21 Jul 2021
Artificial Intelligence, Health, Just Food, Technology Permalink
AI artificial intelligence agriculture
artificial intelligence in agriculture

AI in Agriculture

July 21, 2021
AI artificial intelligence agriculture
AI has helped to transform many industries over the past twenty years. For industries that traditionally rely on manual labor, such as the agricultural industry, AI-powered technology can help improve existing practices and create new opportunities in the industry. For example, the AI Agricultural market, as of 2019, was valued at around $520 million globally and is projected to grow significantly over the next five years. The agricultural industry has recognized the value of this technology regarding farmland management, including pest control, labor automation, harvest optimization, etc.

Limitations of Traditional Farming

Climate change has had a significant impact on the way we farm. Traditional farmers and farmland managers rely on weather patterns to help guide them through the harvest. For centuries, human beings could predict weather patterns with relative accuracy, as there was slight fluctuation in weather patterns pre-Industrial Revolution. Though industrialization brought about significant innovation that helped human beings advance globally, it has also created drawbacks for many, particularly in the field of agriculture. Over the past couple of centuries, increased carbon emissions have had a significant effect on weather patterns, making them harder to predict. It has also exasperated the weather, leading to extreme dry spells and more powerful storms, leading to the destruction of much of the land we utilize to grow our food and raise our animals. Increases in the human population have also increased the need for fresh foods. With a shrinking supply of land, farms need to become much more technologically innovative to provide the world with the food it needs while combating industrialization’s significant effects on our climate.

The Smart Farm

Artificial Intelligence has given way to the creation of the smart farm. More specifically, farmland managers have been able to leverage the vast amounts of data that AI can process to optimize how they operate the farm. For example, farmland managers can utilize AI-powered image tracking to determine which soil is more fertile or whether there is a pest infestation. This information can be collected early on, allowing farmland managers to address it quickly and effectively to save their land and reduce overall costs.

AI-powered robots can also be deployed on farmland to make up for labor shortages and increase productivity. Robots can be programmed to do repetitive tasks, and when powered by AI, they can use the information they acquire to make quicker decisions. They are also less prone to mistakes than human beings, reducing the risk of crop loss due to human error. For example, when planning for planting and harvest, farmland managers can use predictive analytics to create the optimal conditions for growing and harvesting their produce.
As climate change reduces the Earth’s natural resources, it is essential that we conserve our resources as much as possible. AI can help us to create the farm of the future, one that relies on intelligence and data for resource optimization. With smart technology, farmers can do more with less.
Maria is a writer at Enki Tech, a Downtown Santa Monica technology company that specializes in the development of high-quality, user friendly software, web platforms and mobile apps.
05 May 2021
Technology Permalink

The Most In-Demand Tech Skills for Data Scientists

May 5, 2021
Over the last decade, the field of technology and data science has drastically changed. Many companies have begun to adopt AI and machine learning technologies for data collection and analysis. IT companies are desperate to fill the gap in expertise between data scientists and evolving technology. For those hoping to start a new career in data science or improve upon their current data science background, below is a list of the most in-demand skills for data scientists to have.

Knowing Programming Languages

Knowing a programming language is an essential skill for any successful data scientist in the 21st century. Many data scientists will work with big data, so they must know which programming language works best for cleaning and analyzing data. Most computer scientists like to utilize Python, one of the easiest programming languages to learn. Python can handle giant sets of data as well. Other programming languages one might want to have in one’s arsenal include R, JavaScript, SQL, Java, and Scala.

Machine Learning Skills

Data science and machine learning are becoming more intertwined as machine learning becomes a more popular tool used by IT companies to process data. In addition, machine learning techniques can be utilized to solve data science problems, so it is an increasingly important skill for data scientists to have.

Probability and Statistics

The core function of data science is to derive meaning and insights from data through algorithms. Companies can then use these insights for decision-making. Having a basic handle on probability and statistics will help you create informed estimates about data by understanding the most likely outcomes dictated by patterns found in the data sets.

Business Know-How

As data science becomes a more critical driving factor for businesses and business decisions, those who study that data must know the companies and marketplaces from which they collect data and extract insight. In addition, knowing what problems your particular business is trying to solve will help you utilize the data you collect more effectively.

