Council Post: Nine Predictions For Artificial Intelligence And Automation In 2022

Artificial intelligence has worked its way into our everyday lives, and in doing so, has given businesses in many industries a chance to leverage it for better marketing opportunities and smoother operations. Each year, new developments are being made with artificial intelligence and automation that businesses can use in various innovative ways.

The year 2022 promises to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor and start with a whole new realm of possibilities for artificial intelligence and automation. Below, nine professionals from Young Entrepreneur Council weigh in with their predictions of the roles artificial intelligence and automation will play in business this year.

1. Improved Google Algorithms 

AI is already starting to have a big impact on almost every facet of our lives. As innovation in that space is compounding, we will see more and more advancements. This year, I believe that we will see significant improvements to the impact that AI is having on algorithms such as the ones that Google is using to deliver search. And by doing so, businesses that aren’t actively optimized for the change will fall behind. I also think that as these machine learning and AI advancements come into play, we will see more automation in customer support, with automation taking over the easy tasks, so that humans can truly focus on assisting customers that need that human touch, which is something I am really excited for! – Emily Stallings, Casely, Inc.

2. Personalized User Experiences

The most significant way artificial intelligence will change the game is by offering a more personalized user experience. Just look at the way that social media algorithms have changed the game in the past decade alone. TikTok in particular is off the charts when it comes to analyzing what their users want to see, and then immediately providing them with more of that exact thing. I think we’re going to see a real push in that direction in the world of e-commerce, too. Online ads are going to become even more specific than they already are, and customers will become more receptive to them. AI isn’t just about selling a particular product, it helps to capture the interest of clients too. This information won’t just come from purchase history, either, but potentially from social media.  – Nick Venditti, StitchGolf

3. Identified Customer Leads

I expect to see more efficiency and productivity gains. With the current labor shortage and inflation, automation will be more important than ever in 2022. Specifically, this technology can help businesses with several tasks, including identifying potential leads and the business value of potential customers. AI and automation can also help manage and analyze data, repair equipment and much more. Overall, it allows businesses to minimize the costs associated with performing the mundane and basic tasks while maximizing the talent of human capital, even with a business that might be short-staffed. – Shu Saito, SpiroPure

4. More Relevant, Targeted Ads

We already see how AI works when we talk about something out loud and then our social media ads respond to it. When we are near family or friends who look things up that we discuss, that synergy is even stronger. I suspect that in the same way a group of gym buddies will get the same ads for healthy lifestyle and fitness posts, a friend or family member may get an ad to hire a criminal lawyer if a loved one may have recently been arrested. Privacy will be our biggest asset second to time and/or freedom or liberty from the AI and technology overreach. The few people who have little social media or internet presence will be the new celebrities just as the founder of blockchain is still a ghost outside of a white paper.  – Givelle Lamano, Lamano Law Office

5. Automated Customer Service

One of the biggest trends I believe we will see for AI this year is automation in customer service. Thanks to recent advances that have allowed for things like customized suggestions, modern customers have sky-high expectations. They want things right away and they want a personalized experience. AI can be used to automate much of the customer service process by keeping track of customer history, routing to the right department, and using NLP and sentiment analysis to escalate when necessary. Human agents will still be needed in the customer service industry, but they will need to learn how to work with AI and automation in order to best serve customers and offer a truly customized experience.  – Reuben Yonatan, GetVoIP

6. More Realistic Environments In AR/VR Gaming

AI will play a large role in the metaverse, which includes many gaming, AR and VR applications. Facebook is a leader in this but is by no means the only player. Blockchain projects such as The Sandbox and Decentraland are just a couple of competitors. These virtual universes have land, businesses, games and all kinds of features that require AI and automation. In the coming years, human users and AI applications will work together to create more realistic online environments. I think a lot of this will start moving forward in 2022.  – Kalin Kassabov, ProTexting

7. Automated Telemarketing Openers

With staff shortages and a record of job vacancies needed to be filled, 2022 will be a pivotal year with automation and artificial intelligence. In our sales company, artificial intelligence has replaced the need for telemarketing openers. We utilize an AI-lead management tool called Ai Assist to send out initial conversations and communicate until the point of a handoff to a salesperson. In our e-commerce business, warehouses have been in dire need of staff to pick and pack orders to fulfill. Now, we will be moving to warehouses with more robots and software automation from sales to shipping. Originally, we thought AI and automation would hurt the workforce but now it’s becoming a necessity due to the void left from too many job vacancies. – Michael Sinensky, WeShield

8. Augmented Workforce

Artificial intelligence will play a more prominent role in business in 2022 by way of an augmented workforce. AI will not replace human workers but add efficiency. Workers and machines will work side-by-side using smart and cognitive functionality. Humans will also continue to interface with machines to create AI capable of recognizing diverse perspectives. AI has historically been driven using one voice, but that will change as diversity plays a more significant role in innovation in the workforce. In 2022, working with AI will be commonplace. Three areas that will likely see the most significant boosts by AI include cybersecurity, human resources and cloud computing. – Jared Weitz, United Capital Source Inc.

9. Inventory Management With Image Recognition

Artificial intelligence offers innumerable automation solutions for businesses, so it’s not easy picking only one way that artificial intelligence will play a bigger business role in 2022. Perhaps one of the most significant ways AI will serve businesses in 2022 is by helping manage inventories. One example of how AI can improve inventory management is product image recognition technology. By cross-referencing product databases with products scanned and analyzed using AI, 3PL and omnichannel fulfillment companies can drastically cut restocking inefficiencies, along with helping to ensure products are correctly placed within planograms in-store. – Richard Fong, PageKits.com