Introduction to AI: Gaining Operational Efficiency with Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been the top buzzword across nearly every industry for several years — and it's only growing in popularity. There are so many practical uses for AI, but there are also still so many questions about what it is and how it can be used to drive industries forward. At Rapido, we're dedicated to learning more about the topic and finding ways to introduce new AI-centered initiatives to help us continue to deliver a top solution for our clients. We recently held an internal workshop to help our employees understand AI and its uses in everyday life and at work.

What is AI: Understanding the Basics

AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines. These systems can learn, reason, and solve problems.AI is widely used for voice recognition, decision-making, and problem-solving.

Learning the Lingo: The Key Areas of AI  

• Machine Learning (ML): Machines use data to learn and make decisions without being explicitly programmed.
  Example: Recommendation systems on streaming services providing suggestions based on viewing history

• Deep Learning (DL): A subset of ML that uses neural networks — systems modeled on the human brain — with many layers to analyze complex data.
  Example: Image recognition in self-driving cars is used to identify roadsigns, pedestrians, etc.  

• Natural Language Processing (NLP): AI's ability to understand and interpret human language using ML.
  Example: Virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa and predictive text and autocomplete on your phone  

• Large Language Models (LLMs): AI models that generate and manipulate human language based on vast amounts of text data, such as books and articles.
  ‍Example: Chatbots such as ChatGPT

The Rapid Growth of AI

AI has grown significantly in both popularity and capability in recent years. Once considered a technology buzzword, it has become a tool that nearly everyone interacts with in some aspect of daily life. The growth of AI can be attributed to various factors.

• Computational Power Doubling: Moore's Law states that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit (IC) doubles approximately every two years. The exponential growth of computing power allows for frequent innovations in AI.
• Data Availability: AI, specifically ML, relies on data for systems to learn, adapt, and grow. It's currently estimated that global data doubles approximately every two years, feeding AI's need for large datasets.
• Increased Investment and Research: As the benefits of AI become more apparent, significant investment has been made in the research and development of AI. As of 2021, AI investments exceeded $160 billion.

AI's Impact on VariousIndustries

AI is disrupting industries across the globe. Today, it isn't easy to find any industry or individual company that hasn't been transformed by AI. From automating repetitive tasks to providing predictive insights, AI is reshaping how businesses operate and make decisions.As AI continues to evolve, its impact will only grow. Here are just a few examples of the impact of AI:

• Healthcare: AI helps diagnose diseases, predict outcomes, and provide personalized treatments.
• Logistics: AI is used for route optimization, dynamic pricing, and demand forecasting.
• Transportation: Autonomous vehicles use AI for real-time decision-making and navigation.

Daily Uses for AI: Tips& Tricks

Without even realizing it, most of us use AI every day. Personal assistants like Siri and Alexa have become part of our routines, and it's hard to remember a time without autocorrect and predictive text on our smartphones. Recently, tools like ChatGPT have made advanced AI even more accessible and valuable for both daily life and work.

Beginner Tip: Learn the basics of AI and how to structure prompts for tools like ChatGPT.

Intermediate Tip: Identify areas where AI can streamline tasks in your work or life.

Advanced Tip: Continuously refine your prompts and explore advanced AI applications, like workflow automation.

Creating the Perfect Prompt for ChatGPT

Chatbots like ChatGPT are valuable tools that can help streamline your daily tasks, from writing an email or answering a question to brainstorming new ideas or learning a skill. Think of these six things when writing your next AI prompt.

1. Task: Begin with an action verb and clearly define the goal.
2. Context: Provide relevant background information to help guide the AI's response.
3. Examples: Including examples improves the quality of the output.
4. Persona: Specify who or what the AI should emulate.
5. Format: Define how you want the output to be structured.
6. Tone: Adjust the tone to fit the audience or context.

AI at Rapido

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At Rapido, we see the value of incorporating AI into our daily operations to help our team be most productive.We've seen tangible improvements in calendar management by using intelligence systems to optimize scheduling. We are also working on reducing the talent acquisition timeline even further by moving toward automating the initial interview process for potential new hires. And this is just the beginning. Rapido has a dedicated Automation Engineer who is focused on identifying opportunities to achieve 20-30% efficiency improvements across various operational areas. We are excited about the possibilities AI can provide to help us deliver the best solution and service to our clients.