Something that excites me about AI is the client value that is unlocked when it is combined with an organisations existing systems and processes and put in the hands of employees to solve business problems better and faster than previously possible.  

To illustrate this potential, I worked with a team of engineers at IBM to create a demonstration using a drone, some solar panels and our software that brings to life the transformation that can be unlocked in the example of an organisation that uses a drone to monitor the condition of its assets – in this case solar panels. 

Using AI for visual inspection 

AI is first used in this example in the processing of the video footage taken by the drone when inspecting the condition of the solar panels. Inspection results are monitored with the ability to count the number of defects, summarise results, detect anomalies, and create alerts and service requests. 

AI as an assistant for more productive employees 

AI is then used to make it easy for the organisations’ employees to make decisions based on the data. Using an “assistant” interface it is able to analyse the inspection data and answer questions asked in natural language such as trends, action taken, health predictions, summarisations of results, and impact on CO2 emissions savings.  

The potential is only limited by the use case 

The demo is only one of the powerful outcomes AI can open up. There are many others that are as unique as the organisations seeking to drive them. 

I am looking forward to sharing this with people next week at the Aotearoa AI Summit – feel free and drop by the IBM stand to see it in action and have a chat about the possibilities that AI could open up for your organisation.