Should you introduce AI into your workplace?

I’m sure we’ve all heard of the phrase “robots are taking over the world” at one point or another in our lifetime and though that sentiment may be a bit dramatic in some ways it is actually true. However, there is no need to fear because AI is meant to make a positive impact in our lives. AI is short for artificial intelligence, and it is the simulation of human intelligence by machines. In recent decades it has only increased in popularity all over the world. Some of the common AI software that you may already be familiar with include Cortana, IBM Watson, Amazon Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant just to name a few. Although, we’re more prone to seeing persons use their electronic personal assistant on their phones and other smart devices, that is simply just one of the few kinds of AI that exists.

There are actually four kinds of AI. Reactive AI is one of them, which, as the name states, reacts specifically to what is has been given and cannot perform any tasks other than what they were specifically designed for. Limited Memory AI is a bit more advanced and is much more common to use. This type uses past data along with pre-programmed information to make predictions and perform more complex tasks. Then there’s Theory of Mind AI that, even though it has not been perfected as yet, is so advanced that it is able to detect, understand and remember emotions and behave based on those emotions as it interacts with others. The final type is the most advanced and human-like AI yet, this is the Self-aware AI which is capable of understanding internal emotions of others and has a level of consciousness about the world around them.

Now that you have an idea of what AI is, what can it really be used for in your average day to day workplace? Artificial Intelligence is a worldwide phenomenon that has only grown in market size since its inception in the 1950’s. It is a multi-billion dollar industry and for good reason. It shows great promise to industries such as retail, finance and banking, education, healthcare, energy and utilities and it goes without saying, technology. Many online stores may use it in the form of chatbots to answer frequently asked questions, most commercial factories use AI in the form of high-tech machines in order to make large quantities of products, even as simple as telling Alexa to turn on the lights when you get home or asking Siri to find a homemade cookie recipe is a form of AI that many persons globally have incorporated into their lifestyle. In the coming decade, this unique market is expected to show very strong growth with leaders such as IBM Corporation, Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.), Amazon and Apple.

Just like everything in the tech world, it is important to remember that artificial intelligence does have its ups and downs. In a world that is constantly changing and advancing, some of the pros of AI include making fewer mistakes, they are able to run pretty much non-stop, they are able to analyze large amounts of data incredibly fast and as mentioned earlier, they can be used in a wide variety of industries. As great as these are, there are also the downsides which include the tendency to lack creativity, there can be ethical issues when it comes to decision making and unfortunately for real humans, they do in fact reduce employment in some industries.

All in all AI can be efficient and effective both in the home and office, with small businesses and large businesses. It helps us to perform big tasks and little tasks and is ultimately meant to make our lives easier in one way or another. With that said, how are you making AI apart of your lifestyle and do you think that your workplace can benefit from it?