Applications of the Human-AI Collaboration in Manufacturing

Applications of the Human-AI Collaboration in Manufacturing The world witnessed an unprecedented spectacle in the beginning of 2018. The Google Assistant had booked an appointment at a salon on the user’s behalf. This showcased the immense potential and scope of the technology we are looking at. Artificial Intelligence has always been portrayed as a technology which can be nurtured to make redundant human activities faster and more effective. However, the flip side of the coin suggests that there is a growing apprehension among the masses that it may eat up into their jobs and probably even be harmful in the long run. What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? As per the book, â€Å"Artificial Intelligence: A modern approach†, by Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig, Artificial Intelligence(AI) refers to computer systems that think and act like humans, and think and act rationally. The concept was first introduced, in 1960, into the manufacturing industry by General Motors to ensure workplace safety through the development of Unimate Robot. Scope for collaboration of AI with Humans Manufacturing is a capital intensive business and this had led to companies searching for cheap labor. In the wake of increasing wages and high demand for products as a result of high disposable income, it is imperative that AI is introduced into the system to facilitate increased productivity and thereby address the present requirement. Artificial Intelligence works pretty well on its own and is known to increase productivity when applied in industries. But, research data proves that the use of AI as a replacement to redundant human activities can only help i n achieving a short-term productivity rise. Its ability to adapt continuously to varying tasks is something to be pondered upon. A collaborative environment where, both humans and AI combine, can prove to be more productive and lead to better results as opposed to individual involvement. Creativity is a domain where humans take lead and outperform machines, and machines have the ability to process large amount of data. Hence, it is essential that a combined effort be employed. In order to harness this potential, there must be a system where machines are taught adequately and the industrial process must be designed to integrate this partnership into it. Applications of the Human-AI Collaboration in Manufacturing General Electric has developed a new technology, called, Predix, which involves Human-AI collaboration. This technology can be employed in the predictive maintenance of equipment. Digital models of the equipment may be developed and continuous data is retrieved during its operation. This data is analyzed to predict mechanical issues that may arise out of continuous operation. Consequently, the downtime of the equipment, due to breakdown, may be reduced which translates to increased productivity. Mercedes had developed a robot to assist its employees in the production line. There was an increase in demand of customized S-Class sedans and Mercedes was not able to keep up with it, using normal robots. Hence, they developed a robot with a human touch, called Cobots so as to assist the human workforce in manual labor and simultaneously incorporate the customization required. The worker controls the operations but the task is performed by the robot. Role of Humans in the collaboration Humans play a pivotal role in training AI-enabled systems on how to go about its work. Machine-learning algorithms must be trained in a way to bring about the desired result in a desired manner. Moreover, machines must also be trained to interact with humans so as to maintain a sustainable balance while working to increasing the productivity. AI assistants are now being trained to incorporate human characteristics so that a better workplace is ensured. Another task that humans would perform is to explain the process by which the machine arrived at its action. The complex processing in the back-end needs to be explained in simple terms to people who work with the machines. Humans are also bound to explain the cause behind a fatality or accident caused by AI assisted machines. Humans must also ensure that the AI assisted machines are functioning normally and safely. Abnormal breakdowns can occur and this may lead to huge losses. Human intervention in such scenarios helps to take prompt decisions and ensures sustainable and smooth running of the process. Engineers also ensure that machines identify human presence and don’t cause harm to them. Road Map for India India is the sixth largest economy and is one of the fastest growing. Application of AI is essential for the future. The government has supported many new innovations in this field and new startups are coming up. In the latest Budget 2018, Niti Aayog has proposed a National Program on Artificial Intelligence for national development with a positive outlook on manufacturing sector. This would help in utilizing the emerging scientific talent in India and come up with new innovations. Productivity and downtime is the major issue in Indian manufacturing sector and AI collaboration is the right step forward. New startups and foreign investments have started coming up and the future is certainly looking bright. The stage is set for AI to take over manufacturing industry and transform the way it functions. It requires a subtle balance of both human and machine participation to effectively achieve the objective of streamlined and effective manufacturing. Humans should indeed be receptive of this technology rather than being apprehensive, because the advent of this technology will open the door for a large number of opportunities. It is upon us to grab this opportunity by acquiring the required skills and blending into the digital world. This was the same when smartphones and other devices were developed and this should be the way ahead. There might be an imminent danger to humans, in a scenario where machines turn out to be more intelligent than humans. But, this idea seems to be a little far-fetched considering the present situation.

