BEAT" PROVIDED BY IBEW LOCAL 1022, LOCAL 102, LIGHTING THE PATH, LEADING THE WAY.

VISIT IBEW102.ORG.

AND FOR MORE THAN 110 YEARS, NJBIA HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THE ADVANCEMENT AND SUCCESS OF OUR MEMBERS.

WE'RE THE VOICE REPRESENTING ALL INDUSTRIES, WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP BUILD A MORE PROSPEROUS NEW JERSEY THROUGH ADVOCACY, SUPPORT, NETWORKING AND BENEFITS.

>>> THIS WEEK ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT," PUSHING FOR A PROGRESSIVE ECONOMY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN LAYS OUT HIS ECONOMIC GOALS IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH.

>>> PLUS, BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO BRING CLEAN ENERGY TO NEW JERSEY.

I VISIT THE GROWING WIND PORT IN SOUTH JERSEY.

>>> AND -- >> IF AI COULD DRIVE A CAR, IT CAN DETECT A POLL LOP, WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> WE LOOK AT HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS POWERING NEW JERSEY AND HOW LAWMAKERS WILL TRY TO REGULATE IT AS THE TECHNOLOGY TAKES OFF.

THAT'S AHEAD ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

♪ ♪ >> Announcer: THIS IS "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN LAYING OUT HIS VISION FOR AMERICA THIS PAST WEEK, DELIVERING A STATE OF THE UNION IN WHICH HE -- A RECOVERING ECONOMY, POINT TO GO JOB GROWTH AND A LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE PUSHED BACK ON THAT POINTING TO INFLATION AND RECKLESS SPENDING.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SPOKE OF PROTECTING WORKERS' RIGHTS TO UNIONIZE AND OF KEEPING HEALTH CARE COSTS IN CHECK BY EXPANDING A PRICE CAP ON INSULIN.

AND TAXES WERE A TOPIC, TOO.

THE PRESIDENT CALLING FOR HIGHER TAXES FOR BILLIONAIRES, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE MET WITH RESISTANCE FROM THE REPUBLICAN LED HOUSE.

>> I THINK A LOT OF YOU AT HOME, A LOT OF YOU AT HOME AGREE WITH ME AND MANY PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW.

THE TAX SYSTEM IS NOT FAIR.

BUT NO BILLIONAIRE SHOULD BE PAYING A LOWER TAX RATE THAN A SCHOOLTEACHER OR FIREFIGHTER.

LET'S FINISH THE JOB AND CLOSE THE LOOPHOLES THAT ALLOW VERY WEALTHY TO AVOID PAYING THEIR TAXES.

INSTEAD OF CUTTING THE NUMBER OF AUDITS FOR WEALTHY TAXPAYERS I JUST SIGNED A LAW TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT BY $114 BILLION BY CRACKING DOWN ON WEALTHY TAX CHEATS.

UNDER MY PLANS AS LONG AS I'M PRESIDENT NOBODY EARNING LESS THAN $400,000 WILL PAY AN ADDITIONAL PENNY IN TAXES.

>> NEW JERSEY'S 127,000 TEMP WORKERS WILL SOON HAVE EXPANDED RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS.

AS GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY HAS SIGNED LEGISLATION KNOWN AS THE TEMPORARY WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS INTO LAW.

THE LAW PUTS NEW WAGE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR TEMPS AND BEEFS UP STATE OVERSIGHT OF THE STAFFING INDUSTRY.

THE LAW GUARANTEES THAT TEMP WORKERS EARN AT LEAST THE MINIMUM WAGE BY ELIMINATING MANY FEES TEMP AGENCIES DEDUCT FROM WORKERS' PAYCHECKS.

WORKERS ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR PAY RATE, SCHEDULES AND TYPE OF WORK THEY WILL BE DOING.

IT TOOK A WHILE FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS THIS BILL, WHICH ADVOCACY GROUPS LOBBIED HEAVILY FOR.

BUSINESS GROUPS INCLUDING THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION HAVE SAID THE WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS WILL DRIVE UP COSTS AND CREATE LOGISTICAL BURDENS.

THE LAW TAKES EFFECT 90 DAYS AFTER THE BILL'S SIGNING.

>>> THE STATE IS CONTINUING ITS EFFORTS TO PREPARE NEW JERSEYANS FOR CAREERS IN THE GROWING OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY.

THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAS OKAYED EXPANDING A PROGRAM OFFERING PAID RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS TO STUDENTS AT SELECT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN THE STATE.

