Currently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a basket term used for a number of automated and machine learning systems that may or may not be considered ‘intelligence.’
AI relies on a lot of data to generate predictive conclusions and prescriptive actions . If your company doesn’t already use an enterprise level data solution, hiring programmers or vendors to create learning and execution environments just doesn’t make sense.
When a vendor is talking about using AI, they are usually talking about Rule Based Automata, like Machine Learning and RPAs, that are systems, like cruise control or your car alarm, that are given a set of parameters (for instance: the speed at which you’re currently driving and doors being locked and closed, respectively) that trigger a pre-programmed action (i.e. speed up or slow down if the car is moving at a lower or greater speed or sound a public alarm if a door is opened or a window is smashed). Many Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies that say they are deploying AI are really providing plug-and-play Rule Based Automated solutions for repetitive, burdensome tasks.
For the purposes of most of our clients, Rule Based Automata (RPAs) are the only systems they would need. The development of new services in this field is booming, with hundreds of companies vying for market-share. The purpose of our consultancy is to steer business owners to the right service provider, or developer, for their needs.
Predictive Systems look at known data and then, based on new input, predict what a given interaction might yield. These are primarily at work for large retailers, banks and governments and are currently of little use to small and mid-size business.
Learning Systems are self-directed and are capable of making autonomous decisions for operations previously requiring human decision making.