ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AND ITS USES

 

Artificial Intelligence and its Uses

INTRODUCTION

Before we go into deep, let us see what Artificial Intelligence and its definition are.  Artificial Intelligence is the field of computer science which is focusing on creating machines to perform tasks requiring human intelligence, like learning, reasoning, solving problems, perception, and natural language processing.

 

In today’s context, Artificial Intelligence is being used in our day-to-day life in the healthcare system, Financial Sector, Retail market, Manufacturing Industries, Transportation, Education, Entertainment, Agriculture, Energy sector, Space, predicting climatic conditions, and other fields.

 

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE? – AI IN DETAIL

With the advancement of science and technology, field of Computer Science, viz. Artificial Intelligence, focuses on performing tasks requiring human intelligence through machines. For example, learning, reasoning, solutions to various problems, perception, and processing of various languages require human intelligence, which can be replaced with the help of Artificial Intelligence, shortly called AI. This system is having a design for data analysis, taking quick and correct decisions out of the experience, using machine-learning algorithms

 FOUR MAJOR TYPES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:

 

1.         Artificial Intelligence systems which use pre-programmed rules to give solutions to specific situations only and do not possess the capability of learning and storing capacity of past experiences are called Reactive Machines.  One best example of this type of AI Machine is a game-playing machine like “Deep Blue”, which defeated the Chess Grand Master Garry Kasparov in the year 1997 and the other one is AlphaGo, which played Board Games against Word Champion Lee Sedol and won the game.

 

2.         The second type of AI system is called Limited Memory Machines which makes use of past experiences and takes decisions.  However, they cannot learn from new experiences.  Self-Driving Cars can be cited as example of this model of AI System. These cars are operated by AI, using the data from earlier trips for navigation purposes with the help of Sensors.

 

3.         The third type of AI System is called the Theory of Mind Machines, which can realize the emotions, thoughts, and beliefs of humans and utilize these factors for making decisions. This AI system can predict the human mind and behavior with the help of understanding the power of human psychology.  Alexa of Amazon and, Siri of Apple can conceive natural language and give the output properly.

 

4.         The fourth major type of AI system is called Self-Aware Machines, which have the capacity of making self-awareness and can think about their own existence and also the presence of others. They follow the system of reflection, i.e., they reflect on their actions and follow their behavior based on reflection. This type of AI system is ranking on top of the science narratives and has yet to be fully realized.

AI is used in various fields, such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, transportation, entertainment, education system, Agriculture and energy sector.  Some of the common applications of AI include natural language processing, image and speech recognition, decision-making, and autonomous systems. The AI system represents various levels of complexity and abilities. 

Overall, these different types of AI systems represent different levels of complexity and abilities, and they are all designed to perform errands that would normally involve human intelligence.

USES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:

Artificial intelligence (AI) is put into use in many Industries and Sectors like Healthcare, Finance, Retail Market, Manufacturing industries, Transport Sector, the Education system, Entertainment, Agriculture, and Energy Sectors across the globe. 

Now let us explore the uses of AIs in the above-cited examples one by one:

1.         Healthcare:

Uses of AI in Healthcare Industry

·   Considering the capacity of AI, they are used for analyzing the data obtained through various medical reports to diagnose and to help in planning for treatment, thus providing the healthcare professionals to arrive at a proper decision. AI can also be used in drug discovery, personalized medicine, and research.

·    AI is used for the analysis of medical imaging such as X-Rays, MRI, and CT scans for observing disorders or anomalies which will help in diagnosis.  It is also used in Mammograms for the detection of Breast Cancers.

·     Medical and Healthcare professionals take the help of AIs for data reading of various Reports to enable them to decide the nature of the treatment.  Besides, they also help the Medicos in deciding the risk of the patient and arriving at the proper medication.

·       AIs are used for the invention of new Drugs and medicines using various inputs and formulae and develop personalized plans for treatment.  Further, AIs are used to analyze the data obtained through various clinical trials and identify the side effects of medicines on the patients and adverse effects, if any that may arise.

·       Chatbots and Virtual Assistants powered with AI are used to provide the necessary support to patients, clear their doubts through chats, give necessary clarifications and end up with fixing up an appointment with healthcare professionals.

·       In modern days, various surgeries are performed by Robots for obtaining précised results thereby nullifying the risk of complications.

·       Based on the genetics and past medical history of an individual patient, and also considering the lifestyle of a patient, AIs are used for sketching out a personalized treatment plan.

·       Anyone’s health issues can be monitored by using AI-based Apps for the prevention of further complications.

