Joe Ayling: Not put out by machine learning

Artificial intelligence poses both a threat and an opportunity to us all.

In years to come, for example, might this magazine be generated by computer software able to decipher press releases and import relevant images and graphics from the web?

Transcription tools are now readily available, but hopefully GDPR will hold up any threat of interview robots automatically programmed to speed-dial high street practices for reaction to breaking news stories.

Even this very article might be susceptible to algorithms scanning through back issues and page clicks from Optician Online. But then where’s the fun in that?

At some point, the involvement of actual people remains essential and the optical profession has an even greater need for human intervention – as explored by this week’s In Focus.