How AI is Being Used in the Real World | AI Fundamentals Course | 1.4

You’ve probably heard the phrase “AI is everywhere” more times than you can count.  But what does that really mean?  Are we just talking about robots and sci-fi stuff, or is artificial intelligence actually impacting your everyday life? Spoiler alert:  it is, big time.

From helping doctors diagnose diseases faster, to making sure your Netflix suggestions are scarily accurate, AI is working behind the scenes across almost every industry, and it’s only getting started.

In this post, we’re going to take a guided tour through four major industries where AI is making waves:

• Healthcare, finance, transportation, & entertainment

By the end, you’ll be able to recognize how AI is already transforming the world around you and why it’s one of the most powerful technologies of our time.

AI in Healthcare

Let’s kick things off with an industry where AI can literally save lives:  healthcare.

1. Diagnosing Diseases More Accurately

AI is helping doctors detect diseases earlier & more accurately than ever before.

• Medical Imaging:  AI algorithms can scan X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans to detect abnormalities like tumors, fractures, or infections; often spotting things human eyes might miss.
  • Ex:  Google’s DeepMind developed an AI that can identify over 50 eye diseases from retina scans.
• Cancer Detection:  AI can analyze mammograms or biopsies & flag early signs of breast cancer or skin cancer.
  • Studies show that in some cases, AI outperforms radiologists in accuracy.

2. Predictive Analytics

Imagine knowing someone is at high risk of a heart attack before it happens.  AI can make that possible.

• Predictive models analyze patient history, genetics, lifestyle factors, and even wearable data to identify risks.
• Hospitals use these models to prevent complications, reduce readmissions, & deliver more proactive care.

3. Virtual Health Assistants & Chatbots

Healthcare AI isn’t just for doctors, it’s helping patients too.

1. Chatbots can answer basic medical questions, schedule appointments, or remind patients to take their meds.
2. Virtual assistants like Babylon Health or Ada use AI to offer symptom checks & medical advice.

They’re not replacing doctors, but they’re making healthcare more accessible & less overwhelming.

4. Drug Discovery & Development

Finding new medicines is expensive and time-consuming.  AI is flipping the script.

• AI can analyze massive datasets to predict which compounds might work against certain diseases.
• It’s also speeding up clinical trials by identifying suitable patient groups & potential side effects.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, AI helped researchers quickly model virus proteins & identify potential drug targets.  That’s game-changing.

AI in Finance

Let’s talk dollars & cents.  The finance world has embraced AI in a big way – and it’s reshaping how we bank, invest, and fight fraud.

1. Fraud Detection

AI is like a digital watchdog, keeping an eye out for suspicious behavior.

• Machine learning algorithms analyze millions of transactions in real time to spot patterns & detect fraud.
• If something looks off, like a huge withdrawal in a foreign country, AI can freeze the transaction & alert the user instantly.

No more waiting days to find out your credit card was compromised.

2. Personalized Banking

Banks are using AI to deliver smarter, more personalized services.

• Chatbots like Bank of America’s Erica or Capital One’s Eno can check your balance, track spending, and answer questions 24/7.
• AI-powered financial advisors (aka “robo-advisors”) like Betterment or Wealthfront help you invest based on your goals and risk tolerance – no human advisor required.

3. Credit Scoring & Loan Approvals

Traditionally, lenders use credit scores and income reports to decide who qualifies for a loan.  But that system can be unfair or incomplete.

• AI models can look at alternative data, like utility payments, education level, or even your online behavior to create a more accurate financial profile.
• This can help underbanked populations get access to credit.

4. Stock Market Predictions & Trading

Wall Street has gone high-tech.

• Hedge funds and investments firms use AI to analyze market data, news reports, and even social media sentiment to predict stock movements.
• Algorithmic trading bots can execute millions of trades in milliseconds, reacting faster than any human could.

Just don’t expect to beat them at their own game.

AI in Transportation

Transportation isn’t just about planes, trains, and automobiles anymore.  It’s about smart systems that move people and goods more efficiently, and AI is driving the shift.

1. Autonomous Vehicles (Self-Driving Cars)

This is the poster child of AI in transportation.

• Companies like Tesla, Waymo, and Cruise are using AI-powered sensors and cameras to navigate roads, avoid obstacles, & follow traffic laws.
• AI processes data from LIDAR, GPS, radar, and cameras in real time to make driving decisions.