2.         Finance:

Application of AI in Financial Sector

·       AIs are used in the Financial Sector to detect transactions of fraudulent nature, Risk Management, and also to decide upon Investments that can have done them. Besides, AIs are also used in Credit Scoring and financial forecasting.

·       Chatbots and Virtual Assistants powered with AIs are being used for the provision of adequate customer support thereby enhancing the customer service of the financial institutions and also helping the grievances of the customers at the quickest possible time. This improves the efficiency of the institutions and brings out a high degree of customer satisfaction which ultimately results in the improvement of the business and creates a win-win situation.

·       Data analysis also paves way for arriving at and designing a personalized plan for the customers.

·       Financial institutions utilize the services of AIs to take proper decisions in the formation of investment strategies based on market trends. 

·       Depending upon the various Data obtained with the use of AIs, Financial institutions can analyze the various risk factors and accordingly arrive at a precise Credit score and expand their loan portfolio.  Based on the data, the institutions can also take adequate care in formulating strategies to mitigate the risks forecast by AI-powered data analyzers.

·       Trading automation with the application of AI gives tremendous results in Stock markets across the globe and reduces human emotions. Automation in Trading also will throw light on the proper investment opportunities and reduces the risk of loss-making.

·       AIs are used to predict the possible violations by financial institutions and other financial agencies thereby coming out of penalties for such violations, if happened, against the policies of the Regulatory Boards.

3.         Retail Market:

Uses of AI in Retail Market

·       AI is used in e-commerce business to bring out product recommendations and various offers to consumers, based on their taste, and shopping frequency depending upon their needs and also enhances the joy of customers’ shopping experience, thereby attracting many more new customers into their fold. This can be achieved by using AI-based applications, programs, purchase history, browsing history, etc.

·       AI-
based systems also enable the business organization to maintain proper supply chain and inventory management. This will also help the business organizations in maintaining optimum stocks based on the need and movement of products and avoid an accumulation of stale stocks and wastage.

·       AIs are used to collect data in the market and also within the business organization to analyze customer behavior and optimize the pricing of products at their retail outlets.

·       AI-powered data analysis also helps in rendering help business organizations in formulating new business ideas including promotions of products to the needs of the customers.

·       AIs are used in product design to meet the tastes and requirements of consumers based on customer feedback and preferences.  Products designed by AI-powered systems also ensure precision and are mostly of appealing nature. 

·       AIs are used to study the store layouts and also to placement of products to optimize visual merchandising, thereby enhancing the store aesthetics and giving utmost satisfaction to customers enabling a boost in sales.

4.         Manufacturing:

AI Applications used in Manufacturing Industry

·       AI-powered manufacturing system brings out proper and predictive maintenance, proper control over quality products, and optimization in the production process. Predictive maintenance avoids any unforeseen breakdown of machines/types of equipment and renders an uninterrupted production process.

·       The AI-based system draws maintenance schedules and throws alerts at appropriate intervals for adhering to the maintenance plan.  This also reduces maintenance costs and downtime.

·       In an ongoing manner, the quality of the products is maintained by AI-powered systems in the manufacturing sector thereby avoiding defective outputs.  This reduces the wastage of raw materials, stocks in process, and finished products. This also maintains the goodwill enjoyed by the industry in the overall market.

·       AI-powered manufacturing system helps in optimizing inventory control by predicting demand and supply.

·       AI-powered production planning envisages the demand for products and the industry can accordingly plan its production process to maintain availability at an optimum level.  This would enable cost savings for the industry and increase profitability.

·       AI-powered systems can optimize Robotics and plant automation by predicting machine performance, and robotic movement optimization, and get an enhanced production level ultimately resulting in a reduction of labor cost and dependency on the human workforce.  This also provides speedy production.

·       AI-powered system also helps in optimizing supply chain management by foreseeing the demand and supply data, identifying potential bottlenecks, and accordingly keeping a schedule with the available resources.

·       An analysis of data, feedback, and preferences given by the customers can be done by an AI-powered system and the manufacturer can adopt proper product designing methods to keep the end users happy, which may result in improved sales.

5.         Transportation:

Application of Artificial Intelligence in the Transport Industry

·       AI can be used in automatic vehicles and traffic management systems with adequate safety and efficiency.

·       AIs are used in Autonomous vehicle which is driven without human force.  Not only it provides precision driving but also reduces accidents that are otherwise caused by human error.

