Where AI Is Now and Where It’s Going in the Next 5 Years
John Dittig, MicroTouch Global VP, Business Development and Partnerships
Although it’s hard to imagine the interest and investment in artificial intelligence (AI) rising to higher levels than they are right now, business leaders need to brace for much more to come. During MicroTouch’s AI Town Hall Webinar hosted by BlueStar, Keith Szot, SVP business development with Esper, described AI as now only in the “pick-and-shovel phase” in which organizations are equipping themselves with the tools they’ll use at scale later. Szot comments, however, that businesses have less time to react to this disruptive technology cycle than in the past. “The world is a different place than in 1995 when the internet became available to the consumer population,” he said. “AI will move much faster.”
Where Businesses and Organizations are Taking Aim with AI Today
AI isn’t new. Businesses and organizations have used various types of AI for decades. However, since November 2022, when ChatGPT ignited widespread interest in generative AI and brought all forms of AI into the spotlight, more companies have tested and adopted AI-powered solutions than ever before.
AI’s ability to quickly search vast volumes of data and identify patterns and anomalies allows it to deliver value in a wide range of applications. AI is the key to preventing unauthorized use of bank accounts, generating notifications to consumers when unusual activity occurs. It’s the force behind predictive maintenance, taking data from equipment monitoring to alert system operators so they can address issues before they lead to equipment downtime or service disruptions. Farmers are leveraging AI to determine irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticide schedules and to tend fields more quickly with self-driving tractors. AI also uses data from biometric sensors to help coaches evaluate players’ health and adapt training to prevent injury. It is even helping officials more quickly review plays, minimizing delays in the action and improving experiences for guests in the stands.
Another application where AI is demonstrating vast potential is language translation. During MicroTouch’s webinar, Sr. Strategic Partnerships Executive with Comcast Business Brian Klinger explained that solutions like Let’s Chat allow users to speak or write in their preferred language and immediately translate it for them. Applications include accepting orders at a restaurant drive-thru, reaching a broader audience with marketing messages, and allowing HR teams to screen more diverse job applicants.
Safe Predictions for the Future of AI
There are no guarantees about the adoption of specific AI-powered solutions. However, trends are indicating that AI, in general, will be ubiquitous. During MicroTouch’s webinar, GRUBBR Founder and CTO Bhavin Asher pointed out that although implementing AI for an organization’s use case is now relatively expensive, it will become more accessible as more solutions come to market. “AI will be everywhere,” he said. “On phones and as personal assistants, gym trainers, and sales tools. AI will penetrate everything – if it hasn’t penetrated already.”
In a few short years, expect innovators to refine AI solutions, expanding functionality and increasing accuracy. They will also find ways to address security challenges, such as combatting fraud and spotting deep fakes, to defend against actors focused on exploiting AI. Furthermore, look for more computing power to move from the cloud to the edge, decreasing latency so AI-powered systems can respond more quickly for mission-critical applications.
A new world of innovations is also more than likely. Robots will have new capabilities and even evolve into humanoids that think, react, and even empathize more like people. Look for advances in healthcare like precision, AI-guided surgery, and simulated drug trials to make ground-breaking treatments possible in less time. AI will also drive new products in the consumer space, taking smartphones and mobile devices to new levels with on-device AI that gives devices powerful offline capabilities.
There’s a lot to look forward to, but probably the safest prediction to make about AI is that companies that don’t move now to learn about AI and explore its potential will fall behind. Now is the time to join this next technological revolution.
John Dittig joined MicroTouch in January 2024 as the Global Vice President with a focus on Business Development and Partnerships. Prior to joining MicroTouch, John held senior roles for Samsung, Elo Touch Solutions, Tyco Electronics (TE Connectivity), ViewSonic Corporation, and Tech Data. John has over 30 years of experience managing and creating sales, marketing, and product strategies for multibillion-dollar organizations. He is a true leader with a sense of balance who is focused, creative, and driven. John has a Bachelor’s in Arts from the University of South Florida.
MicroTouch™ is a global leader in the touch solutions market. The Holland, Michigan-based company has been at the forefront of capacitive leadership for over 40 years, offering a broad product mix of components, monitors and touch computers with the highest efficiency and flexibility in the industry—via regional engineering, local customer support and global warehousing capabilities. MicroTouch remains the standard-bearer for interactive device development and capacitive solutions, providing unsurpassed touch solutions and services to customers worldwide. For additional information, visit www.MicroTouch.com.
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