External and Internal Environmental Analysis Essay - 6

External and Internal Environmental Analysis - Essay Example Companies should assess their competitive position to come up with strategies to make them outstanding in the industry (Albright 2004). Groups come up with organizational structures that aid the in running the firm operations. These structures affect organization’s performance. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. aims at achieving its goal of the growth of their business. There are several factors that compromise business performance thus there is a need for evaluating them to have successful business growth (Muthaih and Venkatesh, 2012). The external environment is those factors found outside the business and affects how it operates. It may affect the company ability to achieve its goals and objectives in an efficient way. Regardless of operational planning there is a need to assess the external environment. In evaluating this situation, there is a need to view it in terms of both opportunities and threats (Cheermack et al., 2007). It exists in three dimensions, the remote, industrial and operating environment. For Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. to grow as proposed analysis tools have to be used to evaluate these factors. Some of these elements can be changed by the firm’s operations while others push the business to change its structure to counteract its negative impacts. The organization intends to look into the three elements to ensure tha t changes in external factors do not take it by surprise. The remote environment comprises of a set of forces originating beyond an enterprise’s operating situation. They occur irrespective of any single organizations management activities. They involve factors such as technological, economic, social, political and legal opportunities. They work differently to create constraints, threats and also opportunities for the firm. At times, the elements work together to make a meaningful impact to the company for example economy and infrastructure can contribute to each other’s success in affecting

The Vietnam Wars Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Vietnam Wars - Research Paper Example The president used the constitutional powers in the office to order the deployment of US ground troops to the region in the end of the first quarter of 1965. The action, notwithstanding, President Johnson's objective for his country’s participation in Vietnam was not driven by the quest to win the battle, but for the military to stabilize South Vietnam's forces and government control of security situation in the region. Butterfield suggests that the ability of the Viet Cong "to build up their effort was consistently underrated" by the United States2. In light of this, President Johnson ordered what would turn out to be unpopular among Americans, when the country found itself mired in a deadlock with the warring factions of Vietnam. Although, the country participated in aerial bombings of the enemy North, President Johnson was of the opinion that the bombardment be restricted to defending South Vietnam. By restricting the battlefields, the American troops would not carry out a significant ground invasion of the North to eliminate the communist icons and structures nor would they seriously destabilize the Ho Chi Minh Trail or the major infrastructure used by his government. Impact of the 1965 American intervention in Vietnam The eight years of America's participation in Vietnam witnessed its military campaign fluctuate from enormous escalation of firepower to slow withdrawal. The American approach to the war, also evolved in its implementation, from a general â€Å"Search and Destroy† mission, which was intended to wear the enemy, to complete "Clear and Hold" strategies. The end result was based on pacification initiatives. Whereas, critics continue to argue that America’s poor performance in Vietnam was bound to happen, owing to the then prevailing political, social, and military issues, others are of the opinion that America’s involvement should not be regarded as such: that the â€Å"winning strategy† of the US military was t o decisively prolong the conflict in order to wear down the North Vietnamese military3. Nevertheless, the North Vietnamese strategy of implementing a complex program of insurgency and long-drawn guerilla war proved an elusive goal for the superior American military, hence its eventual defeat and de-escalation4. America’s attrition strategy The 1965 US intervention in Vietnam greatly impacted the conduct of the war. Unlike previously, when the country played a limited role of offering military advice to the South Vietnamese military, American forces took part in combat, complete with ground troops. From 1965 to 1968, the main strategy of the United States was taking control of the combat in South Vietnam from the local South Vietnamese Armed Forces (SVAF). The American ground forces based their successes on the "Search and Destroy" missions, while the Air Force carried out air raids under the Rolling Thunder bombing crusade. Although, General Westmoreland was confident these s trategies would wear down the Viet Cong forces and guerillas, political challenges driven by fear of attracting more states to the battlefield, such as China and or Soviet Union prompted the Johnson government to limit their combat to a strategic protection of South Vietnam. And whereas, Soviet played the role of a â€Å"diplomatic channel between Washington and Hanoi. . . Moscow always seemed unwilling to pile pressure on North Vietnam to give up its