AI

Will AI Technology Take Our Jobs?

Published: 4 February 2023
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: Brian's Blog

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to a heated debate about its impact on employment. On one hand, AI has the potential to automate many tasks, freeing up workers to focus on higher-level tasks, and increasing efficiency and productivity. On the other hand, there is a fear that AI technology will eventually replace human workers altogether, leading to widespread unemployment.

AI Technology

One of the key advantages of AI technology is its ability to automate routine and repetitive tasks. For example, AI algorithms can be used to process large amounts of data and make predictions based on that data, reducing the need for human intervention. In industries such as finance and customer service, AI has already been implemented to automate processes such as account reconciliation and customer service inquiries. This has led to increased efficiency and productivity, as well as improved accuracy and reduced errors.

However, while AI may automate certain tasks, it is unlikely to replace all human workers. This is because AI is still limited in its ability to perform tasks that require creativity, empathy, and critical thinking. For example, AI algorithms may be able to analyze data and make predictions, but they lack the ability to understand the context and implications of that data in the same way a human can.

Furthermore, the impact of AI technology on employment will depend on the industry and the type of job in question. In some industries, such as manufacturing, AI may have a significant impact, leading to the automation of many manual tasks and the loss of low-skill jobs. In other industries, such as healthcare and education, AI is likely to have a more limited impact, as these industries require human interaction and empathy.

Speed of technology

Another factor that will determine the impact of AI on employment is the speed of technological advancement and the rate at which new jobs are created. While some jobs may be lost to automation, new jobs are also being created as a result of the growth of AI and other technological innovations. For example, the development of AI has led to the creation of new roles such as data scientists, AI engineers, and ethical AI consultants, who are responsible for developing and managing AI systems.

Additionally, the impact of AI on employment will depend on the level of education and training of the workforce. As AI takes over routine and repetitive tasks, workers will need to acquire new skills and knowledge to remain employable. This will require investment in education and training, as well as a willingness to learn and adapt.

It is also worth noting that the impact of AI on employment will not be uniform across all countries and regions. Developed countries with strong economies and well-educated populations are likely to be better equipped to adapt to the changes brought about by AI. In contrast, developing countries with weaker economies and less-educated populations may struggle to keep up, leading to increased unemployment and social unrest.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, while AI technology has the potential to automate many tasks, it is unlikely to replace all human workers. The impact of AI on employment will depend on a range of factors, including the industry, the type of job, the speed of technological advancement, the level of education and training of the workforce, and the economic and social conditions in different countries. As AI continues to evolve, it will be important for governments, businesses, and individuals to work together to ensure that its impact on employment is as positive as possible. This will require investment in education and training, as well as a willingness to adapt and embrace new technologies.

CIO Feature: AI’s Healthcare Promise Will Serve Patients

Published: 27 February 2020
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: News

CIO.com official logo from IDGBrian was recently featured in a crowd-sourced article on CIO.com about “AI’s Healthcare Promise Will Serve Patients – And More“.

“From early disease detection, improved patient safety, reduced or eliminated repeatable/mundane tasks and human errors, and more accurate medical billing, AI will play an expanding role in healthcare”, says Brian E. Thomas, Healthcare CIO. “Simply put, implementing a set of processes that combines both machines and humans will reap the most benefits.”

AI’s healthcare promise

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry and significantly improve patient outcomes. With its ability to process large amounts of data quickly and accurately, AI can help healthcare providers to make more informed decisions, improve patient care, and streamline operations.

One of the biggest promises of AI in healthcare is its ability to help diagnose and treat diseases more accurately and efficiently. With the vast amounts of patient data being generated every day, AI can analyze this information and identify patterns that may not be noticeable to the human eye. This can help healthcare providers to make more accurate diagnoses, predict potential health issues, and develop individualized treatment plans. AI can also help to identify patients who are at high risk of developing certain conditions and intervene early, reducing the likelihood of serious health problems.

