AI and Machine Learning Predictions for 2019

When dealing with a technology as advanced as machine learning, there simply isn’t an industry that would not benefit. I mean how could a business not take advantage of a technology that would make them more successful? In the next year, there will be multiple new uses for machine learning in all of these industries available for the taking and I’m not just talking about in marketing and sales.

The U.S. Army is currently using machine learning to predict when combat vehicles need repair. Think about it, there are millions of pieces of equipment that our Army uses each and every day. To keep track of the data involved, they are recruiting the help of an AI assistant. For the first implementation, a few dozen armored infantry transports will receive sensors inside of the vehicles’ engines. These sensors will record temperature and RPM and will transmit it to the software. Machine learning capabilities will look for patterns in the data that match engine failures in similar vehicles.

What if your car did this? AAA might become obsolete if your car could tell you that the transmission is about to crap out on you. If the army is using the technology, I’m sure it won’t be long till we see it in the civilian world.

Automotive isn’t the only industry that is seeing potential new uses for this tech, healthcare is about to see some changes too. As if Google wasn’t already on the AI map, they have begun to predict the likelihood of a patient’s death using machine learning – with staggering 95% accuracy. How? AI created by the company looks at the variables of a patient’s health records, takes into account demographics, health history and more. It then predicts the probability of the patient’s death within 24 hours of admittance. That sounds slightly morbid when you first hear about it but think of the impact it could have on the healthcare industry. Machine learning could help save lives! I mean that’s pretty cool if you ask me.

Finally, A research group has also recently used machine learning to predict stock market performance based on publicly available earnings documents. These documents were combined with stock price data before and after market announcements. The model attempted to find a relationship between the language content and the impact on the stock price. After their testing, the most successful result was a 62% chance of predicting a low performing stock. That’s not the highest percentage, but when you’re investing in something as risky as the stock market, I’ll take my chances with 62% accuracy.

As you can see, AI and machine learning are allowing us to predict the future by using the past. As far as, AI and machine learning predictions go, I’m sure we will be reading more about companies that have discovered how to use these technologies to read and interpret data.

Further Evolution of Human and Machine Interaction

The idea that AI is simply a robot programmed to do mundane tasks is no more. In fact, businesses are beginning to see AI as extensions of their business, contributing to its success. More companies are working to enhance the relationship between the machine and the human. AI is being designed as we speak to make this happen.

Companies that are developing AI are working to get it to understand the nuances of human interactions. We say more than we realize when we talk. Could you imagine a chatbot being able to recognize more than what you’re saying with your words? That would be so amazing for customer service.

Throughout 2019, it is predicted that AI will continue to evolve. That being said, I think we will also begin to understand the limitations of AI and see where human intervention is required. It will be interesting to see where we find balance and success.

The Rise of AI Assistants

How often do you turn to an AI assistant for help? In the last hour I’ve asked Alexa to turn on the light and play music on Pandora and I’ve asked Siri how traffic looks on the way home. And these simple tasks are only just the beginning. We will begin using these assistants for every day, operational tasks such as searching the internet, reading emails, responding to communication and even paying bills and ordering products.

2019 will be a year of development for the AI assistant, showing us just how powerful and useful these tools are. It will be in more places than your home and your pocket too. Companies such as Kia and Hyundai are planning to include AI assistants in their vehicles starting in 2019. Sign me up for a new car! I’m sure that Google, Apple, and Amazon will continue to make advancements to their AI assistants making our lives even easier.

I’m sure next year will be a critical year for both AI and machine learning. I think these AI and machine learning predictions are just the beginning of advancements we will see, as the only certainty is that the technology will move faster with each passing day.