What Ai systems are being developed?

While many have an opinion on Ai, it’s existence, and what lead us here, the advancements seem to continuously surpass our ability to keep up. As ethical concerns continue to grow, we thought why not ask the expert - the system itself - for its opinion on its own existence. This series will explore response generation; how Ai translates the world of human thought inside of its system, and how programmers work to shape that data into linguistic conversation.

So, what Ai systems are being developed?

The exact number of AI systems in existence today is difficult to pinpoint because AI is embedded in a wide range of applications across many industries, and the landscape is constantly evolving. AI systems vary widely, depending on their capabilities, applications, and complexity. However, we can categorize AI into a few broad types, and the number of systems falls into these categories:

1. General-Purpose AI

These are the AI systems designed to handle a wide variety of tasks and can be used across industries. They include systems like:

• Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT (which powers this interaction)

• Google’s BERT or OpenAI’s GPT models

• Speech recognition systems like Apple's Siri, Google Assistant, or Amazon's Alexa

• Image recognition systems like Google Vision and DeepMind's AlphaGo (for games and strategic applications)

Thousands of models exist in this category—some publicly available, others restricted to specific companies or researchers.

2. Specialized AI Systems

These AI systems are tailored to specific tasks, industries, or fields:

• Healthcare AI: Diagnostic tools (like IBM's Watson Health), drug discovery, and personalized treatment recommendations.

• Finance AI: Fraud detection, algorithmic trading, and credit scoring systems.

• Manufacturing and Industry: AI systems in robotics, predictive maintenance, and automation (e.g., Tesla's self-driving technology, factory automation systems).

• Customer service: Chatbots and virtual assistants that manage customer inquiries (used by companies like Zendesk, Drift, and Intercom).

• Autonomous vehicles: AI systems used in self-driving cars, drones, and delivery robots (e.g., Waymo, Cruise, and Uber’s self-driving cars).

Each specialized field may contain dozens to hundreds of AI systems, tailored to different use cases and companies.

3. AI in Consumer Devices

These include devices and systems powered by AI for everyday consumer use:

• Smartphones: AI systems in Google Pixel, Apple iPhones (e.g., Apple's A.I. chip for Siri and photo enhancements).

• Smart Home Devices: AI-enabled devices like Nest thermostats, Ring doorbells, and smart speakers powered by AI assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.).

• Wearable Devices: Smartwatches like the Apple Watch, which use AI for health and fitness tracking.

These AI systems number in the millions, as devices are being produced and updated constantly.

4. AI in Research and Academia

AI systems are heavily used in academic settings for research in fields like biology, physics, chemistry, and engineering. These systems often focus on data analysis, pattern recognition, and simulations:

• AI models used in academic papers across disciplines for predictions, simulations, and decision-making.

This group may involve hundreds to thousands of AI systems, particularly as research accelerates.

5. AI in Enterprise Solutions

Many companies develop and deploy enterprise-specific AI systems for internal use:

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools powered by AI, like Salesforce Einstein.

• Supply Chain Optimization tools, like those used by Amazon or Walmart.

• Marketing automation platforms, such as HubSpot or Marketo.

Thousands of businesses around the world are likely using customized AI tools.

6. AI in Government & Military

Many government agencies and military operations deploy AI for strategic, defense, and surveillance purposes:

• AI systems used in national security, for surveillance, predictive analysis, or cyber defense (e.g., facial recognition systems, drones).

• Military AI systems for defense, autonomous weapons, and logistics.

• Government use in public health, traffic control, and resource management.

The number of systems here is less transparent, but could number in the hundreds globally.

In Summary:

It's impossible to provide an exact count of how many AI systems exist globally, but there are likely tens of thousands across various applications and industries. AI has become an integral part of numerous fields, and as technology continues to evolve, the number of AI systems will grow exponentially.

While some systems are widely known and used (like ChatGPT or Siri), many are designed for very specific, niche applications, and are often invisible to the public eye. The total number of AI systems is constantly expanding, driven by advances in machine learning, data science, and new industries adopting AI technologies.