Artificial intelligence (AI) can help us solve some of our biggest problems, but it’s not without its risks. Some experts, including Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk, have warned that AI could quickly evolve from being a tool to take over human society. This concern is grounded in the fact that, like other powerful technologies, AI can be misused if not carefully monitored and incorporated into ethical considerations.

To prevent this, it’s important to understand how AI works and how it’s being used in business today. AI is the software that allows a computer to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. It’s similar to the way traditional computer programs work, but it uses a different approach that’s based on the principles of machine learning. Rather than hard-coded algorithms, machine learning algorithms are trained to find patterns in data sets and use these insights to make decisions.

Those systems are used in a wide range of applications, from the recommendation algorithms that suggest movies you might enjoy to chatbots on websites and smart speakers like Alexa or Siri. They can also help companies optimize their operations, streamline processes, cut down on redundant cognitive labor (such as accounting or editing), and even operate autonomous vehicles.

In healthcare settings, AI helps doctors and nurses analyze patient data and assist with diagnosis by identifying small anomalies in MRI scans, for example, or suggesting medication or tests that would improve a patient’s health. It can also help them keep track of medical records and insurance claims, as well as perform administrative tasks like scheduling appointments or researching new treatments for patients.

Generative AI has immense potential, but it’s likely most powerful in combination with humans. These systems can be taught to craft personalized marketing, social media, and technical sales content — as well as write, document, and review code for IT and engineering departments. They can also help speed up drug discovery by analyzing massive data sets and identifying chemical structures faster than human researchers can.

AI is being used in a wide variety of risky jobs, too, replacing humans in places where safety and health are a priority. They’re used in coal mines, exploring the deepest parts of the ocean, operating nuclear power plants, and guiding spacecraft. They’re also assisting with search and rescue missions after natural disasters and in places where there are high risks for disease, such as a coal plant or an airplane.

The Department of State leads international efforts to promote trustworthy AI, including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s AI Policy Observatory, an online platform where governments share their policy guidance and experiences with AI. It is committed to supporting the growth of the global AI economy through research and technology cooperation, setting fair rules of the road for economic competition, advocating for U.S. companies, and fostering foreign policy and export controls that advance U.S. capabilities in AI. The Department also works with other likeminded democracies to champion the OECD’s Recommendation on Trustworthy AI, which promotes inclusive growth, human-centered values, transparency, and accountability.