Narrow AI: The Secret Ingredient Behind Your Favorite Apps

What is Narrow AI?

A specialization of Artificial Intelligence focusing on a specific goal or designed to handle a single task is referred to as Narrow AI. It is also known as weak AI, Artificial Narrow Intelligence or ANI. 

The narrow version of AI is named so compared to strong AI which can act on more than one task at a time. The specific specialization also emphasizes the inability of narrow AI to update, learn or modify the knowledge or training for other tasks. The narrow AI can be estimated to mimic or simulate human behavior in a narrow range of parameters. The functionality here is achieved through NLP or Natural Language Processing. 

Learn GenAI in Just 16 Weeks!

With Purdue University's Generative AI ProgramExplore Program

Applications of Narrow AI

Advancements in narrow AI with increased improvements have drastically enhanced its incorporation into modern devices and technologies. The applications of Narrow AI are commonly seen as

• Virtual Assistants: It is the widest and most common application present in every household. It responds to the voices to perform simple tasks and provide information. 
• Natural Language Processing (NLP): It performs and acts as sentiment analysis, customer support system, language translation and chatbots to understand and generate human language. 
• Image and speech recognition: The visual and auditory analysis by narrow AI is seen in speech-to-text converters and facial and image recognition technologies. 
• Recommendation systems: It works based on users’ preferences and behaviors to suggest products, music, movies or content. 
• Fraud detection: It can detect patterns to find fraudulent transactions, minimizing risks and identifying unusual behaviors. 

Futureproof Your Career By Mastering GenAI

With Our Generative AI Specialization ProgramExplore Program

Different Types of Narrow AI

There are two categories of narrow AI, reaction and limited memory AI.

Reactive AI

The reactive AI acts to perform specific tasks and responds to simple inputs. It is the basic version of Artificial Intelligence lacking memory or storage capabilities. The response received from reactive AI is new and not based on prior knowledge or information. The generated responses are based on pre-programmed rules and patterns to make decisions and respond. The best performance is seen in playing games such as chess, where moves are based on well-defined rules. 

Limited Memory AI

The limited memory AI has been developed by humans post advancements. The version finds incorporated memory that aids in better performance. It contributes to training the narrow AI and provides reference via past experiences allowing it to learn through historical data. The statistical and learning-based decisions are witnessed in its advanced application in self-driving cars. However, improvement opportunities remain in learning and decision-making beyond the training data. 

Learn In-demand GenAI Skills in Just 16 Weeks

With Purdue University's Generative AI ProgramExplore Program

Advantages and Challenges of Narrow AI

While the technology does encounter certain challenges, it offers a set of benefits too:

Advantages of Narrow AI

• Faster decision-making: The data processing based on a known set of rules focuses solely on decisions making, eliminating the requirement of additional activities. It enhances the decision-making speed contributing to humans' speed and overall productivity. 
• Automates redundant tasks: Redundant tasks do not require the active presence of the mind and are repetitive and boring in nature. Narrow AI specializes in specific domains and can efficiently relieve humans of such tasks. 
• Fundamental for advancements: The narrow AI is the backbone for AI development. The combination of multiple narrow AI specializing in different tasks provides the platform for an efficient system. Furthermore, their development to a more capable version is also possible. 
• Efficiency: The accuracy is seen better than humans, thus finding efficient usage in multiple sectors. It can efficiently perform tasks consisting of thousands of datasets in a small timespan. 

Limitation of Narrow AI

• Lack of information: The functionality of narrow AI is to perform actions and make decisions according to a known set of rules. However, the specific pathway followed to reach the decision is unknown. It poses difficulty when the mechanism of action is of immense importance to judge the decision and its reliability. 
• Security: Hackers tend to decode the systems evident in real-life scenarios easily. For instance, fraud detection systems are common news reflecting the requirement for enhanced security. 
• Learning: Narrow AI possesses limited learning capability compared to advanced AI systems. Besides, the lack of contextual understanding witnessed from chatbots and other such devices is a common experience. Furthermore, the creativity of AI is based on programmed algorithms. 
• Ethical and bias concerns: The lack of empathy and judgment ability due to lack of intelligence leads to ethical issues and biased replies. Narrow AI cannot judge the effect of activities like stealing or lying in different situations. 

Examples of Narrow AI

The narrow AI examples are seen in different aspects of life, such as:

• Virtual Assistants: Available as Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant
• Chatbots: Available on messaging apps and websites
• Image and speech recognition: In security camera and facial recognition system 
• Recommendation systems: Used as e-commerce platforms, social media networks and streaming services.
• Fraud detection: Banks
• Language translation: Google Translate or other language translation apps 
• Medical diagnostics: Detecting cancer in MRIs or X-rays
• Gaming AI: AI opponents in chess and strategy games 
• Robotics: Industrial robots in car manufacturing 

Grab the Highest Paying Machine Learning Jobs

With PCP in Generative AI and Machine LearningExplore Program

Choose the Right Program

Unlock the potential of AI and ML with Simplilearn's comprehensive programs. Choose the right AI/ML program to master cutting-edge technologies and propel your career forward.

Program Name	AI Engineer	Post Graduate Program In Artificial Intelligence	Post Graduate Program In Artificial Intelligence
Program Available In	All Geos	All Geos	IN/ROW
University	Simplilearn	Purdue	Caltech
Course Duration	11 Months	11 Months	11 Months
Coding Experience Required	Basic	Basic	No
Skills You Will Learn	10+ skills including data structure, data manipulation, NumPy, Scikit-Learn, Tableau and more.	16+ skills including chatbots, NLP, Python, Keras and more.	8+ skills including Supervised & Unsupervised Learning Deep Learning Data Visualization, and more.
Additional Benefits	Get access to exclusive Hackathons, Masterclasses and Ask-Me-Anything sessions by IBM Applied learning via 3 Capstone and 12 Industry-relevant Projects	Purdue Alumni Association Membership Free IIMJobs Pro-Membership of 6 months Resume Building Assistance	Upto 14 CEU Credits Caltech CTME Circle Membership
Cost	$$	$$$$	$$$$
	Explore Program	Explore Program	Explore Program

Conclusion 

Narrow AI is a specialized part of Artificial Intelligence that focuses on specific tasks. However, the remarkable proficiency in exhibiting expertise in specific tasks is limited to influence its knowledge in other domains. It poses multiple challenges with room for improvement. However, regardless of these, great efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and elimination of the chances of task errors, widespread usage is seen in the human world. Further enhancements in the technology provide hope for promising and more efficient results. 

Aiming to contribute to human advancements in this domain? A course in artificial Intelligence is one of the prime needs. Offering you the best and recommended one; here is a detailed aspect of numerous offerings with successful placement opportunities and mentorship programs in the Caltech Postgraduate Program in AI and Machine Learning. 

On the other hand, dive into our cutting-edge GenAI programs and master the most sought-after concepts, including Generative AI, prompt engineering, GPTs, and more. Explore and enroll today to stay ahead in the ever-evolving AI landscape!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is an example of narrow AI?

Examples of narrow AI include chatbots like Siri and Alexa, fraud detection systems, self-driven cars, recommendation systems, and language translation. 

2. What is the difference between Narrow AI and Weak AI?

Narrow AI refers to the narrow or limited capability of the AI to perform tasks. Weak AI, on the other hand, emphasized the limitation of AI compared to human intelligence. Although, the two terms find interchangeable usage in daily life. 

3. Is Alexa an example of narrow AI?

Yes, Alexa is an example in the virtual assistant category of narrow AI. It performs specialized voice recognition tasks and actions as per the voice commands.