THIS PAST WEEK I GOT A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT HOW THE OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY IS PROGRESSING IN THE STATE.

I TRAVELED TO LOWER ALWAYS CREEK IN SALEM COUNTY TO VISIT THE NEW JERSEY WIND PORT.

ADJACENT TO PSCG'S NUCLEAR FACILITY IN SALEM COUNTY CRANES RISE HIGH ABOVE THE DIRT AS CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE NEW JERSEY WIND PORT IS IN FULL SWING.

STATE OFFICIALS LIKE THE NJEDA'S TIM SULLIVAN SAY THE WIND PORT WILL BE A GAME CHANGER FOR NEW JERSEY, SUPPORTING LOCAL WIND PROJECTS AS WELL AS THOSE THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN SEABOARD.

>> OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES AND WIND MILLS WHEN THEY ARE FLOATED OUT TO SEA DON'T FLOAT OUT LIKE THIS, THEY FLOAT OUT LIKE THIS, AND THESE THINGS ARE TALLER THAN THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

SO IF YOU ARE ANYWHERE INSIDE BRIDGE CONSTRAINTS YOU CANNOT DO IT.

THERE'S NOT A TON OF PLACES WHERE YOU CAN FIND 200 ACRES WITH OPEN OCEAN ACCESS OUTSIDE OF BRIDGE CONSTRAINTS ANYWHERE IN THE NORTHEAST.

>> THE WIND PORT SITS ON A MASSIVE 220 ACRES AND IS DIVIDED INTO SEVERAL PARCELS.

TWO AREAS WILL BE USED FOR MARSHALING OR ASSEMBLING WIND TUR TURBINES, THREE OTHER AREAS WILL BE USED FOR COMPONENT MANUFACTURING.

WE SPENT TIME WITH SOME OF THE WORKERS TO GET A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT HOW THE WIND PORT IS BEING PREPPED FOR THE OFFSHORE WIND COMPANIES, WHICH HAVE LEASED LAND HERE.

UNION CREWS FROM NEW JERSEY ARE MOVING PILES THAT WILL BE USED TO BUILD A REINFORCED LOADING DOCK AND WORKERS HAVE BUILT UP AREAS OF THE WIND PORT WITH SAND AND OTHER MATERIAL SO THE MAR MARSHALING AREA IS STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE HEAVYWEIGHT FROM THE TURBINES.

>> HOW BIG IS THE CREW THAT'S WORKING HERE NOW?

>> I BELIEVE THERE'S LIKE 60 OF US OUT HERE, ALL DIFFERENT TRADES.

WE HAVE DOCK BUILDERS, UNION LABORERS, CARPENTERS, OPERATORS.

>> SO THIS PARCEL IS ABOUT 40% COMPLETE, WE HAD THE GROUNDBREAKING IN SEPTEMBER 2021.

WE ARE ON TRACK TO COMPLETE THIS PARCEL BY APRIL 2024.

SO FROM APRIL 2024 YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE VESSELS DOCKING AT THIS PARCEL, COMPONENTS COMING IN, COMPONENTS GOING OUT.

>> YOU ARE LOOKING AT PARCEL A WHICH IS WHERE THE WORK IS UNDER WAY, IT'S BEEN LEASED BY ORSTED, JUST NORTH OF PARCEL A IS PARCEL B-1, RECENTLY LEASED BY ATLANTIC SHORES WHICH WILL USE THIS AREA TO BUILD TURBINES FOR ITS PROPOSED WIND FARM.

WORK HERE IS EXPECTED TO GET UNDER WAY LATER NEXT YEAR.

>> THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE NEW JERSEY WIND PORT WILL CREATE SEVERAL HUNDRED CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND 1,500 PERMANENT JOBS AS ADDITIONAL COMPANIES LEASE SPACE AT THE PORT.

>> EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN IS BEING KIND OF MADE IN NEW JERSEY FOR THIS PROJECT.

EQUALLY WE ARE COMMITTED TO GETTING AS MANY JOBS LOCAL AS POSSIBLE.

WE WANT AS MUCH OF THE DOLLARS ON THIS PROJECT, AS MUCH OF THE BENEFIT OF THIS PROJECT TO STICK LOCALLY.

>> THE STATE HAS BUDGETED NEARLY $500 MILLION TO THE INITIAL PHASE OF THE WIND PORT PROJECT.

