Artificial Intelligence is often associated with an eventual robot-apocalypse.
Machines with human-level intelligence replacing and taking over the need for humans in most spheres of life. But many professionals will tell you, it’s just a tool, that can be used for great improvement or to do harm, and what’s vital, is adapting while becoming vigilant of inherent risks that AI can present.
Our Reporter Cindy Raghubar-Teekersingh attended the launch of the 35th Southex International Expo on Wednesday at C3 in San Fernando, and spoke to those present on the AI centric theme: What it means in the local and regional context.
00:00AI, or artificial intelligence, is the enabling through various applications of computers and machines to execute tasks with a level of human-like intelligence.
00:13And more and more individuals and companies globally have been adopting AI in their operations, making it the theme selected for this year's SouthEx International Expo, says CEO George Singh.
00:26I don't know if people realize, but almost every single thing that you do today, you are interacting with AI, whether you know it or not.
00:38Chairman of the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute, Nigel Romano, believes AI's potential for regional growth can be exponential.
00:47AI is liberating our workforce from repetitive, mundane tasks, allowing human talent to focus on creative, strategic, and high-value work.
01:02The technology is not replacing human intelligence. It is amplifying it.
01:09He concedes, while AI presents opportunities, it does pose a risk of job displacement, but says history suggests technological revolutions ultimately create more jobs than they eliminate, requiring the workforce to learn new skills.
01:27For our Caribbean region, AI presents unique opportunities to leapfrog traditional development constraints.
01:38Trinidad and Tobago, alongside our CARICOM partners, is well-positioned to harness AI's potential.
01:47Given our shared challenges and opportunities at small island development states, regional cooperation is essential.
01:54We must learn from each other's experiences and coordinate our approaches to AI governance.
02:03A recently formed regional AI task force by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, he says, is important to harmonize policies and promote ethical AI.
02:14On the surface, AI applications have been known to improve everyday devices, like security systems, as one security service technician explains.
02:26The video monitoring incorporates AI in many ways.
02:29One of the first ways would be facial tracking, facial recognition and facial tracking.
02:35The camera can differentiate between a friend of four, a known intruder, or someone who is not currently on the system.
02:42With AI now, AI is able to differentiate between a human invader or an animal, thus preventing the case of a mistaken alarm.
02:51But as the world embraces AI, the same technology accelerating development can also pose serious challenges.
02:59Managing director of Pinaka Consulting, a local information security company, warns of an increase in AI-assisted attacks.
03:08We would see financial institutions being defrauded via mechanisms involving WhatsApp conversation and business email compromise, emails.
03:19We see ransomware has taken place locally in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.
03:24So it's just a matter of time before attackers utilize these tools within attacks based locally.
03:31We have already seen local media personalities, local personalities, local personalities, being deep faked.
03:37And their image or likeness is being used to promote schemes or scams.
03:43Deep fakes is where persons may use a video with a digital mask over themselves to try to trick someone to, for example, click on a phishing link or send money via wire transfer to a fake account.
03:57He says there are tools available which can help detect deep fakes.
04:01Deep fakes and demonstrated just how convincing one can be.
04:05This is our engineering student and intern.
04:08This is his normal face.
04:10And now we will start using a piece of software to deep fake his face.
04:16Here he is with a full digital mask over his face.
04:20His features have certainly changed a lot.
04:23And he can smile, he can talk, he can carry out a conversation with somebody over Zoom.
04:28And they could believe they're talking to someone else.
04:31Risk prevention is vital.
04:33Bisesa says we live in a time where you can no longer trust images and videos.
04:39And what people need to do is find ways to protect against potential attacks.
04:44With the creation, for the first time in Trinidad and Tobago, a Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence,
04:53the hope of these professionals is that public education is prioritized and a robust cyber security infrastructure created to safeguard citizens in this evolving world of AI.
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