What Is Artificial Intelligence Used For?

October 19, 2020 • Shannon Flynn

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Artificial intelligence (AI) was once a thing of science fiction, but it’s relatively commonplace today. You can find it all around you, but you may not know what’s AI and what isn’t. So what is artificial intelligence used for today, and where will it go from here?

You might be familiar with stories of AI beating people at chess or Jeopardy, but it does more than that. You may even use some form of AI, or several examples of it, every day without realizing it. Here are a few of the most prominent use cases for artificial intelligence you can find today.

In Business

AI is becoming so prevalent in the business world that the two might be inseparable before long. One of the most promising applications of AI in business is predictive analytics, which makes accurate predictions based on data analysis. Companies use these predictions to make decisions about their future goals to capitalize on coming changes.

Roughly 45% of retailers who use AI use it in customer relations applications like chatbots. With chatbots, companies can offer customer support at all times without needing to get busy employees to do so. If you’ve ever used a business’s customer support chat feature, you’ve probably talked to a chatbot.

Many companies also use artificial intelligence for automating administrative tasks like scheduling and filing paperwork. AI is excellent at repetitive and data-heavy work like this, and humans are better at more nuanced jobs. By saving these time-consumers for AI, businesses get the best of both worlds.

In Daily Life

You can find AI in more than just the world of industry too. If you have a smartphone, then you have access to one of the most recognizable AI examples. Digital assistants like Siri and Google Assistant are a form of artificial intelligence.

There are more than 3 billion virtual assistants in use around the world in all manner of devices. These AI use similar technology to chatbots to talk to you and use machine learning to improve their responses. While they’re not as advanced or as powerful as other instances of AI, they’re still an excellent example of the technology.

Whenever you scroll through Facebook or YouTube, you’re dealing with AI too. Websites like these use AI systems to learn what kind of content you might like and show that to you first. As mundane as they seem, things like your Netflix recommendations are a type of artificial intelligence.

What Will AI Be Used For in the Future?

Despite how widespread it is, AI is still a relatively new technology. You can find it everywhere today, but it will have even more applications in the future. One you’ll hear a lot about is self-driving cars.

Artificial intelligence is the backbone of driverless cars since it helps the vehicle make fast, accurate decisions. A lot of technologies have to improve to make these cars a reality, but AI is the primary concern. Without fast, effective AI, they’ll never be able to drive safely.

As predictive analytics get better, you could start seeing them in more social spheres. Schools could use AI to give each student a personalized learning plan or to catch signs of failure before a student drops out. Other possible applications include helping track down criminals or automating much of the hiring process.

The Uses of AI Are Growing

We’ve only scratched the surface of what AI can do for businesses, governments and individuals. New uses for AI appear all the time, whether or not you realize it. You wouldn’t be exaggerating by saying that this technology can and will change the world.

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