AI – what is it and how does it affect my business?
These are two questions Callaghan Innovation’s Jonathan Miller is often asked.
It’s his job to explain artificial intelligence (AI) and how it all works.
His expertise is at the interface between business and science/technology.
While Miller’s official title is national tech network manager, his role is really as a champion for several digital technologies, including “demystifying” AI.
“My job is to explain the technology and excite customers to try it. It’s demystifying the experience for them.”
Artificial intelligence is about computer systems with human-like intelligence.
The field is already having a big impact on the automotive industry. One part, autonomous systems, applies to self-drive vehicles and drones.
It’s shaping up as a game changer for the heavy traffic industry especially, although it may not put truck drivers out of work as some fear.
Drivers might still be needed in autonomous (and probably electric) trucks to handle the trickier side of getting vehicles from their base to the highway and later to their destination, Miller reckons.
The self-driving applications would probably work best on the highways, leaving the driver free to do other company related work through on-board communication systems.
Most new or near new vehicles already have some form of autonomy, even if it’s just cruise control.
Other parts of AI can involve machine learning, pattern recognition, robotics, language processing and more.
Miller’s other interests in the tech field include virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR).
Those are being used now in training automotive students. A example is welding, where a mask and wand simulate the task without anything being scorched.
“Ford is using VR in its prototypes, building 3D computer generated models,” Miller says. These can act rather like a flight simulator, helping sort issues and details before a vehicle is actually produced.
AR is already being used in motorcycle helmets. A heads-up display (HUD) and an app combine to provide the rider with a visual display in the helmet showing speed, navigational information and distance without the rider taking their eyes off the road ahead.
It’s billed as a smart and safer way to ride.
AI, especially autonomous vehicles, will have “a huge impact” on society, Miller believes.
“It will change the way we live and work.”
New services, some already being introduced, enable people to no longer own a vehicle but to ride share or car-share with others in their area and probably do their work while travelling.
“Many new services will give people more work and leisure time, making roads safer,” Miller says.
Miller says high autonomy may not be far off.
“Leading auto manufacturers are saying level four or five autonomy may be ready around 2020 to 2025.”
“If that’s the case, the first big improvement will be around urban mobility.”
Miller says business models will change. “A survey of auto executives found about 59% think that by 2025 more than half of car owners would no longer want to own one.”
That signals big changes, Miller says.
“I think we might see some hybrid solutions in terms of platooning (a leading vehicle directing following ones or ‘slaves’.
Miller says intelligent transport infrastructure here is well advanced, along with related autonomous developments, giving as an example in this field HMI Technologies’ work (see EVtalk September magazine, P3 & 22).
Driverless forklift technology was developed in New Zealand and is used in factories here.
“There’s a lot of talent in New Zealand working on this sort of thing,” Miller says.
Jobs will change, but Miller believes that with autonomous vehicles and robotics, humans will still be needed to do the thinking.
“AI provides the tools to make jobs easier and let us concentrate on the problem solving.”
People will need training and upskilling to perform new roles, especially as AI will create new employment directions.
Miller says New Zealand has the skills and technology, plus a good regulatory environment, to foster new developments.
“The future looks really exciting.”
