AI for a Better Tomorrow: Intel's Impactful Sessions at CES 2024

In case you missed Intel’s AI Track at CES 2024, below is a quick recap of the highlights from the three sessions that I got to watch in-person. Each session gave a glimpse into a different aspect of AI, led by experts who were not just leaders in their fields but also extremely passionate about their space. If you’d like to watch the 3-min recap video from these sessions, click here. I’m really thankful that I had the opportunity to be hosted by Intel!?

GenAI - Lab to Real World

In this session the speakers delved into the art and science of GenAI, focusing on tackling real-world challenges using smaller, more targeted, and customized AI models. They also addressed issues related to security and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The session featured insights from notable speakers, including Davor Cindric, Vice President and General Manager of the Strategic Alliance Organization at Intel Corporation; Vasudev Lal, an AI Research Scientist at Intel Labs; Gadi Singer, Vice President of Intel Labs and Director of Emergent AI Research; Arun Subramanian from Articul8; and Suchi Srinivasan, Managing Director & Partner at BCG Consulting.

Gadi Singer, VP at Intel Labs, really caught my attention with his talk on the rise of smaller, more agile AI models. He delved into the tricky decisions AI developers have to make these days. It's like standing at a crossroads: do you go with an outsourced, one-size-fits-all AI model, or do you invest time and resources in developing a custom-tuned model that fits your specific needs like a glove? This dilemma is pretty common in the AI world right now.

What's cool about these nimble AI models is their flexibility. They are constantly adapting and evolving, and they get a real boost from the open-source community. Sure, they might not pack the same punch as GPT-4, but they're still pretty powerful tools in their own right.

Gadi also highlighted a significant shift in the AI landscape – from Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to Retrieval Centric Generation (RCG). RCG is all about pulling in more external data, which is a game-changer. It means you can trace where info came from, ramp up accuracy, and keep things up-to-date. It's like having a smarter, more informed AI at your fingertips.

There was also a lot of talk about getting these smaller models to do exactly what you need them to do, fine-tuning them to perfection. And this isn't just lab talk – we're seeing these models make the leap from research to real-world applications at lightning speed, with Intel Labs leading the charge.

Then there was Davor Cindric, VP of Strategic Alliances at Intel, who, along with Arun Subramanian from Articul8 and Suchi Srinivasan from BCG Consulting, dove into how they're scaling AI to tackle some of the toughest challenges out there. It's not just about making AI bigger; it's about making it smarter and more applicable to real-world problems. They're not just playing around with cool tech – they're solving issues that impact businesses and lives.

Suchi shared insights from BCG's research, revealing a significant increase in AI adoption. The discussions revolved around driving business impact through AI, enhancing customer experiences, and the complexities faced by clients when scaling beyond proof of concept (POC) stages. They emphasized the need for understanding the technological ecosystem, crafting resilient tech stacks, and redesigning business processes with a focus on Speed, Security, Scalability, and Sustainability—the 4 S’s.

Arun talked about Articul8, a cloud and hardware agnostic platform, optimized for Intel, that exemplifies these 4 S principles. The platform is designed for handling massive data, and smoothly transitions from processing hundreds to hundreds of thousands of documents, emphasizing storage, retrieval, and response efficiency.?

Unlike traditional models, Articul8 engages ONLY in production pilots, avoiding POCs. Their approach involves starting with tens of billions of tokens and delivering results within 6-8 weeks, with the longest pilot to-date being only 10 weeks. This strategy underlines that models are a means to an end, not an end themselves, with Articul8 serving as a vertically optimized enterprise Gen AI platform. The platform’s large-scale deployment in the cloud or on-premise showcases an innovative direction in AI, where the reliance on highly technical data scientists is significantly reduced. This reduction in technical friction allows for more natural language interactions and a more intuitive use of AI. Remarkably, over 90% of Articlu8's pilots have successfully transitioned into full-fledged applications, highlighting the platform's efficacy in real-world AI deployment.

AI Revolutionizes Sports & Entertainment at the Olympic Games

This session highlighted AI's transformative impact on the upcoming Paris 2024 Games. The session explored how AI revolutionized various aspects of the Olympic Games, including athlete training and performance enhancements, as well as innovations in smart venue management and global broadcast technologies. Speakers at this session included Aviv Arnon, CBDO & Co-Founder of WSC Sports at Intel Corporation; Stephanie Joukoff, GM of Network & Edge Marketing at Intel Corporation; Zachary Klima, Founder and CEO at Intel Corporation; and Jonathan Lee, Chief Product Officer at ai.io.?

