COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world in various ways. It has also accelerated the adoption of technology by people as they tried to cope with the effects of the pandemic and sustain their businesses.
- Artificial Intelligence
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, artificial intelligence could help organizations improve customer relationships and automate various processes. With the rise of data, AI has become a vital part of our daily lives. During the pandemic, it was able to help public health officials predict the severity of the illness and its impact on the healthcare industry. As the world begins to emerge from the pandemic, AI is helping companies identify their competitors and improve their sales and operations.
With AI, we can now read, write, and speak. SummarizeBot, a blockchain-powered bot, has consolidated all of the different types of information into a single summary. It allows humans to produce content for some of the most prominent media organizations in the world. Alibaba, the world’s largest e-commerce platform, has been able to create product descriptions using natural language processing using AI.
In addition to creating product descriptions, AI has also been able to perform various tasks, such as analyzing and monitoring facial expressions. For instance, Domino’s Pizza has used machine vision and AI to ensure that its pizzas meet the company’s quality standards. In healthcare, machine learning has analyzed images of people’s lungs to identify the effects of the coronavirus and other diseases.
- Drones and Robots and Vehicle Automation
The use of drones, robots, and vehicle automation also accelerated during COVID-19. China used crewless aircraft to monitor its population to ensure that it followed social distancing regulations. Amazon also deployed machine learning in Singapore to confirm social distancing. In the US, Boston Dynamics developed a robot that looks like a dog and can patrol parks.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies experienced significant disruptions in their operations. As a result, they are currently testing the use of robots and drones in their supply chains. UPS has been testing the use of self-driving trucks in its supply chains since last year. In Virginia, Daimler Trucks and its subsidiary, Torc Robotics, have been using heavy-duty vehicles on public roads. In Virginia, Amazon received approval from the FAA to use drones for its delivery operations in Blacksburg.
In the healthcare industry, robots have been used to perform various tasks, such as surgery. For instance, the Mako robotic system has already served over 300,000 knee and hip replacement procedures.
- As-a-Service and Cloud Revolution
Businesses can now quickly scale up or down their services through the cloud. With the availability of as-a-service solutions, companies can partner with various cloud providers such as Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM. This allows them to get the most out of their AI platforms.
During the COVID pandemic, Zoom experienced a considerable spike in demand for its services due to the employees’ work-from-home arrangements. The company was able to accommodate this demand by scaling up its operations with its cloud provider.
Today, it’s possible for companies to lease robotic devices for various tasks, such as warehouse picking and security. Through the services of Amazon, Google, and Honda, they can now quickly implement automation in their supply chains.