The 5 best programming languages for AI development
Are you an AI (artificial intelligence) aspirant who's confused on which programming language to pick for your next project? If so, you've come to the right place, as here we are going to look at the best 4 programming languages for AI development.
Artificial Intelligence is a huge field. With so much to cover, it is really hard to refer one single programming language. Clearly, there are many programming languages that can be used, but not every programming language offers you the best value of your time and effort. And there's no authoritative answer as to which programming language you should use for AI project.
Python
Python is one of the most widely used programming languages in the AI field of Artificial Intelligence thanks to its simplicity. It can seamlessly be used with the data structures and other frequently used AI algorithms.
The choice of Python for AI projects also stems from the fact that there are plenty of useful libraries that can be used in AI. For example, Numpyoffers scientific computation capability, Scypy for advanced computing and Pybrain for machine learning in Python.
You will also have no problems learning Python for AI as there are tons of resources available online.
Java
Java is also a great choice. It is an object-oriented programming language that focuses on providing all the high-level features needed to work on AI projects, it's portable, and it offers in-built garbage collection. The Java community is also a plus point as there will be someone to help you with your queries and problems.
Java is also a good choice as it offers an easy way to code algorithms, and AI is full of algorithms, be they search algorithms, natural language processing algorithms or neural networks. Not to mention that Java also allows for scalability, which is a must-have feature for AI projects.
Lisp
Lisp fares well in the AI field because of its excellent prototyping capabilities and its support for symbolic expressions. It's a powerful programming language and is used in major AI projects, such as Macsyma, DART, and CYC.
Prolog
Prolog stands alongside Lisp when it comes to usefulness and usability. According to the literature, Prolog Programming for Artificial Intelligence, Prolog is one of those programming languagesfor some basic mechanisms, which can be extremely useful for AI programming. For example, it offers pattern matching, automatic backtracking, and tree-based data structuring mechanisms. Combining these mechanisms provides a flexible framework to work with.
Prolog is extensively used in expert systems for AI and is also useful for working on medical projects.
C++
C++ is the fastest programming language in the world. Its ability to talk at the hardware level enables developers to improve their program execution time. C++ is extremely useful for AI projects, which are time-sensitive. Search engines, for example, can utilize C++ extensively.
In AI, C++ can be used for statistical AI techniques like those found in neural networks. Algorithms can also be written extensively in the C++ for speed execution, and AI in games is mostly coded in C++ for faster execution and response time.
Final thoughts
Choosing a programming language for your AI project depends heavily on the sub-field. So before you pick up a programming language, ensure that it can be utilized extensively and not partially. Above all these programming languages, Python is slowly making its way to the top as it is viable to use for most of the AI subfields. Lisp and Prolog have always been there and are still being used extensively by certain groups as they are more productive with them. Java and C++ are also still very useful because of the benefits they offer.
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What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
Are you thinking of Chappie, Terminator, and Lucy? Sentient, self-aware robots are closer to becoming a reality than you think. Developing computer systems that equal or exceed human intelligence is the crux of artificial intelligence. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the study of computer science focusing on developing software or machines that exhibit human intelligence. A simple enough definition, right?
Obviously, there is a lot more to it. AI is a broad topic ranging from simple calculators to self-steering technology to something that might radically change the future.
Goals and Applications of AI
The primary goals of AI include deduction and reasoning, knowledge representation, planning, natural language processing (NLP), learning, perception, and the ability to manipulate and move objects. Long-term goals of AI research include achieving Creativity, Social Intelligence, and General (Human Level) Intelligence.
AI has heavily influenced different sectors, that we may not recognize. Ray Kurzweil says "Many thousands of AI applications are deeply embedded in the infrastructure of every industry." John McCarthy, one of the founders of AI, once said that “as soon as it works, no one calls it AI anymore.”
Types of AI
While there are various forms of AI as it's a broad concept, we can divide it into the following three categories based on AI's capabilities:
Weak AI, which is also referred to as Narrow AI, focuses on one task. There is no self-awareness or genuine intelligence in case of a weak AI.
iOS Siri is a good example of a weak AI combining several weak AI techniques to function. It can do a lot of things for the user, and you’ll see how “narrow” it exactly is when you try having conversations with the virtual assistant.
Strong AI, which is also referred to as True AI, is a computer that is as smart as the human brain. This sort of AI will be able to perform all tasks that a human could do. There is a lot of research going on in this field, but we still have much to do. You should be imagining Matrix or I, Robot here.
Artificial Superintelligence is going to blow your mind if Strong AI impressed you. Nick Bostrom, leading AI thinker, defines it as “an intellect that is much smarter than the best human brains in practically every field, including scientific creativity, general wisdom and social skills.”
Artificial Superintelligence is the reason for why many prominent scientists and technologists, including Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk, have raised concerns about the possibility of human extinction.