Artificial intelligence – revolution or evolution?

Marketing automation, cloud computing, mobile applications, and the latest addition, artificial intelligence, are all riding the wave of technological hype. Often, trends prompt the adoption of a technology due to external pressure rather than a clearly identified business need.

It's crucial to recognize that AI won't automatically trigger a drastic increase in productivity or render professional skills obsolete. Progression in skills, like a junior coder advancing to an intermediate level, takes time, even with the aid of tools. The gap between skill extremes is narrowing, and work processes, especially in quality assurance and routine tasks, can become more efficient. However, the human role remains indispensable, and the shift to a four-day work week is still out of reach. Just as a user of a pocket calculator needs to understand calculation formulas, individuals must maintain the ability to evaluate the accuracy of solutions generated by artificial intelligence.

While skepticism towards the hype is warranted, artificial intelligence undeniably opens up numerous opportunities. In the realm of business and service digitalization, AI can create solutions that were previously unprofitable or deemed impossible.

For instance, we developed a solution for an energy company that combines machine learning and AI to predict demand peaks for district heating. This proactive approach enables the company to anticipate future energy needs, yielding both financial benefits and positive environmental impacts. Another project involved streamlining a manual ordering process for a client, where AI interprets complex, freely worded orders, transforming them into structured information. Additionally, we implemented data collection automation for a union client, where an AI robot tirelessly scours the web for union-relevant content, extracting and organizing the desired information.

In summary, artificial intelligence serves as an excellent tool for incremental progress rather than a revolutionary force. Realistic expectations and thoughtful utilization can unlock multifaceted benefits. The key is to align AI initiatives with the specific needs of the business, understanding the problems they aim to solve. Ultimately, AI stands as one tool among many in the current landscape of technological advancement.