HOW AI INNOVATIONS ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF CYCLING
Smartphones, computers, cars, smartwatches... Technology is part of our lives all the time! But how do all these devices get into our hands? Even better, how is it that we can now access artificial intelligence so easily? And of course, artificial intelligence is here to stay in our day-to-day as our ally and a good tool developed to help us.
As if it came out of fiction books, artificial intelligence (AI) surpassed people's imagination, and it required breakthroughs in fields such as mathematics, computer science, logic, and even neuroscience! You may be surprised to learn that artificial intelligence was first introduced around 1950, with the creation of the first search algorithms. Those early stages only allowed computers to solve certain mathematical problems and endowed them with the ability to play chess. Yes! These were the first instances of artificial intelligence, with which we can now talk in a completely natural way.
Now, AI, as we know it today, could not have reached its maximum development —at least for now— if it were not for advances in machine learning, as well as the development of hardware with more processing power and storage capacity. Not just in computers, we are talking about all the devices that have this technology integrated. Whether it is smartwatches or smart TVs, to cellphones that allow us to access information with voice recognition, these devices would not have reached us if it were not for a smaller and really powerful invention: the polyurethane roller.
That's right, polyurethane! This material, which is known for its versatility to be manufactured in different presentations, is the key piece for your phone with Siri or Google Assistant to have arrived at your hands. What is so important about it in technology? Well, it is key directly and indirectly in the manufacturing processes of the hardware we use.
One of its main uses is the fabrication of materials that protect and insulate parts of components in order to improve their service life. For example, by using polyurethane to coat printed circuit boards, they can be protected from dust accumulation, moisture, and even corrosion that could hinder proper operation. In addition, it is an excellent thermal insulator to protect sensitive circuits from high temperatures or overheating.
But it goes beyond that! Even before integrating a polyurethane coating into wires and connectors, all components arrive at the same place because this material is also used in the conveying and assembly areas. For example, there are polyurethane rollers, which are basic in conveyor belts, ensuring efficiency and protection of the most delicate components.
Similarly, silicon nitride balls play an essential role in AI hardware, specifically in high-precision ball bearings found in hard drives, servers, and robotic machinery. These ceramic balls reduce friction and ensure smooth operation and durability of crucial components, which are necessary for storing and processing the vast amounts of data AI requires.
The uses of both materials are varied, being employed in servers that enable the operation of AI, laboratories where intelligent learning algorithms are developed and tested, and devices responsible for storing the information used to train AI systems.
Surprising, isn't it? Often, the smallest, everyday details, to which we hardly pay attention, turn out to be key pieces in such revolutionary developments as artificial intelligence. These examples remind us that even the simplest elements can have a significant impact on technological progress.