Artificial intelligence: It's not just talking about
robots and supercomputers that have feelings. Don't think
you'll be using any AI in your business? Too late-it's already
everywhere: in your copy machines, in elevators and in your
modem and cell phone, just to scratch the surface. "(AI) is
embedded in all kinds of things," says Kevin Dowd, president
of natural language processing pioneer Brainhat. "It's
changing the way you do business by virtue of the fact that
it's part of the infrastructure around you." You probably
don't notice it, though, because the term "AI" tends to
disappear as the technology works its way into practical
applications.
We've seen AI technology pop up in big companies with
automated online assistants or through phone calls where you
talk to a machine to navigate the menu. But some of the more
noticeable AI applications, such as natural language and
robotics, will work their way into growing businesses soon. If
Dowd, 43, gets his way, we'll even be having deep
conversations with our toasters and office buildings in a few
years.
One of the best uses that could come out of all this is a
more natural computing interface. Goodbye mouse and keyboard;
"Hello, Computer." For Dowd's East Hartford, Connecticut,
company, intelligence is the key to improving what has been
pretty spotty AI language processing. "If you add intelligence
to speech, you have a better recognition rate because it helps
to guide the speech engine's understanding." Effective speech
technology could also lend itself to automated help-desk
functions for businesses that otherwise wouldn't, or couldn't
afford to, staff a call center.
Dowd also points to how AI could boost interactivity online
to the benefit of both customer and business. Brainhat is
involved in a project to make AI-enabled FAQs that can garner
feedback from users. Dowd sees varied applications becoming
reality over the next few years.
While there will be uses for AI across the technology board
in business, AI is also an intriguing area for start-ups. Dowd
cautiously predicts AI will become an entertainment vehicle
and is preparing Brainhat for when such a market materializes.
"It's a gamble," he says, but a visionary tech entrepreneur
could tackle other potential AI markets or build on a specific
AI project in an industry such as aerospace.
"[AI] is going to be a huge area," says Dowd. "People are
going to be all over it. It's a reasonable 'next big thing'
because the technologies to enable it seem to be coming
together."
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