Humans are recognized as the most intelligent species on the planet. Only animals like dolphins have come close to the level of human intelligence, with adult dolphins possessing a similar level of intelligence to a five-year-old child. However, no other creature has ever surpassed humans when it comes to intellect. But, there’s one competitor that could possibly take the crown of intelligence away from human beings, known as artificial intelligence (AI).
What Is Artificial Intelligence?
Back in the day, there were talks of technology replacing humans in society, like how robots or computers could perform similar functions as humans. However, computers were not only expensive at the time, but also they could not store commands. In layman’s terms, you can tell a computer to perform a certain task, but then it could not remember the actions once performed.
Nowadays, artificial intelligence has risen exponentially in popularity and is widely discussed. And as computers have rapidly evolved, the talk of artificial intelligence has only grown louder. In recent years, AI has evolved into a tool that could think just like humans, but at significantly faster speeds. This has made this new technology incredibly useful across a variety of industries, further solidifying its position as one of the biggest tech trends today.
Key Applications and Benefits of Artificial Intelligence
With new applications of artificial intelligence yet to be discovered, many industries are already leveraging the power of what it has to offer, thus improving their business processes. Here’s how AI has streamlined business operations across various industries.
Chatbots
One of the hottest topics today is chatbots. Popularized by the new chatbot launched in November 2022, ChatGPT, there’s no doubt that chatbots have taken the world by storm. If you haven’t tried using chatbots yet, they can almost instantly provide you with any information you ask for. For instance, you can ask ChatGPT to explain complex terms simply. Or for web developers in tech companies, you could even ask it to debug code. And for artists, you could even ask it to write a song!
While not intended to replace jobs, chatbots like ChatGPT are a supplement to getting the job done more quickly, saving more time at work. The possibilities are endless, and with such promising technology, it’s poised to only get better from here. But, it’s also worth noting that chatbots are not without their errors. Information can sometimes be outdated and occasionally they could give inaccurate responses – hence, one cannot be fully dependent on this technology.
Healthcare
Another field that has leveraged the power of artificial intelligence is the healthcare industry. While it is uncertain if artificial intelligence can fully replace healthcare professionals, it has streamlined operations in the medical field through customizable IT automation and DevOps. For example, radiologists can use the help of AI to determine the presence of tumors. In the field of precision medicine, machine learning is also being used to personalize treatment plans based on patient attributes, Artificial intelligence also can read and analyze clinical notes on patients and create reports on them. The use of AI in healthcare is currently being explored, but in its current state, it’s already showing great promise.
E-Commerce
One of the latest fields that started booming during the past years is e-commerce. Since shoppers started adding to online carts instead of physical ones, e-commerce businesses have used the power of AI to uplift the industry. E-commerce platforms create a personalized shopping experience, with AI technology making its recommendations to shoppers based on their preferences. And thanks to its access to various data sets, AI could even adjust product prices based on supply and demand.
A major feature of AI is also being implemented in the e-commerce industry: chatbots. This tremendously improves services as they act as customer support representatives that facilitate the shopping process. Chatbots also act as 24/7 virtual assistants that can answer questions that shoppers may have.
Finance & Accounting
In a world where digital money has taken the world by storm, artificial intelligence is needed now, more than ever.
As fund transfers through mobile apps have become more commonplace, instances of online fraud have drastically increased. To prevent these cases, AI can detect any fraudulent transactions that could be further inspected, thus preventing financial loss. This innovation is not only useful to consumers, but also for financial institutions. Being able to extract data from multiple sources, AI can predict trends in the financial markets.
But is Using AI Secure?
But with AI becoming such an integral part of modern business operations, they also present significant security risks. In order to properly secure AI-based operations, businesses can use a managed IT security services provider (MSSP) to help with implementation, using the following strategies.
Data Protection
An MSP can help a business ensure their data is properly protected and secure. This can involve implementing access controls, encryption, and backup solutions to prevent unauthorized access, data loss, or corruption.
Threat Detection and Response
An MSP can provide a range of support services, including monitoring for potential threats and responding quickly to any cyber security incidents. This can include real-time monitoring of network traffic, intrusion detection, and analysis of security logs to identify and respond to threats.
Compliance Management
An MSP can help a business ensure that its AI-based operations complies with relevant regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) or anything involving Personal Identifiable Information (PII). This can include developing and implementing policies and procedures that meet compliance requirements, as well as ensuring that systems and data are audited and monitored for compliance.
Cyber Security Trainings
An MSP can help a business train its staff on best practices for security and risk management. This can include educating employees on how to recognize and respond to potential security threats, as well as providing ongoing training to ensure that staff are up to date with the latest AI security trends and practices.
Regular Assessments
An MSP can work with a business to continually assess and improve its security posture. This can include consistent security evaluations, Written Information Security Planning, as well as vulnerability and penetration testing to identify and address potential security weaknesses.
What’s Next?
It’s easy to see why artificial intelligence has been all the talk. After all, its applications to society are plenty, and it seems that it’s showing no signs of restraint. Year after year, we discover new use cases of AI across different industries – from healthcare to finance. The biggest thing to remember is that in its current state, AI is in its worst state it will ever be, and will only improve with time.
So, what’s next for artificial intelligence? Is your business considering to use it to optimize your operations? If you need a managed IT solution to make sure your AI-based controls and properly implemented and secured, schedule a free consultation today and Nerds Support can help you get started!
