Artificial intelligence: at the heart of business

The term "artificial intelligence" was coined in 1956, but its development is relatively recent. The expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) is first and foremost linked to the significant and continuous improvement in the computing and storage power of computers. Today, AI has become indispensable, opening up new business opportunities for company who want to transform their business and boost productivity. Let's take a look at this high value-added technology of the future.

What is artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence uses computers and machines to mimic the problem-solving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind. As early as 1950, British mathematician Alan Turing, often referred to as the inventor of computers and artificial intelligence, wondered whether machines could think. He devised the famous "Turing Test", in which a participant blindly asks questions of a computer and a human, in order to determine which answers come from the machine.

In its simplest form, artificial intelligence is a field that combines computing and the processing of large amounts of data to enable problem solving. Expert systems, one of the first successful applications of AI, aimed to copy the decision-making process of a human.

Today, AI encompasses many sub-fields, such as machine learning, used for example in autonomous car driving, and deep learning, used in facial and voice recognition.

Artificial intelligence is not yet considered highly developed (referred to as "weak" or "narrow" AI), even though it is behind many powerful applications such as Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa digital apps, Google's predictive search or navigation apps like Waze. Tomorrow's AI, known as "artificial superintelligence", on the other hand, could possess far superior abstraction and learning capabilities, far surpassing the capacities of human intelligence.

What is the purpose of artificial intelligence ?

Artificial Intelligence has the ability to process large amounts of repetitive information rapidly and autonomously. Its main aim is to facilitate decision-making. It also has other advantages:

• Reducing the time needed to complete tasks, thus reducing the workload on available sources.
• Enhancing existing products (thanks to conversational platforms, for example).
• Operating 24/7, without interruptions or breaks and without downtime.

Why are companies using artificial intelligence ?

Artificial intelligence technologies can be applied in many different use cases and in all kinds of sectors, including healthcare, sales, HR, management, manufacturing, marketing and of course research. The best-known AI use cases involve autonomous cars, the Internet of Things (IOT), medical diagnostics, robotic assistance in production and contactless shopping.

Commercial applications of AI are primarily aimed at helping companies improve efficiency, streamline workflows and boost productivity:

• Personalization using artificial intelligence can improve the customer experience, for example, by offering product recommendations based on the user's purchase history and the path taken on the company's e-commerce site. Social media platforms or streaming sites like Netflix can also use artificial intelligence to determine the type of content users want to see.
• Data analysis is one of the most commonly used AI applications in today's businesses. Using predictive analytics and data from a variety of sources (addresses, diary entries, maps...), Google, for example, is now able to schedule your appointments for you, down to the minute.
• Online virtual agents replacing humans throughout the customer journey can answer all your questions on topics such as warranties or shipping conditions.

What are the benefits of artificial intelligence for businesses ?

Benefit 1: Saving time

Many operational tasks can be automated with AI, allowing managers to focus on more complex, strategic matters.

Benefit 2: cost reduction

Some extremely time-consuming data analysis tasks can be processed in a matter of seconds, enabling companies to make significant savings.

Benefit 3: Reduced human error

Well-programmed artificial intelligence considerably reduces human error in certain repetitive tasks associated with day-to-day business management.

Benefit 4: Improved customer targeting

Companies have long been trying to predict market trends. AI can process billions of data points in a matter of seconds to improve targeting practices, customer loyalty and the personalization of customer relations, enabling companies to make more informed decisions.

The field of intervention of artificial intelligence is constantly expanding, whether in healthcare (disease detection), financial services (accounting management, fraud prevention...), retail (inventory forecasting) or the automotive industry (improving driver safety). AI raises a lot of expectations, but also some fears linked to employment or data confidentiality and security. Its growth potential is enormous, but it still faces many challenges.

Benefit 5: Improved customer relations

Online virtual agents replacing humans throughout the customer journey can answer all your questions on subjects such as warranties or shipping conditions. Artificial intelligence can also offer product recommendations based on a customer's purchase history and the path taken on the company's e-commerce site.

The field of intervention of artificial intelligence is constantly expanding, whether in healthcare (disease detection), financial services (accounting management, fraud prevention, etc.), retail (inventory forecasting) or the automotive industry (improving driver safety). AI raises a lot of expectations, but also some fears linked to employment or data confidentiality and security. Its growth potential is enormous, but it still faces many challenges.

Generative AI: the real revolution in business

Generative AI represents a veritable revolution in business, redefining creative and productive processes. Unlike traditional AI, which analyzes and classifies data, generative AI creates original content, be it text, images, video or even code. Companies such as OpenAI, with GPT, or Google, with its image generation models, have demonstrated the immense potential of this technology.

At the forefront of the AI movement, generative AI enables companies to automate the creation of marketing content, prototype new products or personalize customer interactions on a massive scale. It accelerates innovation by generating novel ideas and solutions, optimizing time and resources. What's more, generative AI tools are becoming more accessible, enabling various sectors (media, design, finance, etc.) to easily integrate them into their processes.

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