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by cosmicradiance 674 days ago
It would have been better if the term used was Prediction Machine, rather than Artificial Intelligence.

One may argue, what's in the name? AI is a catchier term and covers the umbrella under which terms like - statistics & predictions, ML, NLP AGI, etc can be grouped.

* As an engineer it makes sense since the ultimate aim should be to reach AGI.

* As a salesperson it makes selling the technology easier.

* As for the rest of the world, the term has a varying meaning, one that is limited by only the individual's imagination.

  - My wife, who has a PhD in Biotechnology believes AI to be more like a sentient being.

  - My sales director feels AI should be able to act like a real salesperson, taking vague instructions, researching and churning presentations to hit the customer's heart. 
The author is right here - the term is misused and misunderstood by most folks, and we should expose the system for what it actually is rather than what it can be.