An Introduction to AI

AI has become a buzzword across industries over the last many years. While opinions range from enthusiastic support to cautious skepticism, it's important to acknowledge the significant opportunities this technology offers.

Understanding the basics of AI can unlock valuable insights for businesses looking to innovate and boost operational efficiency. This guide introduces key types of AI and their applications, providing baseline knowledge to help evaluate AI opportunities.

What is AI?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an umbrella term used to describe the use of machines to mimic human behaviour. You will likely be familiar with the use cases below and may even use them, even if you don’t recognise the AI type.

Type of AI	Definition	Use Cases
Natural Language Processing (NPL)	Computers can understand and talk to humans in plain language	Chatbots and Virtual Assistants e.g. Siri and Alexa Text Generation and Summarization e.g. ChatGPT Text Analysis Language Translation Sentiment Analysis Speech Recognition e.g. Siri and Alexa
Computer Vision	Machines can identify and recognize objects	Image and Video Recognition e.g. medical imaging Facial Recognition e.g. smartphone unlocking Video Analysis e.g. security and traffic monitoring Object Detection e.g. self-driving cars Augmented Reality (AR) e.g. gaming Optical Character Recognition (OCR) e.g. searchable documents
Machine Learn and Predictive Analytics	Computers can learn from data and make smart informed forecasts	Recommendation Systems e.g. Netflix Fraud Detection e.g. in banking and insurance Diagnostics e.g. in healthcare Forecasting e.g. energy consumption Risk Assessment e.g. credit scoring systems
Robotics and Automation	Machines can execute tasks automatically for operational efficiency	Industrial Automation e.g. robotic arms Robotic Process Automation (RPA) e.g. invoice processing Autonomous Vehicles e.g. self-driving cars Drones e.g. delivery drones Collaborative Robots (Cobots) Humanoid Robots e.g. customer services bots
Data Analytics and Business Intelligence	Machines can extract valuable insights from data to make informed business decisions	Business Intelligence Tools Pattern Recognition e.g. customer segmentation Analysis e.g. social media monitoring Anomaly Detection Optimization e.g. supply chain

Source: https://www.pwc.be/en/fy25/documents/ai-in-a-vb.pdf

Some of the use cases above are already commonly used, others are still in their nascent stages. You’re unlikely to need to use all of them, but having an understanding of the different examples can help determine the best uses for your business.

Now that you know a bit more about AI, if you're curious about its benefits for your business, you can read more in our article here.

If you want further support on building out your AI roadmap, speak to our experts.