IT behemoths and their AI experiments

It is in the field of AI that the largest chunk of IT competition lies. Tech giants like Google, Apple, and Microsoft are heavily investing in AI experiments, clearly, to dominate the market of the future.

Investments in the field of artificial intelligence have increased drastically. In 2015 alone, tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Baidu invested $8.5 billion. This was 4 times more than the investment made in 2010. Figures like these generate curiosity and makes us bring to you the AI experiments that some of the IT behemoths are carrying out.

AI experiments by IBM

IBM’s Watson Conversation API is used to build a virtual assistant for a UK based Arthritis research center. It can reply to questions concerning joint pain and can propose appropriate exercises to alleviate symptoms. In the current version, the AI assistant can answer about 1000 general questions and 50 musculoskeletal conditions.

AI experiments by Microsoft

Microsoft is revamping its AI, Cortana, to make it easier for people to use Windows on iOS and Android platforms. Cortana will predict the user’s needs by suggesting her the articles she may want to open based upon her recent documents. The more Cortana is used, the more adept it will be in selecting the right document. Microsoft is also inviting companies to test its new AI services, such as the Emotion API image analysis tool, that are used to identify various emotions expressed by faces in a photo and then predict whether the person is angry, sad, happy or something else.

AI experiments by Google

Google is investing heavily in deep neural networks, which is an interesting interplay between machine learning and AI. AlphaGo, a program developed by Google’s DeepMind subsidiary, has defeated the 18-time world GO champion, Lee Sedol. Apart from this, Google is coming up with many other AI experiments like the ‘Thing Translator’ where if you provide a picture of any object, it will tell you the name of the object.

Google has been working on Objectifier Spatial Programming (OSP) that allows users to train objects around them to respond to their behavior. The tech giant has received huge success in this field as it has been able to build a creative relationship between the object and the user without the use of any programming language.

Google is currently working on ‘Google Brain’ to improve people’s lives by making machines smarter and flexible, which will enable them to learn and use data efficiently.

AI experiments by Apple

Apple was leading the AI space by introducing Siri back in 2011, which gave it a competitive edge over other tech giants such as Google and Microsoft. Recently it bought up Lattice Data, a specialist in unstructured ‘dark data’.

Apple is now working on the ‘Apple Neural Engine’ that will help in face and speech recognition. Moreover, it also working on a dedicated chip to power AI on its devices, such as iPhones and iPads, that will considerably improve its hardware. Besides, AI-enabled processors would provide advanced capabilities, such as driverless cars and gadgets, that would run augmented reality.

IT behemoths desire to get an early edge in artificial intelligence to reap maximum rewards and profits in times to come. The good news is that some of these experiments are for the public good and will augment our capabilities like never before. Let’s hope to witness such a win-win situation play out in the near future.