TO HELP COVER THE COSTS, NEW JERSEY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER RECENTLY ISSUED $160 MILLION IN GREEN BONDS, THAT'S DEBT USED TO FINANCE ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY PROJECTS.

PHASE TWO OF THE WIND PORT PROJECT COULD COST ANOTHER $500 MILLION AND WON'T BE COMPLETED FOR ANOTHER FOUR TO FIVE YEARS.

>>> GET READY TO PAY MORE FOR YOUR ELECTRICITY BUT NOT UNTIL JUNE.

THE STATE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES HAS APPROVED THE RESULTS OF THE STATE'S ANNUAL ELECTRICITY AUCTION WHICH DETERMINES IN PART THE COST OF ELECTRICITY FOR MOST NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND MANY BUSINESSES.

STARTING ON JUNE 1st YOUR AVERAGE MONTHLY BILL WILL INCREASE FROM 3.3% TO 6.9% DEPENDING ON YOUR UTILITY PROVIDER.

FOR PSE&G CUSTOMERS THE INCREASE IS 3.3%, FOR JCP&L CUSTOMERS BILLS ARE GOING UP BY 4.8%.

>>> THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEY FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THEIR WATER BILLS, BUT THEY ARE UNAWARE THEY CAN GET HELP.

RECENTLY THE PASSAIC VALLEY WATER COMMISSION BEGAN SHUTTING OFF WATER SUPPLY TO COME CUSTOMERS FOR NONPAYMENT OF OVERDUE BILLS.

LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT A PROGRAM CALLED THE LOW INCOME HOME WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR LIHWAP WHICH HAS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST FAMILIES.

OF THE ESTIMATED 144,000 FAMILIES WITH OVERDUE BILLS, ONLY 12,000 HAVE APPLIED.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ADMINISTERS THE PROGRAM AND SAYS IT PLANS TO LAUNCH A NEW MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS.

>> THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME BARRIERS IN THIS WHOLE THING RUNNING SMOOTHLY IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

HERE WE ARE NOW ALMOST A YEAR AFTER THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JERSEY FAMILIES THAT ARE BEHIND ON THEIR WATER AND SEWER BILLS.

THAT PUTS THEM AT RISK OF SHUTOFF IN MANY CASES.

>> THEY SHOULD CALL AND GET INTO CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE MORE PROACTIVE THEY CAN BE WE WILL ABSOLUTELY WORK WITH THEM.

WE CAN HELP THEM.

IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ON LIHWAP WE WILL ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AND WALK THEM THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

>>> THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY WE ARE PROFILING BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" AS WE MARK BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

WE'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO NIKA AND ALVIN CORE BET, THEY HAVE CREATED A BUSINESS OUT OF PROMOTING AND SELLING PRODUCTS CREATED BY BLACK AND BROWN ENTREPRENEURS.

THEY STARTED BY OFFERING A UNIQUE SUBSCRIPTION BOX AND NOW HAVE A STORE IN MOORESTOWN.

I TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR COMPANY CURE RATE NOIR.

>> WELCOME TO "NJ BUSINESS BEAT," GREAT TO HAVE YOU BOTH ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TELL ME HOW THE TWO OF YOU CAME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR YOUR BUSINESS WHERE YOU FEATURE PRODUCTS MADE BY BLACK AND BROWN ENTREPRENEURS.

>> ACTUALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC WE HAD A SUBSCRIPTION BOX SERVICE WHERE BASICALLY DIFFERENT BLACK AND BROWN OWNED BUSINESSES FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, FROM THERE PEOPLE WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN THE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE.

SO WE FIGURED MAYBE THIS MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN A STORE WHERE WE CAN DEBUT MORE AND GET MORE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, ENGAGING WITH PRODUCTS THAT THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY FAMILIAR WITH.

>> ALVIN, HOW DID THE WHOLE BUSINESS GO?

IT WAS AN IDEA, IT WAS LAUNCHED, NOW YOU ARE MOVING INTO A STORE.

TELL ME ABOUT HOW THE REVENUES LOOK AND WHAT YOUR FUTURE LOOKS LIKE.

>> WELL, OUR REVENUES LOOK GREAT, OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT.

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO DURING THAT PANDEMIC WAS BOLSTER A SUBSCRIPTION-BASED BOX BUSINESS.

STARTED FROM THE BLACK OWNED BUSINESS BOX.

