AI is a rapidly changing technology with the potential to impact both business and everyday life. In 2022, AI will continue to advance. Algorithms will be based on larger data sets, increasing AI’s functionality. Companies developing AI will need to invest in a diverse workforce from a variety of backgrounds and fields of study to reach the technology’s full potential. These overarching themes will impact AI across industries and roles this year. They will play a part in each of the four trends we’re highlighting here as well.
1. The Democratization of AI
Just as building a website was once only possible if you were a computer engineer, AI has—until recently—been programmed and used by technical experts. This year, we’ll see AI become more accessible thanks to improved Natural Language Processing (NLP) and no-code solutions reminiscent of drag-and-drop website design platforms.
This trend is already making its way into AI-powered solutions like IP.com’s InnovationQ Plus® and IQ Ideas Plus™, which use semantic searching to make patent research more intuitive.
2. Further Advancement of Predictive Analytics
Many organizations, both public and private, have vast amounts of data. However, gleaning insights from that data manually is too time consuming to be humanly possible. AI, with the ability to utilize larger and larger data sets, can quickly uncover patterns and make data-backed predictions. This capability will allow governments to predict trends in public health, climate change, and economics with greater confidence. A majority of businesses (85%) will, according to researchers, use a combination of AI and human expertise to “augment foresight.”
3. AI Used for Creative Pursuits
While the US and EU do not currently issue patents to AI inventors, 2021 saw some countries recognize AI’s contribution to innovation. DABUS, an AI system, was granted a patent for a “food container based on fractal geometry” in both South Africa and Australia. We’ll likely see more AI inventors granted patents. Companies with existing AI-invented technologies may try to protect them with patents, and businesses may feel it’s worth investing in creative AI now that patent protection is possible.
AI will also continue to allow its human coworkers to be more creative as well, partly due to reduced administrative tasks and increased cross-team collaboration.
3. Governments Regulating AI
Governments are still struggling to regulate technology more mature than AI, including the internet and social media. However, a technology as powerful as AI cannot be ignored by regulators; the far reaching consequences of unregulated AI are too big. In 2022, we will see further FDA guidance on AI in the medical space. Self driving cars and human resources are other areas where AI could gain more formal oversight.
