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Updated: 16 hours ago

The wide world of AI: Short takes on wide-ranging trends

By Mainebiz Staff

 

Customer engagement tool

Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor said it is launching a project to implement “the world’s first autonomous engagement officer,” an AI-powered avatar named “Jackie” (named after JAX). 

According to the lab, the virtual assistant is a “regenerative learning tool: that “communicates” via email updates.

 “We welcome you to engage with her, ask questions or, if you would rather, use her services to link to a human on our team,” the lab said.

 

Translation device

Digital language translators are not new, but they’re starting to get mainstream attention.

As with any tech device, Apple has jumped in with its version, which in one review got high marks to go along with a high price.

“The $250 AirPods Pro 3 use artificial intelligence to do real-time [language] translations, their most significant new feature,” the New York Times reported. “Apple’s execution of the feature with the AirPods, a product that perfectly fits in your ears, should make a profound difference in how often people use the technology.” 

 

Mountains of data

In Maine’s medical field, artificial intelligence is taking on a mountain of data. The Roux Institute is working with MaineHealth on a project called Healthcare Enabled by AI in Real Time Impact Engine, or HEA(RT), to capture and crunch data from ICU monitors to identify cardiothoracic patients at risk of adverse outcomes. 

“Machine learning algorithms find patterns and amplify them, and turn them into a signal that’s sufficiently robust that the caregiver can say, ‘This patient is heading toward septic shock,’” Rai Winslow, Roux’s director of life science and medicine research, has told Mainebiz. He emphasized that AI-enabled predictions are only added information for caregivers, not the final word.

 

Skills that won’t be automated (for now)

Despite the ever-growing fascination with AI and automation, an article in the Harvard Business Review highlights the importance of honing skills that are far less likely to be automated in the near future. 

They include emotion, as when doctors interact with patients’ family members or bartenders listen to their customers. 

Another very human skill is critical thinking and context. It’s reassuring to know that emotional intelligence and human brainpower are still prized and should also be nurtured. 

 

Would you swap your employees for AI?

A recent poll of Mainebiz readers asked whether they’d replace their staff members with AI.

Overall, just over half of respondents, 51%, said no, they “value human input.” But 29% said they might swap out employees for “certain roles.” Another 6% said definitely, yes, AI is more efficient. And 14% vowed to play it cautious, saying they’d need to see more evidence before making a decision. 

 

How to update your LinkedIn profile using AI

Mainebiz workplace columnist Nancy Marshall typically does not delve into the realm of artificial intelligence. 

She’s all about face-to-face meetings, hand-written cards and keeping business on a human level.

But she did offer Mainebiz readers some ideas about how to use AI to upgrade the old LinkedIn profile.

What you convey through your LinkedIn profile — whether it’s an image or text — is important. You will also want to see how your LinkedIn content is performing.

“AI helps you wade through all of the data, analyzing post performance and other metrics. This is available through LinkedIn Premium (a paid, but useful, service). You can only boost performance by knowing where you started. And, by using Premium’s integrated AI tools, it is possible to figure out exactly how visitors are interacting with your content — for instance, how long they are engaged and where they are clicking. Then, AI can reveal a few key takeaways, with simple instructions for improvement.”

“The way I see it,” she adds, “if you’re not taking advantage of AI’s capabilities for LinkedIn and other social media platforms, you’re falling behind. Your brand is losing out, and you’re not leaving your online contacts with the strongest possible impression of you. Over time, this is a slippery slope because the competition — another company, other job-seekers and so on — could be taking the lead with AI.”

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