A major focus of the recently concluded Mercedes-Benz “Future Talk” was on the integration of artificial intelligence in the field of mobility and the interaction of humans and machines. The Future Talk is a dialogue format successfully established by Mercedes-Benz in 2013.
By exchanging ideas with vanguards from various disciplines, the brand shares its visions and, as the inventor of the automobile, demonstrates its expertise in shaping a desirable, mobile future.
Anke Kleinschmit, Head of Daimler Group Research while speaking at a conference stated, “Artificial intelligence is a key future topic for Mercedes-Benz, in-car and beyond, such as in the fields of mobility services or in development and production.
The company research head noted that Artificial intelligence has ceased to be science fiction and the progress in autonomous driving is an impressive proof of this.
In addition to the technical development and data security, a basic prerequisite for the sustained success of artificial intelligence in all application cases is the acceptance by society and consumers. “Artificial intelligence will only be successful on a long-term basis if we succeed in building up trust between man and machine”, says futurologist Alexander Mankowsky.
“We must define the division of tasks between human and artificial intelligence.” A necessary prerequisite is also to be aware of what artificial intelligence is able to do and what it isn’t. Because ultimately it always needs human participation and is based on human development. But it can support to make and examine decisions and therefore reach optimal results in a shorter space of time. The philosophy of Mercedes-Benz is always to put human being at the center of all activities.
For Mirko Plath, MD/CEO, Weststar Associates Limited, sole authorized general distributors of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria, “With each step, we are inching closer to full functional autonomous driving.
To him, Nigeria would partake in the new initiative going by the large population and a bigger percentage of tech-savvy individuals who can contribute substantially to the application of artificial intelligence in the automobile industry.
We hold our customers with high esteem, that’s why we update our staff and technicians with regular trainings at our state-of-the-art training center to ensure we give the best services the Mercedes-Benz brand represents.” He concluded.
Already in the 1960s, researchers expected a major breakthrough in the development and application of artificial intelligence, but the human world still proved too complex for digital computers. However, due to the triumph of the internet, the mass of data that has become available with this and the huge increase in computing power of today’s computers, artificial intelligence is now entering people’s lives and also offers big opportunities and potential for the future of the automobile.
MIKE OCHONMA
