Reflections on the latest AI, Machine Learning Startups.
There is a lot of talk about AI (Artificial Intelligence), Machine Learning and Bots, and what has it got to do with companies, silicon valley and the future of work? Well, let’s separate the hype from fact.
AI is a Artificial Intelligence (AI) is usually defined as the science of making computers do things that require intelligence when done by humans. AI has had some success in limited, or simplified, domains.Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that provides computers with the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed. Machine learning focuses on the development of computer programs that can change when exposed to new data.A bot, or chatbot short for chat robot, a computer program that simulates human conversation, or chat, through artificial intelligence.
Bots and machines are getting smarter and smarter every day, and soon these machines can automate fairly boring and repetitive tasks. As bots get smarter, the tasks can become increasingly more difficult and the bots will ‘learn’ to do harder and more complex work.
A good example of this is letter sorting in the post office. For many years, letters were sorted by hand, but soon computers were used to ‘read’ the writing on letters, making it thousands of times faster to process mail. There are similar innovations that we take for granted today.
If you’ve every used Siri or Google Voice on your phone, then that is the result of millions of hours of programming allowing a computer to understand human speech and giving you back a smart answer (most of the time)Have you ever wondered how Amazon can ‘predict’ what you want to buy when you go shopping online? They are using a complicated AI recommendation engineHave you had your card blocked when you go aboard? Visa and MasterCard use AI to recognize patterns out of the ordinary, and try to detect when there is a break in the normal pattern.
Companies should be embracing these new technologies as they can be used to augment our work and make it better and faster.
Blippar. Blippar is an app that allows the phone to ‘see’ the world around it and tag it. Used primarily by automotive brands, it is used by consumers to look at a picture of a car, and then the system recognizes the car, and gives the viewers a ‘look inside’ that particular brand. Blippar uses AI to recognize brands, images and even people. You can try it on www.blippar.comwww.X.ai
Meet Amy, your digital assistant. Amy works in the background of your email, helping you to schedule calendar meetings, without the back and for that usually happens. How amy works is that you cc Amy (amy@x.ai) and she will work with whoever you are trying to set up a meeting with to find the right time for both attendees. Great service and it’s free!Amazon Alexa http://alexa.amazon.com Amazon was in force in Collision, integrating into many apps and platforms. One of the more interesting ones was their integration with Ecobee, a smart home thermostat. No need to press any buttons, just ask “Alexa, turn the heat on”