Below are some top trends you should watch in AI this year.
- Demand for AI talent will continue to be high
As AI continues gaining fame, talent will be required to accelerate adoption. This will specifically be the case going into 2021. Businesses will continue realizing the importance of AI and how the right talent will help them succeed in their operations. Like the way Chief Data Officers (CDOs) have worked to ensure data is accessible to users, including non-technical ones, AI professionals will help democratize artificial intelligence. These professionals will work to ensure that AI is usable by different types of users. The democratization of AI has already started, with the primary aim being to contextualize, manage change and establish proper AI governance. This is expected to move a notch higher this year.
- There will be a competition for AI-enabled chips
Artificial intelligence is coming with new demands of more processing power than ever as AI systems tend to involve a lot of data processing. With such a growth in processing demand, there will be a heightened need for access to more powerful hardware. Going into 2021, AI-enabled chips and supply chains is set to be one of the trends in 2021. This hardware will increase efficiency and enable effective and widespread automation. Already, the leading chipmakers such as NVIDIA, Qualcomm, and Intel are rapidly developing AI-enabled chips in anticipation of future trends.
- Augmented processes will emerge
Artificial intelligence and data are crucial to modern organizations in gaining a competitive advantage. These two will be part of a bigger strategy for innovation and automation in 2021. Companies will seek to use AI and big data to build scalable, lean and timely data from heterogeneous sources that support innovation. Businesses will be going a step further with process augmentation. This approach will improve collaboration and enhance collective intelligence.
- Growth in AI applications
With all the talk about the use of AI becoming louder across the world today, it is my guess that 2021 will be a big year for AI applications. From retail to supply chain, you should expect a rise in the use of AI to gather insight, enhance the efficiency of operations and save cost in a digital landscape. AI will continue entering organizations through applications such as chatbots and other software platforms meant to streamline processes. Expect more interaction with AI in your mobile devices and computers as you perform your operations, such as online shopping.
- AI ethics and standards will be a leading focus
Although artificial intelligence has proven to be helpful already, there is a concern about its use. In 2021, there will be a rise in attempts to ensure organizations leverage AI against major global challenges while ensuring it meets the ethical thresholds, inclusion, and diversity. AI must also stimulate innovation and economic growth. Fairness and transparency will become the two key areas of focus as artificial intelligence become crucial for different industries. There will be ethical concerns about deepfakes, algorithmic bias, data protection, and acceptance use, that are likely to be areas of concern in 2021.
