Artificial Intelligence.

Described as the science and engineering of making intelligent machines- just what is artificial intelligence and how does it affect your organisation? Well, if you're a modern organisation and you've been using some of the newer technology available you're probably already feeling the effects of it.

Brief overview of the technology.
Artificial intelligence is (in very basic terms) giving machines and technology a full set of tools with which it can solve problems, think for itself and essentially work without any given user input. More than this, it can solve problems to a super human level and react in real time as a person would.
To give a relatively simple example and one that everyone should be familiar with: when you insert a new plug and play device into a USB port of a computer running a Windows operating system it will look for new drivers, download them and install them. It does this without the information on the hard disc (as in, it doesn't have all the drivers on the main drive) and it does it without being told where to look. It thinks, identifies the hardware and then figures out where it would downloaded from.

An exciting new development!
In business terms, it's a bit more complicated but just as easy to explain for what we're trying to say today. Any kind of automated stock system, self-sufficient production line or even business process management software suite displays artificial intelligence.
In the case of a business process management software suite, it displays a form of computerised intelligence in that it is given the basic data required for a situation and then calculates it itself. Using its own intelligence in the form of algorithims, calculations and parameters. Although this can be limited and in severely complex situations the systems may simply not respond, as they cannot process any efficient or logical conclusion.
But this is why they are valued by many modern organisations- they revolutionise how you can interpret data and turn it into useful information.

Thereby it allows the user to set their own parameters, their own needs and their own expectations to which the system is then able to work out the solution. Rather than simply sorting the information or recompiling it.
This is also a rising concern of many of just how far these computerised systems will advance and what kind of an impact it can have. Though, there are benificial situations in which super human abilities and non-living organisms are required. In the case of working with dangerous chemicals, toxic fumes or potentially fatal situations for instance. Instead of asking someone to brave the potential risks, a system with artitifical intelligence can sort it out safely and easily.
In scientific terms it's an exciting development of technology in a way we had previously never thought possible.

A few setbacks/drawbacks.
Artificial intelligence can be universally useful for all kinds of organisations, although it is worth taking into account that the level of effectiveness is linked to the organisations themselves.
If you don't have a lot of processes, systems to implement or lots of information to deal with then an artifical intelligence system may not be too effective for you. As you'd simply be asking something of incredible potential to do menial tasks, which would be a (costly) waste.

That's all for now on this brief introduction to the exciting world of artificial intelligence. Thank you for your time!

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