Artificial intelligence (AI) is nothing new. Although many people became aware of this technology with the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, AI has been in development for over half a century. However, in recent years, it has only evolved from a theoretical concept into a powerful new reality.

One of the most significant advancements in this domain has been the emergence of AI platforms for business. For many forward-thinking companies, these platforms have become indispensable tools for cutting costs, avoiding human error, and minimizing repetitive tasks.

Before we dig into what that means for you and your business, let’s start with the basics. What is an AI platform? It’s a comprehensive software solution that enables you to develop, deploy, and manage AI-powered applications and services. Many of these platforms come with pre-built modules that make it easier for you to incorporate AI tools into your existing processes.

This article will give you a brief overview of the major types of AI platforms for business. We’ll consider the challenges you’re likely to face when deploying an AI platform, along with the factors you should consider when choosing the best AI solution for your needs. Then, we’ll offer a quick guide to the most popular AI platforms for business so you can decide which option is right for you.

A Quick Guide to Different Types of AI Platforms

When many people hear the phrase “artificial intelligence,” they might think about natural language processing (NLP) solutions like ChatGPT, Jasper, and Writer.ai. These popular platforms provide application programming interfaces (APIs) and tools for AI content generation, translation, and sentiment analysis.

But that’s only part of the story. Here are four other types of AI platforms that every business should know about:

• Machine learning (ML): These AI platforms help you build, train, and deploy tools that can generalize patterns from data to gain insights and make predictions.
• Robotics: AI can help robots adapt to unexpected changes by teaching functions like motion control and spatial relations. (For example, an AI platform might enable a robotic arm to pick fruit off a tree without crushing it.
• Computer vision: These AI platforms can help with tasks like facial recognition, object detection, and video content analysis.
• Expert systems: Some of today’s most advanced AI platforms can use information stored in a business’s knowledge base to perform sophisticated data analysis, solve complex problems, and make decisions just like a human expert.

What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing an AI Platform?

Here are just a few of the factors you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing an AI solution for your business:

• Skill gaps: Do you have the people you need to develop, deploy and maintain AI tools? If not, you’ll want to ensure you have the appropriate support before attempting a complex implementation.
• Security and privacy: Your data is one of your business’s most valuable assets. When considering an AI platform, make sure the vendor can comply with all relevant data protection regulations to minimize the risk of breach or misuse.
• Integration issues: Artificial intelligence rarely operates in a silo. An AI platform needs to be integrated with your legacy systems to deliver meaningful value. Before implementation, make sure you understand and address all compatibility issues to avoid any unwelcome surprises.
• Ethical considerations: AI may not be human, but it can still be biased. It can plagiarize. It can lack transparency. It can make mistakes. And it can be used by bad actors to generate and disseminate disinformation. Given these ethical concerns, every responsible business leader should carefully consider the very real risks associated with the potential misuse of AI platforms.
• ROI: Make sure you understand each AI solution’s total cost before deployment. Consider the necessary investment in hardware, software, infrastructure, and training. Also, consider the cost of engaging with a managed service provider or adding full-time personnel to support the technology. Weigh those concerns alongside any potential cost savings: for example, how much could you save by keeping repetitive tasks and human error to a minimum?

What are the Best AI Platforms for Business?

The field of artificial intelligence is growing faster than anyone could have predicted, with ambitious startups and established enterprises devoting vast resources to the development and refinement of AI tools and services.

Here is a preliminary list of the best AI platforms on the market today. Please note that these offerings are constantly evolving, and choosing the best AI solution for your business will depend on several factors from industry to budget to number of users. If you have questions about any of the AI platforms listed here, our team is happy to discuss which solution might be right for you.

• IBM Watson: IBM’s platform offers AI-powered solutions for chatbots, natural language processing, data analysis, and more. Key services include Watson Assistant, Watson Discovery, and Watson Studio for developing AI applications.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS): Amazon’s rapidly growing portfolio of AI solutions includes Amazon Lex for creating chatbots, Amazon Rekognition for analyzing video content, and Amazon SageMaker for deploying advanced machine learning models.
• Google Cloud AI Platform: It should come as no surprise that Google is at the forefront of today’s AI market. Some of the company’s most promising services include TensorFlow for deep learning, AutoML for custom-built machine learning models, and Google Cloud AI Building Blocks for conversation-based applications.
• Microsoft Azure AI: Microsoft’s suite of AI solutions includes Azure Bot Services for building chatbots, Azure Cognitive Services for speech recognition, and Azure Machine Learning for making decisions based on previously unseen datasets.
• Salesforce Einstein: Einstein is the next evolution in Salesforce’s industry-leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform, enabling businesses to optimize every customer touchpoint with AI-powered insights, predictions, and processes.

What’s Next for Artificial Intelligence?

As with any groundbreaking technology, one must consider the potential benefits of AI in light of its challenges and limitations. Experts are still grappling with the implications of AI-powered innovation, and many have differing views on the best ways to responsibly develop and wield these new tools.

At IT Solutions, we’re here to help you navigate this rapidly changing landscape. Our dedicated team is focused on aligning AI with your personalized IT strategy. Contact us today so we can help you find, deploy, and manage the right AI solutions for your business.