We’re not at full autonomy yet, but we’re getting closer.  Many cars already include:

• Lane-keeping assistance
• Automatic braking
• Adaptive cruise control

2. Traffic Management & Smart Cities

Ever sat in traffic and thought, “There has to be a better way”?  AI agrees.

• Traffic lights and control systems in smart cities can adjust based on real-time traffic flow.
• Predictive analytics help city planners understand traffic patterns and optimize road designs or construction schedules.

Singapore, for example, uses AI to reduce traffic congestion & improve bus routing.

3. Public Transportation Optimization

AI helps buses, trains, & subway run more efficiently by:

• Predicting delays
• Managing fleet schedules
• Providing real-time updates to passengers

Apps like Transit or Moovit use AI to give commuters the fastest routes & alert them about service changes.

4. Logistics & Delivery

From Amazon packages to global supply chains, AI is streamlining delivery.

• AI-powered route optimization tools help drivers avoid traffic & reduce delivery times.
• Robotics & drones are being used in warehouses and even last-mile delivery.
• Companies like UPS, FedEx, and DHL use AI to manage logistics at scale, saving money & reducing emissions.

AI in Entertainment

Okay, now for the fun stuff.  You probably interact with AI in entertainment every single day – without even realizing it.

1. Personalized Recommendations

Let’s be honest:  how often do you scroll through Netflix, Spotify, or YouTube without even thinking?  That’s the magic of AI.

• Recommendation engines use AI to analyze your watch/listen history, likes, & behavior.
• Based on that data, they suggest what to play next and they get eerily good at it.

This isn’t just convenience, it keeps users engaged longer, which is gold for streaming platforms.

2. Content Creation & Curation

Yes, AI is getting creative too.

• AI tools like DALL-E, Midjourney, and Runway can generate art, music, & even video from text prompts.
• Platforms use AI to automatically tag, categorize, and edit content – saving creators tons of time.

In sports broadcasting, for example, AI can instantly identify highlight-worthy moments and generate clips in real time.

3. Video Games

AI has been part of gaming for years (hello, enemy NPCs), but now it’s leveling up.

• Procedural generation uses AI to create endless maps or challenges (think:  Minecraft or No Man’s Sky).
• Game AI can adapt to your playing style, making opponents smarter & gameplay more immersive.
• Tools like Unity ML-Agents let developers train AI to learn game strategies over time.

4. Deepfakes & Virtual Influencers

Welcome to the weird & wild side of entertainment.

• Deepfake technology uses AI to manipulate video and audio, creating realistic fake videos of people saying or doing things they never did.
• While this raises ethical concerns, it’s also used in film production for dubbing, stunt doubles, and historical recreations.
• Virtual influencers like Lil Miquela are AI-generated personas with millions of followers on Instagram.

They blur the line between real & digital celebrity.

Other Industries Using AI

Let’s not forget that AI is also reshaping:

1. Education

• Personalized learning tools like Khan Academy’s AI tutor
• AI chatbots for student support
• Grading automation & plagiarism detection

2. Agriculture

• AI drones monitor crop health
• Automated irrigation systems
• Predictive analytics for weather & yield forecasting

3. Manufacturing

• AI-powered robots on factory floors
• Predictive maintenance for equipment
• Quality control through computer vision

4. Retail

• AI chatbots & virtual shopping assistants
• Inventory management & demand forecasting
• Visual search (e.g., “Show me shoes that look like this”)

Challenges & Considerations

AI is powerful, but not perfect.  With great tech comes great responsibility.  Here are a few challenges we need to watch out for:

1. Privacy Concerns

AI relies on data – lots of it.  That raises questions about:

• How personal data is collected
• Who owns it
• How it’s being used (or misused)

2. Bias & Fairness

AI systems can inherit biases from the data they’re trained on.  This can lead to:

• Discriminatory loan decisions
• Inaccurate medical diagnoses
• Biased hiring algorithms

3. Job Displacement

AI is automating tasks that used to require human labor.  That’s efficient, but it also puts certain jobs at risk.  At the same time, it’s creating new roles in AI development, ethics, & data science.

AI is Not the Future – It’s the Present

From hospitals to Hollywood, AI is already woven into the fabric of modern life.  It’s not just a buzzword or a distant dream – it’s here, and it’s doing everything from fighting fraud to creating digital pop stars. The key takeaway?  AI isn’t replacing us – it’s transforming how we live, work, & create.

By understanding how AI is used across different industries, you’re not just becoming a better student of AI – you’re preparing to be part of its next big leap. And that’s what this AI Fundamentals course is all about:  not just understanding the technology, but recognizing its’ real-world impact.