Promising AI Applications Both Within and Outside the IT Sector

As researchers and developers continue to fine-tune and advance artificial intelligence (AI) technology, its use has transformed from being associated primarily with robotics to a more real-world application that can be useful and valuable across many industries and subsets. From smart washers and dryers that can sort and fold your laundry for you to AI-powered grocery stores that operate without the use of cashiers, the average person is set to have more interaction with these high-tech systems than ever before in the coming years.

As such, industry leaders across myriad spheres are looking to AI technology to help them better perform in the workplace, deliver on client expectations and demands, and create a more well-oiled and efficient operational model. In many ways, the solutions are being leveraged to help improve the way humans work, play and interact. Here are three surprising applications you may have missed among the reports of robotics, automation, and other tech-centric news.

Tech-Savvy Wildlife Preservation

There are species of animals on every corner of the globe and naturally, scientists and researchers want to know as much as possible about every single one. To some extent, GPS tracking technology has made this possible, allowing these experts to travel into some of the most remote areas of the world via trackers and collars that help make sense of dense rainforest, vast terrain, and other geographically challenging elements.

To that end, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago developed a website known as Wildbook.org that blends structured wildlife research with an AI system and algorithms, citizen science and computer vision. Both experts and the public alike can upload images of animals to the site for systematic inspection. Similar to the way a company with a large Facebook or Instagram following would receive tons of feedback from its followers, the Wildbook platform, which is being billed as a “Facebook for Animals” receives myriad uploads daily from curious web visitors.

The program’s framework then identifies each animal by its unique identifiers and markings, then tracks its movements and range via the GPS coordinates that each photo provides. From there, it can also estimate how old the animal is and also identify its gender. The data is then used to help fight extinction and encourage industry experts to take action when necessary. For instance, after a campaign in 2015 that revealed Grévy's zebra in Kenya were being attacked at an unprecedented rate by local lions and at risk of extinction, the site administrators contacted local wildlife management personnel, who adjusted their lion management efforts.

Entertainment and Gaming Systems

As AI continues to proliferate and change the way we work, it’s also changing the way we play, and the avenues we select for our entertainment. Take the video game sector, for instance. Developers are now leveraging AI to create players that are more responsive and life-like than ever before. Their behavior is no longer totally dependent on the players controlling them, but is more intelligent and adaptive according to the game’s scenarios and the fictional environment. Thanks to advanced technologies such as motion capture, developers can also create characters that express emotion and interact with others in a way akin to normal human processing. This technique is performed by taking hours of real video footage depicting humans engaging in normal scenarios and then mapping it onto characters on the screen to allow them to replicate similar reactions. In addition, AI-driven voice assistants can also be leveraged to make gaming menus easier to navigate and more intuitive to use.

Yet, gamers aren’t the only ones set to benefit from the integration of AI into their entertainment technology. It’s also being used in more real-world scenarios, from escape rooms to wine tastings. In the former, developers are using AI to create escape rooms that incorporate advanced technology to create lock-in scenarios that feel as lifelike and real as possible, helping players work together to solve complex puzzles backed by algorithms that are responsive to their every move. In the latter, winemakers have created an app that leverages machine learning to gauge your consumption preferences and then recommend specific wines you may enjoy, eliminating the time spent scanning the grocery store aisle.

More Advanced and Accurate Patient Care

As expected, AI is also making waves in the healthcare field, helping medical professionals make more advanced and accurate patient diagnoses as well as better predict and study diseases. Specifically, AI algorithms are being used to help doctors identify and treat sepsis as soon as possible. An infection that arises in the bloodstream causing your immune system to attack your body, this condition can be treatable if detected early but often goes unidentified or misdiagnosed, leaving patients at risk. Yet, with the use of this new technology, doctors can diagnose sepsis around 24 hours earlier than previously possible.

The specific system is known as Targeted Real-Time Early Warning System (TREWScore) and is used to monitor a range of conditions, including diabetes and blood pressure. In all, it’s helping doctors and nurses better analyze patient data to identify any abnormalities that might have been missed via traditional tools and instruments.

Another promising application of AI in the healthcare sector revolves around machine learning behind used to help patients with neurological disorders and nervous system trauma. Often, these persons have limited to no ability to speak, move or interact with their environment. With the assistance of systems known as Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), which are powered by AI technology, these patients may be able to reclaim these abilities, and quicker than medical professionals thought possible. The BCI platform allows doctors to identify neural activates that are typically associated with human motion and activity, then replicate those responses in patients. From patients suffering with spinal cord injuries to those dealing with the ramifications of ALS or a stroke, this innovation alone could be life-altering.

The Future of AI: Where We Can Go From Here

In the coming years, AI will only continue to grow as R&D efforts are tightened and new applications of the technology are discovered. For professionals, this could mean a smarter and more accurate workforce. For the general public, it could mean a change in the way we conduct our lives, do our chores, plan our meals, and more. Moving forward, the exact path of this promising platform remains unknown, but the general direction is one of progress and we’re the ones who stand to benefit the most.