global aerospace and defense technology company, has developed a remote bomb disposal robot, CUTLASS. The functioning of the system includes dismantling a bomb without encountering the risks commonly associated with doing so.
Wrapping up
Virtual intelligence will keep evolving day-by-day, moving closer to the ultimate realization of superhuman AI.
Artificial intelligence and virtual intelligence are two different relative terms that may sound similar as both are built out of human intelligence and are designed to mimic human intelligence into a device. However, both technologies are different from each other; the difference between these two is vital.
AI and VI actively surround human lives in the form of chatbots, smart home products, GPS, digital assistants, etc. These technologies are designed to make human lives simpler and better by building intelligent machines that would operate and function as efficiently as humans. Imbibing AI into machines makes it a self-dependent device that can perform tasks that otherwise require human intelligence.
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