·       Regulation of traffic flow can be done with the help of AI-powered systems which analyze data from cameras, sensors, etc. and they predict traffic patterns for optimizing traffic signals which go a long way in reducing traffic jams, and facilitating a smooth, safe traffic flow.

·       AI can also be effectively used in the optimization of fleet management thereby ascertaining the needs of maintenance, bringing out optimized fuel consumption, and chalking out a plan for smooth and proper vehicular routes. Ultimately, this would boost efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

·       Usage of AI-powered Catboats and Virtual Assistants can be provided to commuters so that they get adequate customer support, and their queries and problems are addressed quickly and efficiently. This would go a long way in improving the services of Transport companies/organizations up to the expected level of satisfaction for the commuters. 

·       Implementation of AI-powered transport systems can provide predictive maintenance requirements of vehicles to improve safety and result in avoidable breakdowns. 

·       Optimum fuel consumption and reduced level of emission can promote sustainable transportation options if the transport companies/organizations utilize the services of an AI-powered system.  This also will lead to a green environment as is being envisaged by all the countries. 

6.         Education: 

Uses of AI applications in Education System

•             AI is used in personalized learning and educational assessment. It is also used in language learning and translation.  It also helps in Student support and Predictive analytics, besides extending its arms to Grading and assessment.  Education institutions also get the help of AI in the field of Curriculum development and Student engagement.  Let us see how the above parts of the Education system get the fullest help of AI now.

·       Language learning: Analysis of student data done by an AI-powered system helps in providing customized recommendations for learning obtaining materials and further actions accordingly. This helps the students to carry out their studies at their own pace that suits their best as per the individual requirements.

·       Student Support: Chatbots and Virtual Assistants powered by AI systems are used to provide support to students, raise questions and get the right answers, besides supplying feedback.  As a result, this method of education system reduces the workload of Teachers, supportive staff, and institutions in improving student engagement, thereby reducing the cost indirectly.

·       Predictive Analytics: Analysis of student data done by an AI-powered system enables to assess and predict the performance of students so that corrective measures can be taken by rendering special attention to needy students.

·       Grading Assessment: For the purpose of grading and assessing the students in academic parameters AIs are used thereby reducing the workload of Teachers and support staff to arrive at desired results.  This is done speedily and consistently bringing out quick results.

·       Curriculum development: Based on the data collected/stored by AIs, coupled with the data educational standards and other such factors, the institutions can develop curricula and lesson plans.  This helps the institutions to ensure to have an updated and relevant curriculum aligned with the needs of students.

·       Student Engagement: For improving student engagement and motivating them, AIs can be used to analyze the student data and other inputs thereby reducing the workload of teachers and other support staff.

7.         Entertainment: 

See How AI Applications are used in the area of Entertainment

•              AI can be used in providing recommendations of content and the creation thereof, personalization of advertising, digital processing of videos and images, voice recognition and synthesizing, virtual and augmented reality, gaming, analyzing data on audience opinion/reaction, and adopting marketing strategies.  Let’s see one-by-one.

·       Content Creation: For creating Music, art, and writing content, AIs can be used to suit the tastes and expectations of various classes of audiences. AIs help the Creators and artists by generating various ideas in the fastest and most efficient way so that the audience's expectations are achieved.

·       Personalization of Advertising:  Giving priority to the preference and requirements of the end users, AIs help in the generation of personalized advertisement content.

·       Digital processing of Videos and Images: AIs can give an enhanced quality output of videos and images by improving resolution, noise reduction, and adding special effects.

·       Voice recognition and Synthesis: The use of AI-powered voice recognition and synthesis technologies helps to create realistic and natural voices for movies, video games, and other entertainment channels.

·       Virtual augmented reality: AI can be used to create more realistic and immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences by improving graphics rendering, optimizing user interaction, and providing personalized content recommendations.

·       Gaming: By using AIs game mechanics can be improved, more realistic characters and environments can be created and personalized experiences can be provided based on the end user behavior, taste, and expectation.

·       Marketing and analysis of audience:   User behavior and preferences can be analyzed with the use of AIs so that targeted marketing campaign strategies are evolved to optimize advertisement techniques.

8.         Agriculture Sector: 

Uses of Artificial Intelligence in Farming

•         AI can be used in agriculture precisely to optimize crop yields, wastage reduction, and improve sustainability. Various uses of AIs in the Agriculture sector are: - Precision farming, Crop monitoring, Livestock Monitoring, Soil analysis, Weather forecasting, Supply chain Optimization, Farm mechanization, etc.

·       Precision Farming: Optimization of planting, watering, fertilizing, harvesting, etc. can be done using the data stored in AI empowered system. This would improve the quality; augment the farm yield, thereby reducing farm waste.