OUTSIDE OF SOURCING BLACK BUSINESSES WE FOUND A NICHE WITHIN MULTI OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT PEOPLE WANT TO KIND OF JUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO KIND OF SHARE THEIR PRODUCTS.

SO WE GIVE THEM A RETAIL SPACE, GAVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO TELL THEIR STORY AND THEN WE AMPLIFY THAT STORY, SIMILAR TO HOW WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.

>> AND, NIKA, THE STORIES ARE IMPORTANT.

HOW DO THE VENDORS INTERACT WITH YOU?

DO THEY FIND YOU OR DO YOU SEEK THEM OUT?

>> SO WE DO HOST DIFFERENT EVENTS HERE, AND AT THOSE EVENTS WE COME IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE SOURCED OURSELVES OR REFERRED TO US, THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO JUST WALK IN THE MALL AND SAY, HEY, AVE PRODUCT, I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR ME AS WELL, AND THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO REFER.

SO IT COMES FROM ALL DIFFERENT ANGELS.

>> NIKA, TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF THE PRODUCTS IN PARTICULAR.

WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF PRODUCTS THAT YOU CURRENTLY SELL OR PROVIDE IN THE BOX?

>> WE ARE A -- REALLY MORE OF A GIFT SHOP.

WE HAVE THINGS FROM BEAUTY PRODUCTS, WE HAVE CANDLES, WE HAVE T-SHIRTS, WE HAVE BOOKS, WE HAVE EDIBLES, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND WE ALSO -- PEOPLE DO SEND US REQUESTS IF THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING OR THEY'VE SEEN SOMETHING THAT THEY DO LIKE.

WE DO SOURCE FROM DIFFERENT SMALL BUSINESSES TO ACTUALLY GET THAT ON THE SHELF AS WELL.

>> AND HAVE YOU FOUND THAT CUSTOMERS ARE REALLY SEEKING OUT A LOCAL EXPERIENCE?

THEY WANT TO SUPPORT BLACK AND BROWN ENTREPRENEURS AND PERHAPS WHEN THEY GO INTO ANY OTHER STORE IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHERE THOSE PRODUCTS HAVE COME FROM?

>> WE DO A LOT OF MARKETING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW SHOP LOCAL, WE'RE HERE, AND WE DO GET THAT LOCAL MARKET THAT DOES COME THROUGH BECAUSE THEY KNOW MAYBE THEIR FRIEND IS ON THE SHELF.

BUT WE DO ALSO FIND THAT WITH THE MARKETING WE GET PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT AREAS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WILL TRAVEL JUST FROM PHILLY TO NEW JERSEY JUST TO SHOP IN OUR SHOP BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SUPPORT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES OR BROWN-OWNED BUSINESSES.

>> IT WAS SO GREAT TO HEAR ABOUT THE BUSINESS, I'M SO HAPPY YOU JOINED ME, AND I WISH YOU THE BEST OF SUCCESS GOING FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>> THIS PAST WEEK THERE WERE A LOT OF HEADLINES ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

TWO OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN TECH, MICROSOFT AND GOOGLE, MAKING ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT NEW TOOLS USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND CLOSE TO HOME NJIT ANNOUNCED NEW GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN AI.

SO THIS WEEK WE'RE PUTTING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN FOCUS, FINDING OUT WHERE AND HOW IT'S BEING USED EVERY DAY HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

SO WHAT THE HECK IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ANYWAY?

AI IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUTER SYSTEMS THAT CAN PERFORM TASKS THAT TYPICALLY REQUIRE HUMAN INTELLIGENCE, SO THAT'S THINGS LIKE SPEECH RECOGNITION, VISUAL PERCEPTION OR DECISION-MAKING.

IT IS A LOT MORE PREVALENT THAN YOU MAY REALIZE.

THE GLOBAL MARKET SIZE OF AI IS $136.5 BILLION.

TODAY 35% OF COMPANIES REPORTED USING AI IN THEIR BUSINESSES AND ANOTHER 42% ARE EXPLORING AI, ACCORDING TO A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY IBM.

HERE ARE WHAT COMPANIES SAY ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF USING AI.

54% SAY AI CUTS COSTS.

50% USE AI TO TRAIN EMPLOYEES.

48% SAY IT ENHANCES CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.

30% SAY IT'S A TIME SAVER.

ONE IN FOUR COMPANIES USE AI TO ADDRESS THEIR LABOR SHORTAGES.

