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European Week of Regions and Cities

Progress is inevitable: How can organizations use the power of AI?

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I am inevitable. I am the future you cannot stop said one robot to another, and he was completely right. The progress of modern technology cannot be oppressed. More importantly, it shouldn’t be. Although it’s still in the cradle, artificial intelligence truly makes the world a better place.

By Natália Mrázová (Edited by Dino Subašić)

Industries are using advanced AI technologies and machine learning to make people’s lives easier. A 2018 McKinsey research showed that around 47 % of organizations have integrated at least one AI solution. As time progresses, we are getting closer and closer to a 3 digit number, with a ratio of circa 71 %. But what is modern AI and how can we utilize it in organizational and regional development?

Smarter technology, smarter community

An AI is a simulated intelligence that uses a level of autonomy in order to perform certain tasks, so humans don’t have to. It creates a synergy between what needs to be done by machines and what we wish to do ourselves. Still, many people have a phobia of technological progress. It actually even has a very creative name - technophobia. Yet, dystopian scenarios of robots taking over the world are built on nothing but paranoia.

Despite attempts to create intelligent androids with a level of human consciousness, their silicon “brain” still only has hundreds of neural connections. The human brain has billions of them. These robots, therefore, aren’t closer to being alive than a spoon of water. Yet, AI offers other amazing advantages, its usage makes the world a smarter place. And that’s what matters.

“Machines and humans are like close friends. One cannot exist without another. In a sense, technology leads our lives. But someone has to be here to develop it. So, we make each other better. With smarter AI, we build smarter communities,” says Margaret Quinn, a programme manager in Ernact, an international network of European regional and city public authorities.

A brave new world for everyone

Each part of society, each industry, all have use of AI. It helps to detect credit card fraud. It makes our homes automated. It stores our data on the cloud. It takes us to places where we otherwise cannot go. It answers our questions. For example, Bloomberg uses Cyborg technology to help make quick sense of complex financial reports.

Table: The most appreciated AI functions

In the end, AI does what traditional analysis, scoring or even humans do. But 10 or 100 times faster, more efficiently, and with lower error rates. Many organizations are hesitant to incorporate artificial intelligence into their activities because they don’t want to allocate a huge amount of money or lack skilled programmers.

Ernact network claims none of this is needed. Their team develops basic AI software projects that can push organizations and regional development miles ahead. With no requirement for extra computer skills. 

Save time and expenses 

One of the examples of simple organizational software is a programme that uses machine learning to search for the most relevant content, based on various tags. This can automate manual browsing through reports and statistics, saving hours of administrative time. 

Maxia Zabaleta, a digital communication specialist in Ernact, poses another possibility for automation - educational visits. “The personal ones are expensive, logistically challenging, and take a lot of time to organize,” she claims. This is where VR (virtual reality) comes into play. 

To manifest their projects effectively for everyone, organizations can simply make an online tour. People move through the room just by clicking on different points on their screens. “You can also add buttons with all necessary information you want visitors to know,” adds Maxia. 

A similar idea is a portal with professional online sessions. This concept is nothing new. But it’s a simple way municipalities can educate citizens. In any topic possible, including green and regional development. “You can make quizzes, monitor a number of participants, see who your visitors are. The possibilities are endless and execution simple,” comments programme manager Jose Manuel San Emeterio. 

Where to head next? 

The future brings all those possibilities. They sound amazing, don’t they? There is only one issue: they aren’t being implemented everywhere we need them.

"ERNACT will further incorporate these technologies into our project processes. Other early public sector adaptors involved in European projects can play a similar role, helping to demystify the use of disruptive digital technologies for the public and private sector in their own regions and cities", states Colm Mc Colgan, General Manager of ERNACT.

If we truly want to develop our regions, we first need to adjust our means. Adjust our next steps to where we are all heading - towards an age of complete digitalization. As Margaret Quinn said previously, artificial intelligence is not here to disrupt human connections. It’s here to connect us via mutual development. 

Smart projects like VR tours, automated databases, or online education create more efficient progress, smarter regions, and a safer world. It’s time to embrace them.