·       Crop Monitoring: Crop stress, diseases, and other issues faced by growing crops can be ascertained by analyzing satellite and drone imagery and issues can be addressed by using an AI-empowered system in farming.  This will help the farmers in taking timely and preventive actions to avoid any crop loss.

·       Livestock Monitoring: AIs can be used to monitor the health and behavior of livestock thereby improving animal welfare mechanisms and reducing transmission of diseases.

·       Soil Analysis: Soil samples can be analyzed by AIs and provide recommendations for the cultivation of plants, seeding, fertilization, irrigation, and other practices. This also improves the methods to be adopted for maintaining soil health, besides reducing the nutrition runoff.

·       Weather forecasting: Whether and meteorological analysis can be done by AI-empowered systems.  The system also provides accurate forecasts to farmers to decide upon agriculture-related activities like planting, irrigating, fertilizing, and harvesting.

·       Supply chain optimization: By predicting supply and demand and adopting waste management by an AI-empowered system; supply chain optimization can be done effectively and efficiently. Also, an improved logistic system provided by an AI system enables the farmers to market their products to the consumer both their requirements, thereby reducing cost escalation caused on account of unnecessary and avoidable wastages, and perishing of agricultural products.  This also enhances customer satisfaction and fulfills consumer expectations.

·       Farm Mechanization: Agricultural Robots like automated weeders and harvesters can be used as a part of farm mechanization to help the farmers in reducing the cost of labor and other agricultural inputs etc. 

9.         Energy: 

AI Applications in Energy Sector

•         AI can be used in the Management of the energy sector and demand forecasting to optimize energy consumption and bring in effective cost reduction.  AIs can be used in Predictive Maintenance, Energy Optimization, in the field of Renewable Energy, Energy Trading, Demand response, Smart Grid, Carbon capture, storage, etc.

·       Predictive Maintenance: Equipment failures can be predicted by AIs before any failure occurs so that preventive measures can be taken on time to avoid disruption and also loss.  This increases the reliability of energy production also.

·       Energy Optimization: With the help of data inputs available in an AI system in the form of sensors and other sources, production and consumption can be optimized. This will improve efficiency and energy waste.

·       Renewable Energy: Optimization of renewable energy production can be done using an AI-empowered system with the help of predictions of wind direction, speed, velocity, etc., and also solar conditions and energy production can be adjusted accordingly.  This will avoid losses in production and reliability of energy sources.

·       Energy Trading: Analysis of the Energy market can be done by using AI and energy trading strategies can be optimized. This enables energy companies and organizations to improve their profitability and reduce their costs of production.

·       Demand Response: Energy demand can be ascertained with the use of AI and optimum production level can be maintained. This would reduce the instances of blackouts and reduce the requirement for additional energy production capacity.

·       Smart Grid: Distribution and Energy Management can be optimized by an AI-powered system in the Smart grid which improves its efficiency, effectiveness, and reliability.

·       Carbon capture and storage: AI-empowered system can be adopted for optimizing carbon capture and storage processes.  This will reduce the environmental impact of energy production.

OTHER USES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:

Artificial Intelligence is extensively used in Maps and Navigation systems to provide accurate, real-time information and personalized recommendations to suit the requirements of the users. 

AI is used in Facial detection and Recognition for the identification and classification of faces obtained from videos and images.

AI is also used in Text Editors and for carrying out Auto-correction for maintaining accuracy and efficient writing.

AI can also be used in Search and Recommendation Algorithms so that the end user gets personalized and relevant results.

AI is used in Chatbots to supply answers to fulfill the requirements of users in the form of “prompts (made by the user) and answers (provided by Chatbots)”.

AI is extensively used in Digital Assistants like Siri (of Apple) and Alexa (of Amazon) to provide user-friendly assistance and an improved user experience.

Enriched uses of AI in social media are Content Moderation, Personalization, Analysis of sentiments, Advertisement goals, Trend analysis, etc.

Extensive uses of AI is made in E-commerce and E-payment systems like Fraud detection system, Risk Management, Customer Service, Personalized recommendations and follow-up with customers, smart payment routing, etc.

Wrapping Up:

With the advancement of Science and Technology, Artificial Intelligence has occupied each and every field across the globe and its uses are amazing in our day-to-day life.  AI can be said as an inseparable partner to mankind.

In conclusion, I invite the audience's comments on the above write-up which, I consider, would be a factor of encouragement and help me in taking your suggestions in the future.