DESPITE INCREASED ADOPTION OF AI, A MAJORITY OF ORGANIZATIONS HAVE NOT TAKEN KEY STEPS TO ENSURE THEIR AI IS TRUSTWORTHY AND RESPONSIBLE.

74% HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION TO REDUCE UNINTENDED BIAS FROM AI, WHILE 68% OF ORGANIZATIONS AREN'T TRACKING PERFORMANCE VARIATIONS FROM ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

61% AREN'T MAKING SURE THEY CAN EXPLAIN DECISIONS MADE USING AI, AND 60% SAY THEY'RE NOT DEVELOPING ETHICS POLICIES COVERING AI.

AI IS MOST COMMONLY USED IN I.T., SECURITY, MARKETING AND DATA ANALYSIS.

>>> SOME NEW JERSEY LAWMAKERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE USE OF AI IN HIRING.

LEGISLATORS HAVE INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD REGULATE THE USE OF AUTOMATED EMPLOYMENT DECISION TOOLS DURING THE HIRING PROCESS TO ENSURE THERE IS NO GENDER, RACE OR OTHER DISCRIMINATION.

THE BILL ALSO REQUIRES EMPLOYERS TO TELL JOB CANDIDATES THAT AI IS BEING USED IN THE HIRING PROCESS.

COMPANIES WOULD BE FINED FOR VIOLATIONS.

ASSEMBLYWOMAN JEFFER IS ONE OF THE MAIN SPONSORS.

>> THIS ONE ARENA IS REALLY UNREGULATED AND WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO PUT SOME PARAMETERS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS AN EQUITABLE PROCESS AND THAT IT'S FAIR TO ALL APPLICANTS.

SOMETIMES IT COULD PERPETUATE THE SAME INEQUALITIES IN INDUSTRIES AND WORKPLACES THAT ALREADY EXIST.

IN ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD WITH THOSE IN INDUSTRY THEY DO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET OUT AHEAD OF IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND PUT SOME PARAMETERS IN PLACE.

WE KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT WE DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE THOSE FIRST STEPS NOW.

>> ACROSS NEW JERSEY AI IS INCREASINGLY BEING USED IN MEDICINE.

FOR EXAMPLE, NEW JERSEY DOCTORS ARE USING A COMPUTER-AIDED DEVICE POWERED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO HELP DETECT POLYPS DURING COLONOSCOPIES, THE DEVICE IS CALLED GI GENIUS AND DISTRIBUTED BY 34ED TRON NICK.

GASTROENTEROLOGIST DR. ANDREW BOXER SAYS IT'S CHANGED CANCER SCREENING.

>> A PROCESSOR WILL ALLOW THE CAMERA TO GET A VIDEO ON TO THE TV, THE MEDTRONIC'S GI GENIUS WILL FIT BETWEEN THIS AND IT'S AI TECHNOLOGY THAT'S ANALYZING THE PICTURE AS WE WATCH IT.

IF IT SEES WHAT WE THINK IS A CANCER OR POLL LOP IT WILL CIRCLE IT WITH A GREEN BOX.

IT'S LIKE HAVING A SECOND SET OF EYES THAT NEVER STOP WATCHING.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THE COMPUTER IS LOOKING FOR ADD INAPPROPRIATELY MAS, PRECANCEROUS POLYPS WITH ME.

THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN ASTOUNDING.

>> WE TALKED MORE ABOUT AI IN MEDICINE WITH THE HEAD OF CARDIOLOGY AT ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ALSO SEEING AI MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES, IN KEEPING THEM HEALTHY, IN SOLVING PROBLEMS THEY HAVE.

I'M WONDERING HOW AWARE PEOPLE ARE THAT AI IS IN USE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD.

>> YES, I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TIME WHERE WE FIRST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT INCREASING THE HUMAN CURIOSITY AND THE SENSE OF INQUIRY AND USING THE TOOLS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY AI TO AUGMENT OUR ABILITIES TO SEE MORE AND PROFOUNDLY BETTER THAN PREVIOUSLY WE CAN IS AN IMPORTANT DIRECTION BECAUSE AI IS NOT REPLACING THE PHYSICIANS, THE PHYSICIANS' TASKS, IT'S GOING TO MAKE THEM MORE INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE IN THEIR APPROACH TO FIND ANSWERS TO DISEASES.

