Gartner forecasts that Global Artificial Intelligence Business Value will reach $3.9 trillion in 2022. As AI’s (Artificial Intelligence) ability to perform human tasks advances, it will only continue to make manual processes easier such as executing financial trades at high speeds and volume, detecting fraudulent activities via machine learning algorithms, providing real-time analytics while making time-sensitive decisions, and more. Overall AI will enhance human capability and deliver improved outcomes.
We are at the crossroads of ‘Smart’ Revolution with Smart Health Grids, Smart Homes, and Autonomous Cars. AI has engulfed the way we make everything ‘Smart’ and the Internet of Things (IoT) is connecting people and devices for collaborative knowledge exchange in a digital ecosystem. From facial recognition to conversational bots, AI is assisting humans in the better use of resources.
Utilizing machines embedded with human intelligence is fueling industry-wide digital transformation. It is not only automating processes but is pushing the boundaries between machines and humans.
Machine (Intelligence) + Human (Intelligence) = Collaborative (Intelligence)
One of the questions I'm frequently asked is along these lines: “Will smart machines replace human acts, and will it soon take over jobs?”
In my opinion, AI is paving the path to intelligent business ecosystems, where Collaborative Intelligence (CQ) presents the means to share, develop, and manage the power found in networks of people and machines. AI is increasing the diffusion of ‘Smart’ technologies, amplifying the human-machine relationship to establish a foundation for the next generation of problem-solving ecosystems.
Taking advantage of ‘humans’ to build relationships with ‘empathy,’ and machine learning algorithms to help automate processes while instilling a sense of human-like knowledge and contextual understanding will redefine the way we work and the environment we work in. Effective Human-Machine collaborations could boost productivity. It is almost as if you have given your workforce superpowers, enabling them to juggle multiple tasks at the same time.
Convergence of smart technologies and networked human groups and their knowledge is not a new concept. Let's take a look at Chess; this was one of the first areas that was taken over and subsequently dominated by machines. When Garry Kasparov, former world chess champion, lost to the IBM Computer ‘Deep Blue’ in 1997 there was little confidence that we could contribute something significant to the world of chess ever again. But the advent of ‘freestyle chess’ tournaments demonstrated how humans could add to the game, i.e., two chess amateurs using smart computers to defeat each other.
Embracing Future-Forward Solutions to Ride the Current Wave of Digital Transformation
Ushering in new, innovative ways of doing business, AI is empowering humans to perform more efficiently, generating new business channels, and is redefining the rules of how companies operate.
Now, let us look at the impact of Human + AI in the healthcare industry. A doctor’s understanding of a patient’s condition and recovery is irreplaceable, but AI algorithms can definitely enhance it. A study by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Harvard Medical School, showed the result of using Deep Learning Algorithms for identifying Metastatic Breast Cancer, interpreting pathology images. Where independently the algorithm achieved an accuracy of 92.5% and pathologists achieved 97%, when combined together, gave a detection rate of approximately 99.5%.
Another area that collaborative intelligence plays an active role is in diagnosis. A PWC report estimates that over 80% of the health data is unstructured, making it invisible to current systems. Technology is assisting in collating, processing and analyzing this massive amount of health-related data. By embedding data-driven insights into algorithms, we can apply context-rich problem-solving strategies. For example: Oncologists reinforced with machine learning algorithms can use patient information such as age, genetics, stage of cancer and associated medical problems to determine the most fitting combination of treatment and chemotherapy drugs to be prescribed.
This collaboration between humans and machines not only plays a vital role in healthcare but also in various other fields. Here are few other areas where AI is addressing challenges and making a meaningful impact:
- Smart assistants: Using hands-free voice commands, we could enable users to stay up-to-date with happenings in their immediate environment and thereby enhance customer experience. An example could be combining AI algorithms with conversational assistants to build AI-infused cruises for enhancing ship intimacy, enabling guests to stay connected with the right information in the right place.
- Introduce New User Interfaces (UI): Going beyond desktops/mobile touch-screen devices, AI will offer us from a reactive view of data to the predictive provision of insights. This, in turn, will produce more human-like interactions, providing exciting new ways to engage with employees and customers. Voice interface will soon cease to be a nice to have enhancement but will become a key platform for engagement, replacing traditional interfaces.
The best approach for adoption of artificial intelligence in an enterprise is to view it more holistically rather than merely viewing it as machines and humans working independently. As we find ourselves staring down the barrel of a workplace that looks entirely different from the one we are used to, I believe that the current wave of AI will help us thrive in the face of disruption. Humans and machines can complement each other by taking advantage of intelligent machines, continuously improving processes, and accomplishing higher value activities that computers alone can’t resolve.
If you are looking forward to leveraging AI and collaboratively enhance your workforce or business processes with the goal to maximize efficiency while simultaneously cutting costs, we have got you covered.
I would love to hear your thoughts, please drop me a line here or on LinkedIn/Twitter.