As Artificial Intelligence advances, business and industry leaders will continue to utilize its capabilities to enhance business decisions and innovate how they operate. With AI quickly becoming more integral to the way we conduct everyday business, it is imperative that we also have experts at the ready who are knowledgeable in data science and can make the most of the capabilities AI possesses. Data science is one of the fastest-growing fields of employment, creating many opportunities for those fresh out of college or those interested in changing careers. With the right skill set, one can make the leap to becoming a data scientist and contribute to the growing field, leveraging their skills to create valuable insights that will allow us to understand the data we collect.
07 Apr 2021
Artificial Intelligence, Startup Permalink

AI Startups with the Biggest Investment in 2020

April 7, 2021
In 2020, around $81.2 billion was invested globally into startups that specialized in artificial intelligence. Now more than ever, investors are interested in AI’s ability to transform businesses, making them more efficient with data collection and analysis and reducing overall operating costs. Some of the top AI startups that received the most considerable investments during 2020’s funding rounds include:

Celsus.ai

Celsus.ai is a Russian startup that specializes in medical diagnostics technology. Celsus.ai was the brainchild of doctors looking to improve early cancer detection using image recognition technology powered by AI. Since its inception, Celsus’s technology has expanded and is now being used to diagnose COVID-19. In the summer of 2020, Celsus won grant funding from NBZ (national base of medical knowledge) and Mail.ru Cloud Solutions. They also raised RUB180M ($2.42 million) from the National Technology Initiative and funding from the NTI Venture Fund. In total, the company has raised over $4.8 million.

Kive

Kive (Sweden) is an AI-powered smart platform that gives creatives access to a large database of images and videos. The platform automatically sorts visual imagery into categories such as environments, objects and lighting, actions, faces, and types of shots. The database makes it easy for users to find the visual content they need for their creative projects. In 2020, Kive was able to raise €1.5 million ($1.8 million) in funding from EQT Ventures and Creandum.

Horizon Robotics

Horizon Robotics utilizes its advanced computing technologies to improve transportation safety. Horizon Currently develops AI chips that can be integrated into vehicles. The data gathered by the chips can then be used to improve the driver experience. The Chinese startup raised $1.3billion in total funding from 35 investors in 2020.

Oxbotica

Oxbotica specializes in creating autonomous vehicle software for real-world applications. The English startup was founded in 2014 by two Oxford professors, and their technology is now being deployed in several industries globally. Oxbotica received around $76.4M in funding from 12 investors, including BGF Ventures, BGF, Halma, HostPlus, IP Group, Tencent, and Venture Science.

FLOKI Technologies

FLOKI Technologies aims to bridge the gap in fragmented industries by utilizing smart technology to build a fully automated digital procurement system. FLOKI Technologies helps food retailers and small business owners automatically purchase the supplies they need quickly and affordably. In 2020, FLOKI raised around R$3,600,000 ($696K) in pre-seed funding from Olist, Viva Real, Guiabolso, and Apontador.

Maria is a writer at Enki Tech, a Downtown Santa Monica technology company that specializes in the development of high-quality, user friendly software, web platforms and mobile apps.
24 Mar 2021
Business, Strategy Permalink

Sales Strategy for 2021

March 24, 2021
If you are launching a new business, it is vital to have an extensive and effective sales plan at the ready. A proper sales strategy can make or break local and independent companies looking to amplify their brands. Regardless of how good the product or service you are selling is, it will most likely flop if you do not market it well. Below are five sales tips to keep in mind to build a strong sales strategy for your business in 2021.

1. Build an Online Presence

Whether you are a large business or a small startup, having an online presence is essential to market your brand properly. Most people consume their information through the internet, so the best way to engage with a potential customer is to go where they are. In addition, having an accessible website that is easy to navigate will help potential customers get to know your brand better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woY_4Bzg_7o

2. Social Media is Important

Along with a working website, any company that wants to generate sales must be active on social media. People of all ages and backgrounds utilize social media to establish an online identity to interact with each other. Startups should also use the power of social media to establish their brand identity and figure out how to leverage the power of social media to interact with their potential audience. Different social media platforms cater to different audiences, so choosing the right one for your business is important. For example, suppose you are a clothing startup looking to build an audience of young customers. In that case, Instagram may be your best option, as it is a platform built for sharing photos that generally market towards a younger audience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hczbMhsMDuU

3. Know your Marketing Goals Ahead of Time

It may be tempting for a new business to try and cast a wide net to capture the largest audience possible, but such methods are expensive and ineffective. Instead, more and more people are interested in personalized marketization, as it shows them that companies are paying attention to what their audience wants. Knowing the specific demographic, you want to market to beforehand will help save your brand time, energy, and money on marketing and sales.

4. Invest in Advertisement

When you are a startup, there is not always a lot of money to put upfront into marketing your business, so try to use as many free tools to your advantage as possible. However, proper online advertisement is important, especially if you want to grow your business quickly. One of the best ways to get your brand noticed online is by investing in online advertisement. Investing in a service such as Google Ads can help boost your brand’s visibility by promoting your brand at the top of Google searches when users type in specific keywords and phrases into the search engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4ZA99atC9E

5. Content Marketing is Key to Establishing a Relationship with your Audience

Knowing your audience and how they like to be marketed is essential to maintain that audience and generate sales. Content marketing is an effective way to bridge the gap between brand and audience by providing them with enjoyable content with subjects they are interested in. If you are a clothing brand whose audience is interested in sustainability, having content that features information about how your brand sources materials and uses recycled material will appeal most directly to that audience. Your content should let your audience know that you hear them and actively engage with what they find important.

