Artificial intelligence is making its presence known across all areas of industry and function. As consumers of technology, the CIO and his or her team are not immune from the perceived threats of the technology and practice.
A study from academic researchers published by Oak Ridge National Laboratory predicts that “by 2040, machine learning and natural language processing technologies will have become so advanced they will be able to write better software code faster than the best human coders.”
The researchers posit that “extreme heterogeneity, along with the rest of the computing world, will be required to move with the demands of usability and productivity in interesting ways."
FutureCIO spoke to Sunny Rao, senior vice president of API Global Sales at Vonage, for his take on how AI today is redefining the enterprise application landscape.
How will AI influence modernisation strategies for faster time-to-value?
Sunny Rao: AI is serving as a crucial transformative force by significantly expediting the time-to-value for organisations. By leveraging artificial intelligence, businesses can now streamline various processes, enhance decision-making, and help automate tasks, accelerating the overall modernisation journey.
By automating repetitive tasks, AI allows teams to redirect their focus towards high-value activities that require creativity, strategic thinking, and nuanced decision-making. This shift not only optimises resource allocation but also fosters a more productive and engaged workforce.
"The integration of advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms plays a pivotal role in modernisation strategies. These technologies empower organisations to extract meaningful insights from vast and complex datasets. This capability is instrumental in unveiling patterns, trends, and correlations that might otherwise remain hidden."
Sunny Rao
AI also acts as a strategic driver in modernisation efforts by instilling a proactive approach within organisations. Through predictive analytics, AI technologies are able to anticipate trends, identify potential challenges, and propose innovative solutions.
This forward-looking capability empowers organisations to not only react to changes but to proactively shape their modernisation journey by staying ahead in a fast-paced business landscape.
What is the future of intelligent applications?
Sunny Rao: We're anticipating a significant focus on personalised user experiences, where applications adapt to individual preferences. Concurrently, advanced AI-driven automation is designed to streamline tasks, enhancing operational efficiency.
Apart from that, refinements in Natural Language Processing (NLP) are also important, especially in conversational interfaces like chatbots and virtual assistants, helping to make interactions more intuitive. The strategic integration with the Internet of Things (IoT) positions intelligent applications to leverage real-time data for more informed decision-making.
In response to escalating data volumes, machine learning capabilities will evolve, extracting actionable insights for predictive analytics and data-driven decisions. Ethical considerations are significant in this evolution, ensuring responsible and transparent AI algorithm deployment.
The integration of computer vision technologies offers promising prospects for immersive user experiences, particularly in sectors like gaming and education. Simultaneously, ongoing advancements in deep learning techniques fortify the foundation of intelligent applications.
These enhancements empower applications to handle complex tasks with improved precision, from image recognition to natural language understanding.
In summary, these transformative trends signify a future where intelligent applications redefine user experiences and play a pivotal role in optimising business operations through a seamless blend of innovation and user-centric design.
The democratisation of AI and what it means for application development.
Sunny Rao: The democratisation of AI is fundamentally changing how we approach application development. First and foremost, it fosters a culture of innovation. With AI tools more readily available, a diverse pool of developers, not just AI specialists, can contribute to and explore innovative solutions. This inclusivity sparks creativity and allows for a faster pace of development.
Additionally, the democratisation of AI facilitates rapid prototyping and experimentation. Developers, regardless of their level of expertise in AI, can now easily experiment with AI concepts within their applications. This iterative process speeds up development cycles and enables quick refinement of AI features.
Customisation is another key aspect. Developers can now tailor AI solutions to meet the specific needs of their applications. Whether it's natural language processing, image recognition, or predictive analytics, customisation allows for a more targeted and effective integration of AI functionalities.
Beyond the development process, there's a noticeable reduction in costs. The availability of user-friendly AI tools and pre-built models saves time and resources that would otherwise be spent on developing AI capabilities from the ground up. This cost-effectiveness is particularly advantageous for businesses with limited resources.
Do we still need custom applications in 2024?
Sunny Rao: In 2024, the need for custom applications remains paramount for several reasons. Custom solutions offer tailored responses to specific business needs, providing a competitive advantage in a dynamic market. They excel in seamless integration with existing systems, ensuring efficient operations and scalability as businesses grow.
Custom applications prioritise enhanced security measures, and ensure optimised user experiences, and other crucial factors in today's technology landscape. Additionally, businesses benefit from full ownership and control over their software, enabling adaptability to industry regulations.
While off-the-shelf solutions have their merits, custom applications will continue to be indispensable for organisations that are seeking unique, scalable, and adaptable technology solutions tailored to their specific objectives, competitive differentiation, and industry requirements.
Organisations will continue to invest in custom applications to gain a competitive edge and meet their specific needs in 2024 and beyond.
