ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – A HOUSEHOLD NAME
You are likely interacting with artificial intelligence (AI) daily without even knowing it. Although the acceptance of AI in mainstream society is a recent phenomenon, it is not a new concept. The field was established in 1956, but it took many years of research to make significant progress towards developing an AI system and making it a technological reality. Despite many of us still associating AI with science-fiction dystopias, as the tool develops and becomes more commonplace in our daily lives, this characterisation is fading. Today, AI has become a household name and even a household presence, as seen with devices such as Alexa. And OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Bard aren’t going to leave us anytime soon!
AWE-INSPIRING AI
In the business world, AI has numerous applications, and most of us encounter AI in some form or another every day. From the mundane to the awe-inspiring, AI is already revolutionizing almost every business process across all industries. As AI technologies continue to grow and expand, they are becoming increasingly essential to maintaining a competitive advantage.
IMPROVING BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Some say that AI will become a replacement for human intelligence and creativity and threaten the workforce as we know it today. As reported by BBC News, Goldman Sachs is convinced that over 300 million jobs will be in peril given the latest technological wave of AI to befall us. But the less-sceptical among us regard artificial intelligence as a complementary work tool. British Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan says:
“We want to make sure that AI is complementing the way we work in the UK, not disrupting it – making our jobs better, rather than taking them away.”
Donelan’s words harness the essence of AI. Although it may currently struggle with basic real-world tasks, it excels at processing and analysing vast amounts of data at a speed that surpasses human capability. This enables artificial intelligence software to generate synthesised courses of action and present them to human users. As a result, we can utilize AI to assist in predicting the potential consequences of each decision and streamline the decision-making process. Let’s take a peek at some of the common ways that AI improves our business operations.
AI can be a crucial asset in identifying vulnerabilities in computer network defences. Surprisingly, AI systems can identify cyberattacks and other threats by analysing patterns in data input. If a threat is detected, the system can trace it back to its source and provide solutions to prevent future intrusions by bad actors. With AI acting as an additional, diligent and constant observer, it can be highly advantageous as a cybercrime deterrent, safeguarding your IT infrastructure.
Amir Husain, the founder and CEO of Texas-based machine-learning outfit, SparkCognition, says:
“You really can’t have enough cybersecurity experts to look at these problems, because of scale and increasing complexity. Artificial intelligence is playing an increasing role here as well.”
CRM BENEFITS
The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has ushered in a new era of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. Traditional CRM software, such as Salesforce and Zoho, have long been reliant on human intervention to maintain their accuracy and relevance. However, with the integration of AI technology into these platforms, businesses are now able to benefit from an automated and self-updating system that can streamline their relationship management processes. By harnessing the power of AI, these CRM systems can intelligently gather and analyse customer data, allowing businesses to gain a deeper understanding of their customers’ preferences and behaviours. This enables businesses to tailor their marketing and sales strategies to meet the specific needs of their customers, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and loyalty. Moreover, AI-powered CRM systems can also help businesses automate routine tasks such as data entry and record keeping, freeing up employees’ time to focus on more value-adding activities. This can lead to increased productivity and efficiency, ultimately benefiting employees, the business and its customers.
TAILORED AND CUSTOMISED
AI is really good at using a whole bunch of data to figure out what people are searching for and then give them what they really need. As AI technology advances and people rely more on their devices, users can expect even more customizable experiences. This is a boon for small businesses, as AI helps them to efficiently and effectively target specific audiences. Hossein Rahnama, the founder and CEO of AI concierge company Flybits and visiting professor at MIT says:
“We’re no longer expecting the user to constantly be on a search box Googling what they need. The paradigm is shifting as to how the right information finds the right user at the right time.”
YOUR PERSONAL HELPER
Artificial intelligence isn’t just for giving your customers a better experience. It can also change the way your company works behind the scenes. With AI bots acting as personal assistants, you can get help managing your emails, scheduling your appointments, and even optimizing your processes. AI assistants can also be programmed to answer questions from customers who call or chat online. By taking care of these little tasks, you can free up more time to work on growing your business and implementing new strategies.
WHAT CHATGPT CAN DO
ChatGPT opens up a world of opportunities. It can help businesses simplify their work in many ways, taking care of things like data entry and appointment scheduling, which means fewer mistakes and more accurate data. This, in turn, makes businesses more efficient and effective, saves them money, and boosts their productivity, which is always great for the bottom line. The chatbot can offer personalised assistance to customers anytime, day or night. It’s trained to understand what people are looking for and can give suggestions based on their history. This makes customers feel special and keeps them coming back for more. Plus, businesses can use the information they gather to create targeted ads and marketing campaigns in the future. Moreover, ChatGPT is also great at analysing data to help businesses with complicated tasks such as supply chain management and financial planning. By using this information, businesses can make smart decisions and come up with new ideas to keep them on top of the heap. Put simply, this AI tool is a game-changer for businesses that want to offer the best possible service to their customers and stay ahead of the competition.
LOVING WHAT AI CAN DO
Personally, I love what AI can do for you and your business. And when it comes to AI and automation, I’ve got you covered. With more than 20 years of experience in the field of professional IT support for SMEs, I understand what is at the core of every business – productivity and profit. Call me today and let’s jump on the AI bandwagon together.