10 Mar 2021
Artificial Intelligence, Technology Permalink

The Ethics of AI

March 10, 2021
Artificial Intelligence can transform every industry in the world by leveraging its powerful capabilities in innovative ways. Large companies like Amazon have already begun to utilize AI-powered robots to make their shipping warehouses more efficient. Industries like hospitality and finance use AI-powered technology such as chatbots to help bring better service to their customers. AI’s analytical capabilities make it easier to process and draw insight from large amounts of data than ever before, allowing companies to use the data they collect more effectively. With any advancement in technology, there will be concerns about the ethicality of the existence and deployment of said technology. To date, there are not many policies in place to regulate how Artificial Intelligence is used. As it becomes more integrated into our everyday lives, its ethical use has become a point of concern for technology ethicists everywhere. When we think about the ethics of AI, we must consider robot rights, human rights and dignity, and transparency and accountability, among other things.

Robot Rights

Most of us are familiar with the Hollywood trope of the sentient AI coming into conflict with humanity (think The Terminator or I, Robot). It’s a question that society has had for a while now: “What rights are a sentient being, be it an artificial one, entitled to in the human world?” For the most part, AI is not yet capable of forming thoughts independent of human influence, but technology is ever progressing, and it may one day be possible to build an AI that functions and thinks as a whole human does. In that scenario, AI would cease to be just a tool for us to use, and questions about its obligation to serve humanity would be inevitable. If we believe in the philosophy of “sentientism,” then we must grant consideration towards robot rights as we do towards the rights of humans and non-human animals. Many believe that producing an AI capable of human sentience is dangerous and immoral for both humanity and the machine, putting an undue burden on both. As we advance our technology, we must be mindful of its impact on society and the technology itself.

Human Rights and Dignity

AI has allowed many industries to innovate the way they do business, producing more and spending less. In many industries, robots are even replacing human labor, and AI is being used to monitor work progress and outcomes. Though AI can certainly allow businesses to operate more efficiently, its adoption into standard business practices should not be taken lightly, particularly when it comes to its impact on human labor. There are many people whose jobs have been affected by the implementation of new technology. This is nothing new. Technology will inevitably change industries. The concern comes in when entire industries become obsolete, and thousands if not millions of people are with no alternatives. As we advance as a society, we also must mitigate potential risks to human rights and dignity. It may be inevitable that many industries will soon become mostly or entirely automated. In that case, it is crucial that the human beings put out of work are still taken care of and receive stable jobs. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness mean living with dignity. It means no human is obsolete.

Transparency and Accountability

An AI-powered machine can be programmed to process data much faster and with far less error than a human being, making it a valuable data collection and evaluation tool. The data can be leveraged to make better business decisions and create better customer service. It can also be used to advance research and medicine. But it should concern us that there is not much regulation on the type of information companies can collect on us, nor is there much policy around transparency and disclosure of the algorithms utilized to collect data on us. Just as AI can be used innovatively, it can also be used in biased and even destructive ways. There have already been cases of AI bias that have been brought to light in recent years. For example, Amazon terminated the use of their AI recruiting tool after it was discovered that the tool had been programmed in a way that favored white men over people of color and women, even if all groups possessed identical skillsets. The public has a right to know just how the algorithms work. Though some believe AI could help us push beyond societal bias, it is clear that human biases still greatly influence our technology. AI can be used to incite anger and resentment in specific populations or fear and discouragement in others, making it dangerous if left unchecked. AI-powered bots have already influenced politics on popular social media sites. We as a society should make sure this technology is not used for nefarious purposes. This means full transparency around creating new AI-powered systems and holding companies accountable for the way the technology is used on their platforms.

So How do We Use AI Ethically?

The field of artificial intelligence is still very new, and its capabilities are innumerous. Companies that wish to utilize AI in their business practices must use an ethical framework. For example, companies dealing with personal data usually have an ethics board to mitigate risk and ensure that the company is adhering to the standards set by the company and the government. Companies can expand this resource to create a framework that centers on ethical AI and the importance of compliance with privacy laws and ethical behavior when using that technology. An ethics board can help set the tone for the company to behave in both legal and ethical manners when utilizing AI. The ethical framework that businesses use should be tailored to the industry they occupy to detect better the specific issues that each sector faces when using the technology. Companies can also look for inspiration in industries that have, for the most part, implemented and followed through with the ethical standards that they set for themselves.

Maria is a writer at Enki Tech, a Downtown Santa Monica technology company that specializes in the development of high-quality, user friendly software, web platforms and mobile apps.
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