Artificial intelligence is a hot topic of conversation, whether it’s Sophia gaining citizenship or Alexa tapes being requested by police force. Yet most people assume they don’t interact with AI personally. In fact, one unofficial study found 50% of people interact with AI and are unaware.

Most people can give a general understanding of AI. AI, and more specifically its subset machine learning, is a software that can write itself in response to stimuli or sensory input. The software becomes more tailored and designed with every interaction. But most do not understand how often they interact with learning software.

So where is all this artificial intelligence? Seamlessly hidden in our days, making our time more efficient and lives run smoother. While most envision Sophia or fictional SkyNet as fearful examples of what artificial intelligence is, the reality of AI is much simpler and less obvious than most think.

Artificial intelligence and assistants

Most of us have interacted with Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant or any number of other assistants. While we are aware Alexa and Siri are examples of artificial intelligence, we rarely realize how pervasive that technology is.

For example, searching on Google requires use of AI to filter the mass amount of information.

Yet that is not the best example of Google’s use of AI. Google's advertising has specialized in artificial intelligence's ability to tailor based on consumer information. Google’s algorithms for marketing are great example of AI interaction.

While we have talked about chatbots and their use in businesses, most people assume the small box that pops up in the corner of their screen is a person. Most of us interact with AI for simple questions when we are shopping. Anyone with Facebook Messenger regularly meets AI.

Yet if most people thought about assistants and chatbots, they would agree they are interacting with AI. However, AI is more pervasive in our everyday beyond just retail and advertising.

AI and auto technology

Most people think of driverless cars when asked about AI and automobiles. While this is the most advertised use, it’s not the most prevalent or available. Most people use AI in their cars without even realizing.

Artificial intelligence guides park assist, as well as swerve control and other safety features. The car learns from information taken in by sensors to perform the task. While the future of auto tech allows for cars communicating with each other, beyond control of the driver, AI already exists in transportation.

Similarly, most new cars have IoT interfaces. These computer systems are voice controlled, can connect to smart phones, and often connect to Google or other AI software. The ability to hear and respond to texts, hear emails, and have your car tell you when you are near a location comes from artificial intelligence.

Also, insurance companies are already using AI to see risky behavior and understand a driver’s potential.

Continued Immersion

While the horizon will bring mass amounts of development in AI to the world, the amount of artificial intelligence already available is staggering. Two sectors are most prevalent when it comes to contact with consumers: retail and vehicles.

While Google, Uber, and Tesla are working hard on driverless cars, other auto makers are slowly immersing their consumer into vehicles that can do more with less involvement. Soon mechanics will be able to diagnose a car without having to plug it into a computer. Likewise, the mobile and the car are very close to being seamlessly matched.

Retail has bought in on chatbots as the origination of AI exposure, with the goal of customer satisfaction and improved customer service.

Yet in both situations, the consumer is rarely aware of the software with which they are interacting. Instead there continues a fear of artificial intelligence, based on Hollywood dramas and extreme examples such as Sophia. As mentioned above, 50% of people who interact with AI don’t realize they are interacting.

Unfortunately, people are afraid of AI. 70% of respondents, in fact. The extreme examples are a bit of media circus, but artificial intelligence is making lives better, more efficient, and easier every time we interact without knowing.