In Graubünden, future developers, doctors and avalanche experts, among others, are working on making the technology future-proof for the health system, our nature and society. But why do we need artificial intelligence at all?
While you only have to show a toddler three or four ibexes and name them for the child to recognise an ibex, a computer first has to look at thousands of ibex pictures to be able to identify it as things currently stand. However, the potential and future of the technology should not be underestimated. This is also the view of the ten or so research institutes that have set up shop in Davos. The Mindfire Foundation is also nestled in the idyllic natural surroundings of the “Science City”. With the opening of Lab42 in Davos, this organisation has set itself the goal of deciphering the mechanisms of human intelligence and creating artificial intelligence on a human level. Every year, talented young people and AI enthusiasts from all over the world can participate in its ARCathon. The goal of the Swiss AI competition is to develop algorithms that independently acquire rules and world knowledge in order to solve new types of problems.
Graubünden algorithms to protect nature and health
In medicine, Graubünden institutions are increasingly relying on the support of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is to handle the synchronisation between the helicopter pilot and the rescuer during mountain rescues. And at the renowned AO Research Institute Davos, artificial intelligence helps surgeons to accurately identify fractured vertebrae in X-ray images. Technology is to be seen as a helping hand and not as a substitute for years of human experience.
Artificial intelligence can also be used to warn of avalanches. The avalanche service now uses artificial intelligence to assess the geographical delineation of different danger levels even more accurately. The computer model used this winter is not yet suitable for all avalanche types. But the researchers are continuing their work: wet snow avalanche and snowpack stability models are now available based on the same machine learning approach. The first tests will follow next winter.
Ten years from now, artificial intelligence will be an integral part of our daily lives. We will take it for granted that cars will drive autonomously, household appliances will talk to us and digital assistants will make medical diagnoses. Until then, the people of Graubünden are researching, computing and testing further ways to integrate this technology into our society.
