The advancement of artificial intelligence has helped solidify the role of robots in everyday situations, with many of them capable of completing tasks that would otherwise require human hands. They constantly absorb data and process new information in order to continuously improve. AI allows machines to learn automatically from patterns or features in the data by mixing vast volumes of data with quick, iterative analysis and intelligent algorithms.
Recently, there was an article published by The New Yorker detailing how an AI created to scan and distinguish baked goods at a Japanese bakery for easy and quick checkout is now being used to scan for cancer cells. If you think about it, a majority of the things around us are made up of AI: facial recognition on our smartphones, search engine recommendations, directed advertisements on social media. Isn’t it interesting how technology is on such a rapid rise yet we don’t take note of it? These robots, which were mostly used in the automotive industry, are now getting used in multiple industries from mobile phones to hospitals.
Let’s take a look at a couple of them:
Food Service
In 2019, KFC China released a huge interactive screen that displays a picture of the customer captured by built-in cameras. The AI learns what the customer looks like and what they like to eat which allows the AI to remind the customers of their previous order when they revisit. In light of the pandemic, Californian burger chain CaliBurger has employed a real-life robot chef, in order to reduce COVID-19 exposure among employees and customers. With the goal of improving consistency, productivity, and sanitation in mind, the robot named “Flippy” is equipped with sensors and cameras to detect the temperature of the food it’s cooking to get an accurate cook time. Besides that, it also prepares, cooks and plates up food.
Construction
The construction industry requires precision and it’s laborious, hence why an AI counterpart is the perfect solution. Every construction project carries risks as several subcontractors are working on various trades on job sites at the same time. Today, contractors use AI and machine learning solutions to monitor dangerous activity and alert the team of possible dangers. This not only reduces liability, but also has the potential to save lives and maximize productivity. AI is making job sites more productive. Companies are beginning to sell self-driving building equipment to execute repetitive activities such as bricklaying, pouring concrete, and demolition. This allows human workers to focus more on detailed parts of the job. It increases efficiency and reduces the time it takes to complete the project.
Building Restoration
Building preservation, fire and water restoration, etc requires attention to the tiniest of details. A company that specializes in building preservation in New York City used harnesses to propel themselves around the buildings to take pictures. It was really time-consuming and dangerous. Today, they use drones to take pictures of the building, the pictures are then translated into the appropriate data and sorted automatically. This is possible because the AI was taught to identify any construction faults such as cracks, bent sheet metal, etc. This drastically reduces the duration of the inspection process and the architects and engineers do not need to be present for the inspection. Hopefully, as this technology advances further, it can help speed up the process of rebuilding buildings if a natural disaster strikes.
Healthcare
When it comes to implementing new technologies and technical advancements, the healthcare sector moves quickly. Robotics has played a significant role in the industry’s modern evolution. An example would be iRobot, a robot that allows outpatient doctors to interact with their patients. iRobot allows doctors to provide a more personal service to patients despite the distance.
Engineers are currently working on robots that could provide assistance to people with mental health issues. Currently, there are robots that identify and help reduce anxiety and depression and predict which patients may resort to suicide. As of now, these machines still require oversight by humans but as time goes on and the machines get smarter, there may be no need for human monitoring. This is just the beginning. In time, humans may be able to design robots that could analyze and identify an even wider library of diseases and sicknesses in a more efficient way.
In the not-too-distant future, artificial intelligence might be used to take over the work of 911 dispatchers. A pilot program in London has begun that encourages users to use their smartphones to describe symptoms while calling for emergency assistance. Artificial intelligence then determines the severity of their situation and advises callers accordingly.
The implementation of artificial intelligence significantly increases the efficiency of our workplaces while also augmenting the job that humans can do. When AI takes on mundane or risky jobs, It frees humans from menial tasks and unlocks doors towards new creations, inventions, and ideas that were deemed impossible. AI could be the key to a brighter and better future.