IN THE DAYS WHERE PEOPLE ARE FACING BURNOUTS, WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF CHALLENGES ON HOW WE HANDLE LOADS OF INFORMATION AND THE DIRECTION WHICH I PERSONALLY BELIEVE AI SHOULD BE USED FOR ALL THE LOCAL BER TASKS WHICH ONE IS REALLY BOTHERED AND CONTINUOUSLY GETTING FATIGUED ABOUT.

AND MOVE TO MORE HIGH CALIBER AND PHYSICIAN AND PATIENT ENGAGEMENT, WHICH IS MORE NEEDED BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE, AGAIN, HUMANS.

SO CAN AI BE A WAY FOR MAKING MEDICINE MORE HUMAN CENTRIC?

THAT'S THE BIGGER QUESTION.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE MORE IMPORTANT PRESSING QUESTION AND NEED AT THIS TIME.

>> I'M SO HAPPY YOU BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE IT REALLY HITS HOME, A POINT WE HAVE REPORTED ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PANDEMIC WHEN PROVIDERS HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED AND HAVE BEEN OVERWORKED.

IS THERE ANYTHING RESISTANCE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD OR AMONG PATIENTS TO USE AI?

>> THE AI -- WORLD OF AI IS A BLACK BOX.

IT FINDS PATTERNS AND MAKES ALL THOSE INFORMATION AVAILABLE, SO IT CAN DO ALL THIS LOCAL BER ACTIVITY, BUT AS YET IT DOES NOT HAVE THE -- OF HUMAN MIND.

SO I CAN TELL YOU IT'S GOOD TO BE SKEPTICAL, PARTICULARLY IN MEDICINE, AND BE VERY CAREFUL TO USE AI FOR THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT IT CAN HELP US WITH, LOCAL BER ACTIVITIES, BUT BE CAUTIOUS TO USE IT PARTICULARLY FOR IMPORTANT DECISIONS.

I REALLY BELIEVE, HOWEVER, A PHYSICIAN WHO HAS THE ART OF BEING ABLE TO USE THE AI FOR THE RIGHT KIND OF STUFF AND FREE UP THE TIME FOR HIGHER, BETTER CALIBER ACTIVITIES, IS GOING TO BE THE ONE WHO IS GOING TO BE -- BE THE ONE AT THE FOREFRONT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> I REALLY APPRECIATE TALKING TO YOU TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS ALSO HELPING STUDENTS LEARN.

SEVERAL NEW JERSEY SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE USING AN AI-BASED SOFTWARE DEVELOPED BY A COMPANY CALLED CARNEGIE LEARNING TO HELP TEACH MATH.

WE SPOKE WITH THE COMPANY'S FOUNDER AND CHIEF SCIENTIST STEVE RITTER.

>> PART OF WHAT THE AI IS ABLE TO DO IS UNDERSTAND WHAT STUDENTS NEED AT A FINER GRAIN SIZE THAN TEACHER OR ADMINISTRATOR IS ABLE TO DO BECAUSE THE AI IS MONITORING THE STUDENTS' PROBLEM SOLVING STEP BY STEP ON A VERY CLOSE BASIS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING TO ADDRESS LEARNING LOSS IS DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN AREAS WHERE STUDENTS REALLY NEED TO BE RETAUGHT, WHERE THEY KIND OF MISSED THE PRIMARY INSTRUCTION AND THEY NEED SUBSTANTIAL INSTRUCTION, AND IF WE CAN DIAGNOSE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE STUDENT'S DIFFICULTY IS REALLY SORT OF A SMALL GAP THAT WE CAN ADDRESS RIGHT AWAY, WE CAN ACCELERATE THE STUDENT'S LEARNING.

>> SOME NEW JERSEY COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE USING AI IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY THE ART AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LABORATORY IS EXPERIMENTING WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE CREATIVE ENDEAVORS OF ART AND MUSIC.

I SPOKE WITH A COMPUTER SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT RU ABOUT WHAT AI CAN AND CANNOT DO IN THE ART WORLD.

>> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME WELCOME YOU TO THE PROGRAM.

IT IS GREAT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY, WE ARE SO EAGER TO HEAR ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AT THE ART AND AI LAB AT RUTGERS.

SO SHARE WITH US THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE LAB.

>> SURE.

FOR ALL MY CAREER I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN AI, BUT ALSO I HAVE A PASSION FOR ART FOR A LONG TIME AND I REALIZED THAT BASICALLY WE CANNOT ADVANCE AI AND REALLY REACH HUMAN INTELLIGENCE WITHOUT HAVING AI SOMEHOW UNDERSTAND ART OR GENERATE ART, BECOME CR CREATIVE, NOT ONLY VISUAL ART BUT ALSO MUSIC, LITERATURE, ALL KIND OF ARTS.

