The idea of Artificial Intelligence (AI) may bring to mind movies like Terminator, Wall-E, and Transcendence, but the reality of AI is expected to help people find answers to some significant issues. For example, a PwC survey found:1

• 68 percent of respondents believe AI will help with cyber security/privacy issues
• 66 percent believe AI will help improve treatments for cancer and other diseases
• 58 percent believe AI will help educate disadvantaged schoolchildren

By 2025, it’s likely AI will write a top 100 Billboard song, create a piece of art worth more than $100,000, or write a hit television series, according to the consumers surveyed.2

As AI develops, it is also likely to play a more pronounced role in our everyday lives. While experts in the field are optimistic about AI’s potential, some have warned of the need for oversight. For example:

“AI is hugely exciting. Its practical applications can help us to tackle important social problems, as well as easing many tasks in everyday life. And, it has advanced the sciences of mind and life in fundamental ways. But, it has limitations, which present grave dangers given uncritical use.”
–Professor Margaret Boden, Cognitive science researcher3

“Just as most chemists and biologists have no interest in building chemical or biological weapons, most AI researchers have no interest in building AI weapons – and do not want others to tarnish their field by doing so, potentially creating a major public backlash against AI that curtails its future societal benefits.”
–Autonomous Weapons: An Open Letter from AI & Robotics Researchers4

“In short, success in creating AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilization. But, it could also be the last unless we learn how to avoid the risks.  Alongside the benefits, AI will also bring dangers like powerful autonomous weapons or new ways for the few to oppress the many. It will bring great disruption to our economy. And, in the future, AI could develop a will of its own – a will that is in conflict with ours.”
–Professor Stephen Hawking, Theoretical physicist3

Whether you’re optimistic or pessimistic about AI and the role in achievements it may support, it’s important to understand the ways it may affect the world around us. The World Economic Forum has predicted AI will usher in a fourth industrial revolution, one with the potential to change the ways in which we live, work, and interact with each other.5

Eat Like Plato and Aristotle
In ancient Greece, mythology tells us, olive trees were a gift from the goddess Athena.6 Olive oil was a staple in the kitchen, but it was also burned for light, applied as a healing ointment, and used as a base for perfume.7 This recipe for Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is a variation on a classic.8

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Veggies*
1 large bunch broccoli (cut into florets)
1/2 red pepper, diced small
1 medium carrot, diced small
1 pound spaghetti
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/2 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and pepper
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Blanch and shock the broccoli, red pepper, and carrot.

Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling water (add a pinch of salt to the water before boiling), cook al dente, and drain in a colander.

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt. When garlic is golden, add broccoli, red pepper, and carrot, and stir until coated. Salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and toss.

*Use any vegetables you like.

What Do You Know About Greek Gods and Heroes?
You probably learned about Greek mythology in school. At its heart is a pantheon of gods, heroes, and creatures that populated tales and helped people explain the world around them. See what you remember by taking this quiz.

1. Who did Perseus save using the head of Medusa?9
a. Cybele
b. Andromeda
c. Eris
d. Nike

2. Who was known as the “God of Wealth” because he possessed the precious metals of the earth?10
a. Zeus
b. Poseidon
c. Hades
d. Hermes

3. What were the daughters of Zeus and the Titaness Mnemosyne called?11
a. The Fates
b. The Muses
c. The Amazons
d. The Argonauts

4. Who was known as the ‘Mother of All Monsters?’12
a. Echidna
b. Medusa
c. Arachne
d. Scylla

Trending Now in the United States
At the turn of the 20th century, most Americans lived in rural areas and traveled a couple hours by wagon to reach the nearest town with a railway station. The railroad could take you from New York to San Francisco in five to 10 days, which was a lot faster than walking alongside a Conestoga wagon for six months.13, 14

It’s fair to say times have changed. Each year, Mindshare North America publishes Culture Vulture, a report that identifies big changes – demographic shifts, sociological insights, and more – that may be shaping our country. So, what’s trending in 2017?15

The Boomaissance: Millennials have been gaining influence in recent years, changing culture and work in some significant ways, but Baby Boomers are still a force to be reckoned with. “…Boomers are taking on a ‘Middle-Age Millennial’ mindset, driving tech growth in many areas. Over the past several years, they’ve shown the sharpest increases in e-commerce activity, time spent in mobile apps, and social media penetration.”
21st Century Success: “We once viewed the American Dream as owning a home, a car, and nice clothing to keep up with the Joneses. However, over the years, this definition has changed drastically, becoming less about material goods and more about self-fulfillment.” Baby Boomers may be savvier about tech, but their definitions of success are being supplanted by those of younger generations.
Open Lives: Data mining is becoming more and more important to companies and marketing companies. “Social media has opened us up to the world. As technology continues to evolve, we’re both accepting and fearful of our openness to it…However, consumers are wary of technology and companies using their personal data, fearing leaks that can compromise their information.”

What trends do you believe will influence the United States in coming years? Identifying and understanding trends can help people find opportunities in their personal, professional, and investing lives.

Quiz Answers:
1. B – Andromeda
2. C – Hades
3. B – The Muses
4. A – Echidna

Sources:
1 http://www.pwc.com/cisai?WT.mc_id=CT3-PL300-DM1-TR1-LS1-ND30-BPA3-CN_SALT-Nov2016-Search&eq=SALTSearch&gclid=CPCr4t-MhtQCFU46gQodwnoLHA
2 http://www.pwcartificialintelligence.com/#amplifying-society (or go to https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/peakcontent/Peak+Documents/LN_3rd_Qtr_2017_Source-PwC_Survey-2025_AI_Accomplishments.pdf)
3 http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/the-best-or-worst-thing-to-happen-to-humanity-stephen-hawking-launches-centre-for-the-future-of
4 https://futureoflife.org/open-letter-autonomous-weapons/
5 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/the-fourth-industrial-revolution-what-it-means-and-how-to-respond/
6 http://www.greek-gods.info/greek-gods/poseidon/stories/poseidon-athena-contest/
7 http://archive.archaeology.org/online/interviews/agelarakis.html
8 http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/spaghetti-aglio-e-olio-recipe-2043225
9 https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/heroes/perseus/
10 https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/hades/
11 https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/
12 https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/creatures/
13 http://www.themontrealreview.com/2009/Imagine-living-through-the-progress.php
14 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/express-train-crosses-the-nation-in-83-hours
15 https://www.scribd.com/document/337627451/2017-Culture-Vulture-Trends-Report#from_embed
The above material was prepared by Peak Advisor Alliance. Peak Advisor Alliance is not affiliated with the named broker/dealer.

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