“your voice assistant can now, by itself schedule that board meeting, plan a trip to the Bahamas or even book a family dinner”

Over the last few years, the world as a whole has witnessed several quantum leaps in the quality of certain technologies. No longer does voice dialling ‘mum’ or ‘dad’ translate to calling a phantom ‘nun’ or nonexistent ‘pad,’ our mobile devices are smarter now.

We can communicate better with them and more impressively they’re learning to respond intelligently, almost like humans will. At the foundations of this improved efficiency in the functioning of voice recognition and other conventional technologies are the not so conventional technological marvels – Artificial intelligence and machine learning

Setting the bar higher

AI and machine learning combined have already revolutionised just how we interact with and manipulate machines, but there’s no argument that there’s still a lot of room for improvement. This is exactly what pioneers of innovation like Google are set on achieving.

Just last week Google debuted Duplex, a system based on a deep neural network, configured to engage in natural conversations and undertake real-world tasks via a mobile device. Duplex is unlike the typical voice assistant. Siri, Alexa, or Cortana all pale in comparison to its abilities.

The primary reason for this is its subsistence on advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning. Duplex relies on these two to decipher the complex machinations of normal human speech – it can analyse the subtle ‘uhs’ and ‘ums’ to derive contextual meaning to speech before proceeding to respond appropriately in an almost (Google says – entirely) human-like manner. The implication of this is that your voice assistant can now, by itself schedule that board meeting, plan a trip to the Bahamas or even book a family dinner at your favourite restaurant.

This is, however, just the beginning

Google’s Duplex though outstanding by every stretch of the imagination is but a subtle showcase of the latent capabilities of AI and machine learning. Together and in combination with other technologies these two are leading a much more significant charge, that of Industry 4.0 – a homogenised system of manufacturing that obliterates traditional limitation to production, and scales ups efficiency and effectiveness.

Industry 4.0 is the future that’s already well evident in the present, case in point is Tesla’s Gigafactory. Bolstered by this arsenal of technologies it’s redefining the manufacturing sector and giving humans a higher edge to innovate and then translate these innovations into cost-efficient working models.

Even though they’re concerns about the somewhat intrusive nature of its foundational technologies (AI and machine learning), Industry 4.0 heralds a new technological age that’s bound to ameliorate its shortcomings

Innovation 4.0 served from the plate of B&C

As staunch adherents of the innovative and progressive way, B&C is also party to the Industry 4.0 round-table. In a similar manner to how Google using AI and machine learning to tune Duplex into a precision voice assistant, B&C is collaborating with its partners to develop GPS technology that leverages on the core efficiencies of IoT and industry 4.0.

For B&C, innovation is indeed leading the charge. And flanked by IoT and Industry 4.0; it’s a charge that’s bound to precipitate into revolutionary products and services.