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Artificial Intelligence Essay

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the science and art of developing machines that simulate human intelligence. AI is frequently used for routine tasks that would normally involve human skills, such as visual perception, speech-recognition, and decision making. To me, Apple's Siri application is a good example of commonly-used AI technology. AI is particularly useful in the medical field, as it has allowed for better monitoring of patients combined with a more efficient utilization of resources. One way that it has done so is by using AI to replace human beings in certain applications. For example, a very technical application of AI is in radiology and imaging, where computers can be used to read imaging reports, eliminating the risk of human error, and allowing diagnosis prior to when a human doctor could detect human abnormalities (AAAI, 2013). However, applications like that one could be accomplished through traditional programming that may or may not fall under the rubric of AI. Instead, for most people the concept of AI incorporates more than mirroring human intellect; it also seeks to replicate some of the emotional processes involved in human thought. It is in this replacement of emotion that may offer the most promising medical advances for artificial intelligence. One of the clinical settings where AI may be most useful is in the nursing home or assisted living environment (AAAI, 2013)....

For example, AI can be used for monitoring people, especially those with cognitive impairment, to provide them with as much independence as possible. For example, a simple application of AI includes tools that cut off kitchen appliances, irons, and other features that could be dangerous help facilitate independence, which can be critical even for people living in assisted living or skilled nursing environments. More complicated tools using AI monitor the health condition of seniors, alerting healthcare providers when vital signs indicate a need for intervention. These uses are well-established ways of using AI in the skilled nursing or assisted living environment.
However, one of the most critical components of care for the aging population is the maintenance of mental health. Furthermore, loneliness is a challenge that faces those who have moved away from their traditional homes and into skilled nursing or assisted living facilities. Oftentimes these moves occur after the death of a spouse and involve moving away from friends, family, and routine activities. In addition, depending on the availability of skilled are in certain communities, these moves may require people to become displaced from their communities. Families may have to make difficult decisions about the appropriate placement for family members, choosing facilities that are further away from family in order to…

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The use of AI toys to alleviate loneliness in nursing homes or skilled living facilities is something that has already seen some success. For some time, the use of therapy dogs to elevate patient mood has been an accepted course of treatment for many elderly patients. However, there are some challenges, such as allergies and hygiene concerns, which can prohibit the use of therapy dogs for some people. The use of electronic dogs has been shown to offer many of the same benefits as actual live therapy dogs for those people. In fact, according to William Banks, a professor of geriatric medicine at Saint Louis University, "The most surprising thing is they work almost equally well in terms of alleviating loneliness and causing residents to form attachments" (Saint Louis University, 2008). In other words, electronic dogs can be a substitute for actual canine companionship.

Moreover, the benefit of these electronic pets goes beyond mere companionship; they can be helpful in scenarios where patients are experiencing more than loneliness. For example, the use of an AI toy seal named Paro to help patients in a nursing facility who were suffering from dementia showed not only an alleviation of loneliness, but also a general calming effect. Some of the patients developed strong relationships with the pet, acting almost like surrogate parents or grandparents in their treatment of the pet. Most notably, the affection was not dependent upon the toy's interaction with them, but would linger even after the toy powered-off (Harmon, 2010). Furthermore, while critics suggest that the robots would be limiting in such an environment, the anecdotal evidence suggests that the robots actually stimulate human interaction (Harmon, 2010). Finally, the patients benefitted from the companionship despite knowing that the animal was not actually alive.

Therefore, the AI tool suggested for use in the skilled nursing context is a toy marketed towards children, which is called a Furby. Furbys are small toys that interact with the user. They can interact with direct contact, as well as having related computer applications that can change their behavior. They speak to the user, and become more active after the user interacts with them on a regular basis. They speak a language called "Furbish," but will speak English after more communication. Perhaps most significantly, much of their behavior emulates that of a human infant. For example,
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