THESE ARE UNIQUE ELEMENTS TO HUMAN CREATIVITY AND FOR ANY MACHINE TO BECOME REALLY INTELLIGENT IT HAS TO HAVE THESE CAPABILITIES SOMEHOW.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT MUSIC FIRST BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON BEETHOVEN'S SYMPHONY.

EXPLAIN TO ME ABOUT THAT WORK.

>> A COUPLE YEARS AGO IN CELEBRATION OF THE BEETHOVEN 250th ANNIVERSARY DEUTSCH TELECOM IN BONN, GERMANY, APPROACHED ME TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT.

HOW CAN WE COMPLETE -- ACTUALLY NOT COMPLETE, ACTUALLY RECONSTRUCT BEETHOVEN'S SYMPHONY.

THAT'S AN AMAZING TASK, ESPECIALLY FOR ME, SOMEBODY THAT LOVES CLASSICAL MUSIC AND BEETHOVEN.

BECAUSE IT REALLY GAVE ME A CHANCE TO DIG DEEPER INTO HUMAN CREATIVITY, HOW THE GENIUS COMPOSES MUSIC.

>> SO AI CAN CREATE MUSIC, IT CAN CREATE PIECES OF WORK.

SO THERE'S A LEARNED CREATIVITY, BUT WHERE IS THE LINE BETWEEN THAT KIND OF CREATIVITY AND THE CREATIVITY OF A HUMAN THAT BRINGS PASSION AND PART OF THE HUMAN SOUL TO THE CREATIVE PROCESS?

>> AI DIDN'T GENERATE MUSIC BY ITSELF, IT WAS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE HUMAN ELEMENT OF THE COMPOSER AND MUSICIAN AND AI.

SO WE HAVE A MACHINE WHERE YOU CAN FEED IT -- AND IT SPITS OUT A SYMPHONY, IT DOESN'T WORK THIS WAY.

IT'S A COLLABORATION.

AI IS JUST A TOOL.

IT'S A CREATIVE TOOL, A TOOL THAT HAS SOME CREATIVITY, BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO REALLY WORK WITH THE HUMAN TO CREATE THAT AMAZING WORK, IT'S NOT THE AI.

>> RIGHT NOW DO YOU THINK THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS WITH AI IN CREATIVE ENDEAVORS OR WILL THERE BE A POINT THAT AI CAN ONLY GO SO FAR?

YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THE HUMAN HAS TO INTERACT, BUT DO YOU SEE AT THIS POINT ENDLESS POC POSSIBILITIES, OR NO.

>> THERE IS PUSH BACK BY MY ARTISTS WITH REGARD TO AI NOW.

THAT ALL HAS TO BE UNDERSTOOD.

WHAT AI CAN DO, WHAT ARTISTS CAN DO, HOW THEY CAN COLLABORATE TOGETHER AND THAT WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE SCENARIO.

AS I MENTIONED, AI DOESN'T CREATE ART, AI CAN CREATE SOME MELODIES, BUT THE ART IS BY A HUMAN WHO USES THIS TOOL.

THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE.

>> IT'S BEEN SO INTERESTING TO HEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE LAB AND WE REALLY ENJOYED THE TIME YOU SPENT WITH US.

SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS WEEK.

REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET ALERTED WHEN WE POST NEW EPISODES AND CLIPS.

>>> COMING UP NEXT WEEK, WE LOOK AT THE BUSINESS BEHIND YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION, INCLUDING NEW JERSEY'S EXPANSION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AND GREATER FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY FOR OUR STATE'S STRUGGLING UNIVERSITIES.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEKEND.

>> Announcer: FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" PROVIDED BY IBEW LOCAL 102, PROUDLY SERVING NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1900.

LOCAL 102, LIGHTING THE PATH, LEADING THE WAY.

VISIT EBEW 102.ORG.

>>> AND FOR MORE THAN 110 YEARS NJBIA HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THE ADVANCEMENT AND SUCCESS OF OUR MEMBERS.

WE'RE THE VOICE REPRESENTING ALL INDUSTRIES, WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP BUILD A MORE PROSPEROUS NEW JERSEY THROUGH ADVOCACY, SUPPORT, NETWORKING AND BENEFITS.

♪ ♪