By Jake Poinier
When you hear the phrase “artificial intelligence,” you might be concerned that computers are on an inevitable course to outwitting humans. The reality is that artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) technologies are already transforming how we work, entertain ourselves, and socialize. What does this trend mean for you and your family?
A way of life
AI uses computer science and extensive datasets to simulate human intelligence and enable problem-solving. These capabilities make it ideal for streamlining tasks to make everyday life easier. A few examples include:
Navigation – AI calculates the fastest route to your destination by incorporating a variety of factors—traffic, accidents, construction and road conditions—and can even predict your customary patterns. AI has also been instrumental in the rise of rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft, improving safety and the accuracy of estimated arrival times.
Smart homes – Smart devices such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant have become household names for performing dozens of voice-controlled tasks. As AI gets more sophisticated, it’s also expanding the tasks that can be automated. For example, sensors—or a technology known as geofencing—can detect when no one is at home, turning on security, adjusting the temperature and shutting off lights until you’ve returned.
Financial services – Online banking uses a wide range of AI components to improve the user experience, such as advanced chatbots that use natural language to answer customer questions. AI can also play a key role in automating loan and credit decisions, and detecting fraud and other suspicious activities.
Facial recognition – From unlocking your phone and social media accounts to speeding your way through the airport, this AI-intensive technology is becoming increasingly common for consumers.
Self-driving cars – Autonomous vehicles are still in the early stages, but they offer the eventual promise of reduced traffic jams and accidents when cars are equipped with a combination of sensors, cameras and artificial intelligence.
Looking ahead: Augmented reality
While AR isn’t yet as common in our day-to-day lives as AI, it demands similarly heavy computing power to deliver an interactive version of real-world environments. Some of the trends to look for include:
E-commerce – With augmented reality, you can virtually envision a product in your own home, or use filters to display it on your face or body. (For example, you can render a 3-D image of a piece of furniture in your bedroom, or “try on” different styles of outfits.) The benefit? Consumers have more confidence in buying, and retailers can cut down on returns.
Phygital – This is one of the newer buzzwords in the retail industry—marrying the physical and digital worlds. Brands adopting this strategy include Lowe’s, which uses autonomous robots to assist customers, and Amazon Go’s brick-and-mortar locations, which use sensors and an app to detect what you put in your cart—no checkout required. Smart mirrors are yet another example, offering an interactive experience for customers to virtually try on outfits or makeup and get more information about products they’re interested in.
This content was originally pubished in our award-winning magazine In Your Corner. See Issue 13 here: In Your Corner Magazine | Spring 2023