The five disciplines of artificial intelligence

As part of the 2024 PrepaTec National Meeting, the Tec’s Vice President for Digital Transformation Carles Abarca talked about the five disciplines of artificial intelligence (AI). 

He reviewed natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, machine learning, and neural networks, where artificial intelligence is present. 

“It’s a discipline that has been around for a long time; it’s a branch of information technology that aims to develop algorithms, systems, and techniques that enable machines to learn and process tasks that until now could only be done by humans." 

He added that artificial intelligence is present in activities such as voice recognition, decision-making, language translation, and complex problem-solving. 

The Tec’s Vice President for Digital Transformation listed the five disciplines of artificial intelligence (AI): 

1.-Natural Language Processing (NLP)

This is a branch of artificial intelligence that focuses on the interaction between computers and human language, enabling machines to read, interpret, and respond to linguistic information. 

“This discipline or division has developed significantly in the last five years. We all have voice recognition features on our cellphones; this is also artificial intelligence,” he said. 

Also known as natural language processing, it focuses on enabling machines to understand, interpret, and generate human language, and on the specific computational aspects related to natural languages. 

2.- Computer Vision

This discipline enables machines to interpret and make decisions based on images and videos, replicating human eye vision. 

“Machine or computer vision is perhaps something we are less familiar with, but industrial quality control processes and production lines rely heavily on artificial intelligence.  

“Cameras and artificial intelligence algorithms detect any defects in production.” 

Also known as machine vision or technical vision, it includes techniques for capturing, processing, analyzing and understanding images from the real world to produce numerical or symbolic data that can be interpreted by a machine, the executive said. 

“When we combine machine learning and neural networks, we get generative artificial intelligence.”

3.- Robotics

This category focuses on the design, construction and operation of robots that can interact and perform tasks in the real world. 

“Behind the robotics we are referring to is a very high concept of artificial intelligence for autonomous management.” 

In addition to artificial intelligence, robotics combines multiple disciplines such as computer science, control engineering, and physics. 

4.- Machine learning

According to Abarca, it’s a sub-area of artificial intelligence that enables machines to learn from data. 

Machines can identify patterns and make predictions or data-driven decisions without explicit programming through algorithms. 

“This discipline is about 15 years old and works alongside neural networks.  

“In the bank, when you ask for a loan, a person lets you know if it will be granted, but in reality, there are algorithms that determine the concession; these are machine learning systems,” said Carles Abarca. 

5.- Neural networks and generative artificial intelligence

These are computer models inspired by how neurons operate in the human brain. 

The executive explained that they are essential for deep learning, a sub-area of machine learning that specializes in processing large amounts of data and recognizing complex patterns. 

“It’s a very interesting phenomenon; if anyone is interested, there are some very good articles about the complexity of the human brain and what can be achieved with a computer. 

“When we combine machine learning and neural networks we get this incredible development, which is generative artificial intelligence,” he said. 

Artificial intelligence at the Tec 

Carles Abarca also reviewed how the institution uses artificial intelligence at Tec de Monterrey. 

“In January 2023, we made designing an artificial intelligence strategy a priority for the Tec and integrated this strategy into our multi-year program, Ruta Digital.”

He cited initiatives such as:

• TECgpt: An ecosystem of development framework tools around generative AI to create purpose-specific models that can be consumed directly or through exposure to other enablers under a secure, managed and accountable environment. 
• TECbot: The new customer service chatbot for students and staff will be able to use generative artificial intelligence models, dramatically improving the quality of service by generating coherent and fluid conversations. 
• TECgpt-portal: Collaboration platform between different Tec audiences that facilitates interaction through chats such as chatTEC and chatGPT. 

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