An organization in Southwest Florida is launching an effort to make artificial intelligence more human-like. The aim is to show businesspeople and the general public how new technology can help.
Mary Gentile didn’t know much about AI when her company, LQ Commercial in Fort Myers, was using AI tools to investigate AI operations. LQ manages commercial and rental properties throughout the region.
AI discovered a software glitch that caused LQ to disappear from the website. That’s a huge loss of exposure.
“Then we realized that something had broken on the back end of the company and it was no longer showing up in search engines,” Gentile said. “It’s not Google or Safari. It’s like 20 years later, somehow we don’t exist.”
Gentile explained that AI quickly found a solution and LQ appeared on a widely used website.
He then became a big supporter of the joint research institute New Human Intelligence, the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Hub, she said. The Collaboratory is a nonprofit organization that brings together businesses and community leaders to address and solve local issues. Located in downtown Fort Myers.
And yes, there’s a reason humans are mentioned before machines in the new hub’s name.
“People do business with people,” said Abdul Muhammad II, vice president of the hub. “And no matter what technology it is, humans are always the ones driving it. So our goal is to really bring humans to the forefront.”
He said the joint research institute will host workshops to familiarize businessmen and the public with AI.
“We can empower you in a way that we have never had before,” said King Mohammed II. “And as long as we understand that unique intelligence, the human intelligence that allows us to actually be human without becoming an AI robot, there is value there.”
Some people who spoke with WGCU News in Fort Myers said, “It’s important to overcome fear of AI.”
“Will there ever be a place that is sophisticated enough to replace humans?” John Devine said of AI. “I think it’s possible. But I don’t think it’s possible in any creative endeavor.”
“We don’t want it to replace us, do we?” Hari Samyamantri said. “So we want to keep that emotional part with us. But we just need to use it as a tool, like an assistant.”
Property manager Mary Gentile said there is no turning back from AI.
“I’m really looking forward to it. There’s always the fear of what would happen if it fell into the wrong hands,” she said.
“We’ve seen it grow up, like people joke about things like ‘The Terminator’ and ‘I Robot’ and things you know. None of us want that! So it’s about how do we educate to eliminate that fear. At the heart of it all, it’s about helping people. So, again, it’s fear. We want to give people confidence.”
The joint research institutes hope that the innovation hub will help companies identify and address emerging needs in the region.
King Mohammed II said, “It really brightened my heart and gave me hope.” “You know we talk about nonprofits and service-based individuals and leaders talk about the different things that light them up. And what AI has done is really excited that and ignited a passion to make an impact and to have a bigger impact.”
The Innovation Hub will be holding a workshop and orientation in the Collaboratory on Friday, July 31st from 9am.
Here is the link to register for the event:
https://collaboratory.org/event/ai-fridays-introduction-to-the-swfl-hi-ai-innovation-hub-2/#rsvp-now
Collaboration is located at 2031 Jackson Street in Fort Myers.
Mike Walcher is a reporter for WGCU News. He also teaches journalism at Florida Gulf Coast University. WGCU is Southwest Florida’s trusted news and information source. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more important than ever. Keep public media strong donate now. thank you.
