KATHMANDU: Amidst a blend of apprehension, hope, and uncertainty surrounding the burgeoning influence of artificial intelligence (AI), global research and studies on AI have witnessed a significant uptick.

The Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) at Stanford University recently unveiled its annual report on AI, titled ‘Artificial Intelligence Index Report, 2024,’ providing a comprehensive overview of AI trends across various sectors, from education to accountability, research to development, and economy to medicine.

A notable takeaway from the report is the acknowledgment that while AI outperforms humans in certain tasks, it still lags behind in more intricate endeavors such as competition-level mathematics, visual commonsense reasoning, and planning.

The report, spanning over 500 pages and encapsulating ten key insights, delves into nine chapters covering research and development, technical performance, responsible AI, economy, science and medicine, education, policy and governance, diversity, and public opinion.

One significant aspect highlighted in the report is the shifting landscape of AI patents, with a notable concentration observed in East Asia and the Pacific region.

Additionally, despite a decline in overall AI private investment, funding for generative AI has witnessed a staggering surge, nearly octupling from the previous year to reach $25.2 billion.

Moreover, the report sheds light on the dominance of China in industrial robotics installations, with the country significantly widening the gap with other nations in this domain.

It also underscores the rising initiatives in AI governance, particularly in EU countries, the US, and China.

However, amidst the advancements, concerns regarding biases in AI systems have been raised, exemplified by the politically biased nature of ChatGPT.

With 2024 being a global election year, the potential hijacking of users’ political views by AI systems like ChatGPT warrants attention.

The report also highlights the increasing adoption of AI strategies by countries worldwide, with notable progress observed in AI clinical knowledge and AI hiring trends across various nations.

Ray Perrault and Jack Clark, Co-Directors of AI Index, emphasized the report’s role in providing objective insights to navigate the evolving landscape of AI.

Supported by data from numerous tech organizations, the report aims to serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, business leaders, journalists, and the general public alike.

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