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.