In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from a theoretical concept to a landmark reality that permeates almost all areas of our daily lives.

We are dealing with it in the entertainment industry, in assistance systems, in financial products and search engines, and even on websites. But for a long time, AI is no longer reserved for the big companies alone.

The democratisation of AI now also allows individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to use this technology on their own responsibility.

 

What is machine learning?

A particular type of AI that has been particularly present in recent years is machine learning. Machine learning extract rules from large datasets. These rules can have a variety of applications: You can Distinguish images, categorise machine data, classify texts, locate objects, as is the case with autonomous driving, or perform tasks that we know from the regulatory technique.

 

Advantages

But what exactly are the benefits of this AI? Admitted, many applications of AI can be found in areas that were also previously automated. So what is the difference?

If we consider AI as a form of automation, the difference to traditional automation is that: AI does not need clear rules.

For example, a robot can run off predetermined paths or identify certain features on images that have been defined in advance. However, these rules are often not well known. How to distinguish handwritten digits if a 0 can look like a 6 and a 7 like 1?

This shows the advantage of AI. By providing AI with a dataset of examples and applying well-established algorithms, AI independently detects hidden patterns and can subsequently apply them autonomously.

For production, this means that qualitative characteristics, which have so far been assessed on the basis of the ‘belly feeling’, can also be automatically assessed. Or different (sensor) data can be evaluated in such a way that impending errors or machine failures can be predicted.

 

Investiture

How can a small entrepreneur use AI and what skills should a company possess?

The good news is that there are now enough programmes to facilitate the use of AI. No AI researchers are required.

Commercial programmes with pre-trained AI are available on the market, which only need to be slightly adapted and can be learned through short training.

In addition, companies should develop a basic understanding of AI to identify potentials in their businesses and understand how they can implement AI.

Artificial intelligence has enormous potential for every company and the question is not whether companies will use AI, but rather when.

AI not only increases efficiency by reducing the use of resources while keeping production constant, but also increases productivity by increasing production volumes with the same use of resources.

This will enable companies to become more competitive.

 

Let’s be informed and accompanied by us

In order to facilitate the uptake of AI in its own company and to successfully turn ideas into practice, EDIH Saarland provides extensive services. For more information on each service, please consult: here.