Stephanie Jauckoff, the general manager of network and edge marketing at Intel, opened the discussion with an in-depth look at how AI is revolutionizing crowd management and enhancing fan experiences at the Olympics. She detailed how AI technologies like facial recognition and behavioral analysis are being deployed to manage large crowds, ensuring both efficiency and safety. Jauckoff's narrative painted a picture of a future where AI not only streamlines event logistics but also significantly improves the spectator experience.

Jonathan Lee from ai.io took the stage next, delving into the critical role of AI in sports talent scouting and training. He introduced three innovative products: aiScout, aiLabs, and 3DAT. aiScout, a groundbreaking tool in talent scouting, uses AI algorithms to analyze athletes' performances, democratizing access to opportunities in sports. aiLabs, on the other hand, focuses on enhancing athletes' training regimens by providing detailed analytics and performance insights. The 3DAT system, a marvel of AI application, captures and analyzes athletes' movements in three dimensions, offering an unprecedented level of detail in performance analysis. These tools, Lee emphasized, are leveling the playing field in sports, making talent identification and development more inclusive and data-driven.

Zack Klima from WaitTime introduced another dimension of AI application in sports - venue management. He showcased how WaitTime's patented algorithms optimize venue operations, focusing on queuing, crowd management, and real-time monitoring. Klima highlighted the efficiency gains and enhanced fan experiences achieved through their AI solutions, painting a vivid picture of how technology can transform the often-frustrating aspects of event attendance into smooth, enjoyable experiences.

Finally, Aviv Arnon from WSC Sports discussed Intel's Geti platform and its role in revolutionizing content creation for sports fans. He emphasized the shift towards AI-driven, short-form content, catering to the evolving consumption patterns of the digital age. Arnon showcased how the Geti platform enables rapid generation of personalized sports content, engaging fans with tailored highlights and stories, and transforming the way sports narratives are crafted and consumed.

Unlock Ultimate Customer Experience With AI

The session was dedicated to showcasing how AI has significantly enhanced customer experience (CX) at various touchpoints. It provided insights into AI's role in creating frictionless Point of Sale (POS) systems, ensuring the perfect fit for products, streamlining order processes, offering personalized recommendations, and fostering customer loyalty. The speakers for this session included Haniff Brown, CEO of FIT:MATCH at Intel Corporation; Atif Kureishy, CEO of Vistry, Inc.; Ken Mills, CEO of EPIC iO; and Stacey Shulman, Vice President of Health, Education, and Consumer Industries at Intel Corporation.?

The final session centered around how AI is revolutionizing the customer experience, particularly in retail and service industries. Stacey Shulman, VP of the Health, Education, and Consumer Industries group at Intel, spearheaded the discussion. She elaborated on how AI is transforming the retail sector by processing data right where it's generated. This approach is all about blending digital convenience with the tangible aspects of physical shopping, creating a seamless experience that feels both modern and personal. Stacey emphasized that the future of retail hinges on this successful integration of digital and physical realms, leveraging AI to enhance customer satisfaction.

Ken Mills from Epic iO then took the stage, introducing their edge-based solutions designed to boost security and customer experiences in retail settings. He particularly focused on the security challenges in retail parking lots, a critical yet often overlooked aspect of the shopping experience. Ken explained how their solutions use AI to ensure safety and efficiency in these areas, transforming them from regular parking spaces into integral parts of the customer journey.

Next up was Haniff Brown from Fit:Match, who presented their innovative body scanning technology. This system, powered by Intel's LiDAR sensors and the OpenVINO toolkit, offers a groundbreaking approach to shopping for clothes. By providing personalized fit recommendations based on precise body scans, Fit:Match is changing how we think about size and fit in clothing, making shopping more tailored and less of a guessing game. I’d personally try this out if I came across their 1-sec body scanner just to see the data :)?

Finally, Atif Kureishy discussed the role of AI in food service. He delved into how AI can automate operations and personalize customer interactions. By using conversational AI and data-driven insights, Atif demonstrated how restaurants and food services could enhance efficiency and customer engagement. He talked about how the future of dining and food ordering is in the seamless integration of AI, ensuring that each customer feels understood and valued. He shared many examples of how this technology is already transforming the customer AND employee experience.?

These sessions showcased how AI is being integrated into various sectors, from retail and sports to customer service, emphasizing customization, efficiency, and enhanced user experiences; powered by Intel. It's truly fascinating to observe Intel's initiatives in AI. Their dedication to driving progress in this field is incredible and the work they are doing is significantly advancing artificial intelligence technology. Also - I can’t wait to get my hands on an AI PC ??

Written by Kate Strachnyi, Founder of DATAcated and #IntelAmbassador?