"I'm sorry, Dave. I can't do that." Some of us may recall those chilling lines from the HAL 9000 computer in the critically acclaimed film 2001: A Space Odyssey. At the time, artificial intelligence of any kind was portrayed as a far-off dream and the stuff of fiction. However, we have entered into a brave new world.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is now commonplace, especially in the online business community. What can entrepreneurs expect? Is AI as scary as it has been portrayed by some? An objective opinion is warranted if we hope to draw any firm conclusions.
A Dose of Pragmatism
Artificial intelligence serves many purposes, especially in terms of the digital ecosystem. It is now quite common for an up-and-coming business to employ a trusted website builder in tandem with AI software during developmental and A/B testing stages well before a launch. Constructing a website from the ground up is no easy task, and AI can now provide an unsurpassed level of assistance.
The Double-Edged Sword of Online News
The term "fake news" can be traced at least as far back as the first Trump presidential campaign in 2016. Since this time, articles generated by artificial intelligence have been on the rise. Although this might cause consumers to question what exactly they choose to read, other programs have been designed to detect the presence of AI and to clarify the source of the content in advance. Either way, this poses challenges on both sides of the digital spectrum.
Smart Image Generation
Let us imagine for a moment that you have been struggling to create a company logo in anticipation of the launch of your online business. Once again, AI is here to help. Not only have algorithms become incredibly advanced over the past few years but there are also some programs that have been used to create unique images from scratch. Whether referring to how aliens might appear to general branding suggestions, artificial intelligence is taking the notion of smart image generation to the next level and beyond.
In-House Efficiency
Although this next observation may appear slightly "cold" from a human perspective, it needs to be mentioned. Major conglomerates such as Barclays note that the implementation of AI will dramatically expedite specific in-house operations (such as traditional data entry and certain redundant tasks associated with customer relationship management). While this is great news in terms of revenue generation, the verdict is still out in regard to how it might affect the semi-skilled workforce.
A New Norm
Whether or not we choose to accept the fact, AI is here to stay. From smart digital encryption techniques to everyday online queries that consumers will use to find retail products, fiction has now become a reality.
Is this a good or a bad thing? History will be the ultimate judge. However, there is little doubt that the presence of artificial intelligence has already provided a host of benefits to the e-commerce community. The digital future looks equally promising; at least for the moment.