Medical research

Another area where AI has the potential to significantly improve healthcare is in medical research and drug development. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data from clinical trials, medical literature, and patient records, identifying potential treatments and therapeutic targets. This can speed up the development of new drugs and treatments, improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

Moreover, AI’s healthcare promise will help to streamline administrative and operational tasks, freeing up time and resources for healthcare providers to focus on patient care. AI-powered chatbots, for example, can provide patients with 24/7 access to healthcare information and assist with scheduling appointments, while automating administrative tasks such as appointment scheduling, claims processing, and record-keeping can reduce errors and increase efficiency.

Conclusion

The potential of AI in healthcare is vast and holds tremendous promise for improving patient outcomes. From improving diagnoses and treatments to streamlining operations, AI has the potential to transform healthcare delivery and provide patients with better, more accessible, and more personalized care. It’s important that healthcare providers embrace this technology and work to harness its potential for the benefit of patients everywhere. And so, AI’s healthcare promise will serve patients.

BMC Feature: CIOs Advocating for Automation Platforms

Published: 10 February 2020
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: News

Official BMC Helix logo as part of CIO.comBrian was recently featured in a crowd-sourced article on BMC Felix about “A Single Point of Control: How IT Leaders are Advocating for Automation Platforms“.

“Accelerated detection and remediation are the results of incorporating emerging technologies into the automated platform”, says Brian Thomas (@DivergentCIO), CTO of Coruzant Technologies.

“Cybersecurity products have been and are increasingly incorporating more AI technology into their platforms and appliances, due to the sheer number of daily attacks on company networks,” he says. “Utilizing AI technology, these tools not only can learn over time, but they have the ability to immediately detect, alert, and disable threats on the spot — even if it is something that it is not familiar with or has ever seen.”

Automation platforms

Automation platforms are rapidly gaining popularity among CIOs, who are advocating for their implementation in the workplace. These platforms offer a range of benefits, including improved efficiency, increased productivity, and reduced costs. As such, it is no surprise that CIOs are increasingly pushing for their adoption.

One of the key advantages of automation platforms is their ability to streamline processes and eliminate repetitive manual tasks. By automating routine and time-consuming tasks, companies can free up valuable time and resources for more strategic initiatives. Additionally, automation platforms are designed to minimize the risk of human error, leading to increased accuracy and reliability in operations.

Another major benefit of automation platforms is their ability to increase productivity and efficiency. Automated processes are typically faster and more accurate than manual ones, reducing the amount of time spent on routine tasks and freeing up staff to focus on more valuable activities. In addition, automation systems can integrate with existing systems and applications, providing a seamless and efficient work environment.

Additionally, CIOs are advocating for these platforms due to the cost savings they can deliver. Automation eliminates the need for manual labor, reducing labor costs and freeing up resources for other initiatives. Furthermore, automation platforms can reduce the risk of errors and improve overall efficiency, reducing the need for rework and additional expenses.

Conclusion

CIOs are increasingly advocating for the implementation of automation platforms in the workplace. These platforms offer a range of benefits, including improved efficiency, increased productivity, and reduced costs, making them an attractive option for organizations looking to improve their operations. As automation continues to gain popularity, CIOs will play a critical role in promoting its adoption and helping organizations to realize its full potential.

Harvard Business Review: The Power of Predictive IT

Published: 25 June 2019
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: News

Brian was featured in a crowd-sourced whitepaper on Harvard Business Review about “The Power of Predictive IT“.

“As soon as you can employ automated tools to do work humans were doing, there’s a huge increase in the time the resources get back to work on strategies to strengthen your operations environment”, says Brian Thomas (@DivergentCIO), CTO of Coruzant Technologies.

Reliability and uptime are critical components of any successful business operation, but all too often, outages and downtime can have a negative impact on productivity, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, the bottom line. In today’s fast-paced business world, it’s essential to have a comprehensive strategy in place to ensure the reliability of your systems and prevent outages. Here are some steps organizations can take to improve reliability and prevent outages across the enterprise, leveraging the power of predictive IT:

  1. Perform Regular Maintenance and Upgrades: Regular maintenance and upgrades to hardware and software systems can help to prevent outages and improve reliability. This includes tasks such as patching, software upgrades, and hardware replacements.
  2. Implement a Disaster Recovery Plan: A disaster recovery plan is a critical component of any reliability strategy. The plan should outline procedures for data backup, system restoration, and communication in the event of an outage. Regular testing of the plan is also important to ensure its effectiveness.
  3. Monitor Systems and Applications: Monitoring systems and applications in real-time can help to identify potential problems before they become outages. This can be done using tools such as log analysis, system performance monitoring, and network monitoring.
  4. Implement Redundancy and High Availability: Redundancy and high availability solutions can help to ensure that critical systems and applications are always available, even in the event of an outage. This includes solutions such as failover clustering, load balancing, and disaster recovery solutions.
  5. Train Employees: Employee training is also an important component of any reliability strategy. Employees should be trained on proper maintenance procedures, as well as on disaster recovery and business continuity planning.
  6. Partner with a Managed Services Provider: A managed services provider can provide expertise, support, and resources to help ensure the reliability of your systems and prevent outages. This can include proactive monitoring, incident response, and remediation services.

Improving reliability and preventing outages requires a comprehensive approach that includes regular maintenance and upgrades, disaster recovery planning, monitoring, redundancy and high availability solutions, employee training, and partnering with a managed services provider. By taking these steps, organizations can improve their overall reliability and minimize the impact of outages on their operations and bottom line. This is the power of predictive IT.

Why Artificial Intelligence is Important in Healthcare

Published: 28 March 2017
Written by Brian E. Thomas
Categories: Brian's Blog

We know that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a hot topic right now, yet on the flip side there has been criticism around its hype, especially at HIMSS17 this year. However, we need to continue to invest into AI Research and Development so we can maximize the benefits, such as lower healthcare costs, improved provider efficiency, more accurate billing, and safer patient care. There are so many reasons why Artificial Intelligence is important in healthcare.

Will Robots Replace Us?

It’s unlikely that robots and computers will totally take the place of doctors and nurses, but AI can’t be ignored in its efforts to revolutionize the healthcare industry. Not only does it predict outcomes and improve diagnostics, it changes the way healthcare providers think about how they provide care, says Forbes. The future possibilities are endless: industry analysts say that 30 percent of providers will use cognitive analytics with patient data by 2018.

Access to big data is essential. Think about how we grew up with the Dewey Decimal system. A trip to the library could take hours as we pored through the stacks trying to find what we wanted. Today, our kids are astonished that we didn’t have Google at our fingertips to learn anything we wanted to know. With the advent of AI quickly taking over the horizon, our kids’ kids will be the ones shocked that all their parents had to learn information was a simple computer and search engine. Just like that, the future takes hold even when we can’t comprehend the next step.

The Reach of AI

There are many ways artificial intelligence is predicted to impact the field of healthcare. Personalized medicine is one major benefit. AI is part of a far-reaching, continually growing, adaptive connected digital infrastructure. However, access is limited because there is just so much information out there. With the help of AI, it will become easier than ever to process, analyze and bring up research, publications, studies and more than can put accurate, timely information into the hands of the user. Healthcare providers now have the ability to use this information as a tool to compare, compile and analyze patient files in order to come up with an accurate diagnosis.

In addition to quick access, precision is a critical piece of the puzzle as well. Because AI has the ability to tap into huge databases that contain information on anything from symptoms and analysis results to family history and similar diagnoses of other patients around the world. The evolution of pathology and possible treatments has suddenly been made precise. While AI can’t prevent all errors — at least not yet anyway — it can drastically reduce them. This in turn will reduce operating room mix-ups, mis-diagnoses, and more.

Artificial Intelligence is Important

That leads us to the next important component of artificial intelligence: prevention. With the focus being on preventive and predictive medicine, it’s possible with AI to avoid injury and disease altogether.

The value of virtual assistants has already been explored and used within other industries, such as SEM and retail. The goal there is to put more power in the hands of the consumer. Why not empower patients in the same way?

Understandably, advances in big data and AI pose ethical debates, especially within the healthcare sector (think personnel shortages, legal responsibilities, privacy issues, potential misuse of the system, etc.). However, there are so many more benefits that can revolutionize the way we practice medicine, treat patients, and indeed view our entire medical future. Artificial Intelligence is important to move healthcare forward.