Innovative ways different industries use AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming virtually every industry, sparking innovations around every corner. Almost every industry is finding new ways to implement AI technology. A handful of these techniques are particularly creative, ranging from finance technology to education and even agriculture. These innovative AI applications are helping to push the whole field of AI into the future.

1. Catching Fraud

The pattern recognition capabilities of AI allow it to take on an important role in finance technology. Banking and credit institutions are using AI to catch fraud and protect customers’ money and data. It might take a cardholder days to notice a strange transaction on their account. An AI, on the other hand, can recognise suspicious activity immediately and take action.

For example, it might notice that a transaction doesn’t line up with the types of products someone normally buys. The AI can also recognize unusual IP addresses or shipping addresses. Suspicious purchasing behavior like this will prompt the AI to halt the transaction and verify its legitimacy before allowing it to go through.

2. Picking Apples

Some may be surprised to hear that AI is revolutionising the food industry. Researchers have developed a robot that uses computer vision and deep learning to identify ripe apples in an orchard and autonomously pick them off trees. The robot can harvest one apple every seven seconds using a specially designed claw.

This same technology could be applied to harvesting virtually any other fruit or vegetable as well. Farming robots will help the agriculture industry meet the growing demand for fresh food around the world.

3. Predicting Maintenance

Industrial vehicles like those used in construction require regular maintenance to keep them operational. Major repairs can be extremely costly, though, given the size and complexity of these vehicles.

AI is making maintenance easier, safer, and less expensive. With the help of internet of things (IoT) sensors, AI can track the performance of a vehicle over time and detect fluctuations that may indicate maintenance needs. This allows vehicle operators to perform tune-ups before a major repair is needed.

4. Improving Quality Control

As more and more businesses grapple with labor shortages, meeting demand is becoming more challenging. Manufacturers need a solution to meet customer demand without sacrificing quality. AI is revolutionizing assembly lines and manufacturing facilities around the world.

Using computer vision and IoT sensors, AI can scan items for quality defects. A robot arm can even be used to allow a single AI-powered camera to scan a large item. The AI is trained to recognize an intact version of the item as well as key indicators of a defective item. This capability allows quality control to be effectively automated, increasing efficiency and production quality simultaneously.

5. Teaching Social Skills

It may sound like something out of a science-fiction movie, but AI companions for kids have become an everyday reality. AI-powered robots are helping kids learn social skills and life skills.

For example, the Moxie robot uses natural language processing (NLP) to have realistic conversations with children. It teaches life skills and key social skills like kindness, empathy, and respect. Moxie will even engage in games and play with children, with activities like drawing and meditating. As online learning and homeschooling become more popular, more robots like Moxie are sure to emerge.

6. Designing Architecture

Among the most exciting next-gen applications for AI is generative design, which is being used to design innovative new buildings and structures. Given a set of parameters, AI algorithms can often come up with innovative solutions to architectural challenges, such as finding the best support system using the least amount of materials.

Generative design is even helping architects come up with creative, artistic new building concepts. Along with architecture, generative design is also being used to design robots, Mars habitats, and countless consumer products.

Pushing the Boundaries of AI

Artificial intelligence is already a cutting-edge technology, but these innovative applications are helping to evolve AI even further. New approaches to implementing AI will drive research and development over the years ahead. The growth and diversity in AI development are helping businesses and people in every niche and industry live and work better. Creative applications will lead to tomorrow’s AI innovations and improve the AI technology of today.