Artificial Intelligence: Reward or Risk? Part 1 of 2

In this episode, we’ll explore the many ways AI is improving our lives, from healthcare and education to science and social good. Artificial intelligence has already become an integral part of our daily lives, often operating quietly in the background. It also curates recommendations for films, shopping, and news, aligning with our personal preferences and interests. Individually, these features may seem modest. Yet collectively, they streamline our routines, reduce frustration, and enhance the efficiency and personalization of modern life in profound ways.

AI is transforming healthcare by improving diagnostic accuracy and speed, enabling earlier detection and more effective treatments. In some cases, it can identify signs of diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, COPD, or kidney disease before symptoms appear, allowing timely intervention. Beyond helping doctors, AI is also beginning to empower patients directly by giving them tools to better understand and manage their own health. At the same time, AI is accelerating drug discovery and development.

AI isn’t just transforming healthcare – it’s reshaping the way we work. Tasks that once consumed hours, such as data entry, scheduling, and report generation, are now being automated. This frees humans to focus on creativity, strategy, and problem-solving. For example, AI copilots in software development are helping programmers write code faster.

Perhaps the most thrilling use of AI is in accelerating scientific discovery. Take climate science, for example. AI models help researchers predict extreme weather events, analyze vast amounts of environmental data, and design renewable energy systems. These tools could prove critical in the fight against climate change. Or consider biology. “So here’s another problem that’s thought to be impossible to solve, which is protein folding, and AlphaFold 2 did just that, it solved protein folding. I think it’s one of the biggest breakthroughs, certainly in the history of structural biology, but in general, in science.”

Beyond business and science, AI is also addressing problems of accessibility and equality. In education, AI tutors personalize learning for students, adapting lessons to their strengths and weaknesses. For people with disabilities, AI is a game changer: speech-to-text systems, vision aids, and real-time translation tools are breaking barriers. During natural disasters, AI analyzes satellite imagery to identify where help is needed most urgently.

But as with any powerful tool, there’s another side. AI carries risks: bias, job displacement, misinformation, and even existential threats. These challenges cannot be ignored.