We are already living in an era that could be deemed “post-informational,” in the sense that computers, the most high-tech devices until now, are already starting to decline in importance.
What renders them obsolete? The answer is simple and has been around for quite some time: Artificial Intelligence. We are not talking about the Terminator-like A.I., but the one created with exclusive applicability in business and other social constructs.
There is absolutely no doubt that humanity will eventually be surpassed by A.I. It can process about 1000 times more data than we do, in a record time. Its feasibility is so huge that we cannot really fathom it at the present moment.
Everything we can do, A.I. can do it better. However, we shouldn’t think of A.I. as the thing that “will immanentize the eschaton,” as philosophers named the process of the onset of the End of Days. More proof for that can be found here, where you’ll see that there are genuine perks to A.I. taking over parts of our lives.
For one, A.I. could prove to be a huge help for entrepreneurs and business owners worldwide. Artificial Intelligence will definitely cause certain disruptions in the way things work now.
What Changes Will A.I. Bring in the Entrepreneurial Domain?
Slowly but surely, A.I. will cause the following to happen.
Full automation
This full automation by artificial intelligence will encompass both decision-making and strategic planning. It has been predicted that by 2018 (yes, next year), businesses will require 50% fewer workers in a company.
That is the opinion of Stephen Prentice, the vice president of Gartner, Inc., one of the largest companies of research in information technology. On the bright side, he also opines that the human element will never be taken out of the equation completely.
To put it shortly, this automation will apply to data processing and strategic planning by creating algorithms. It’s less likely that A.I. will replace all workers in an enterprise. The tough jobs, however, like the two above, will be given to robotized workers instead.
A paradigm shift in web design
If you’ve ever had to create a site for your business, you know how excruciatingly painful it can be. And we’re talking specifically about the process of setting up the website itself. One must have nerves of steel to put up with all the crashes that can happen along the way.
If you don’t have the requisite knowledge and skills, however, forget it. You can’t write a book in a language that you don’t know.
To add to that, the process of branding is no less tiring and labyrinthine. So if you’re looking to create a website yourself or hire someone to do it, the process can take a few months (and several thousands of dollars). Somebody has to do the web design, somebody has to write the content and upload them.
In the future, even those who lack a background in digital design will be able to create websites with a handful of commands in just a matter of minutes. Maybe you’ve heard about Bookmark, a platform that allows you to create your own site.
With Bookmark, creating your website is made much easier with the use of its Artificial Intelligence Design Assistant. You will just need to sign up, put in your business name (which you can easily edit later), and then let AiDA do the rest.
In the end, you will have a professional looking site that you can easily edit and customize with its drag-and-drop feature. There are themes you can choose from, as well as various visual styles, and so on and so forth. And it’s free. That is merely the tip of the iceberg that is about to rise in all its glory in a couple of years with the emergence of A.I. in web design.
Virtually boundless marketing and advertising
As outlined here, in just a decade, the way we do marketing and advertising today could get a huge blow. But – it will remain similar to what we’re doing today. The difference will be that changes in the markets will be picked up by A.I. immediately.
We will use A.I. to do more efficient marketing by establishing a closer connection with the customers. This will be done through interactive advertising and marketing, by creating digital, virtual reality worlds that customers and prospects will be able to walk through at leisure.
Both marketing and advertising will shift towards the satisfaction of the consumer, the way it’s supposed to be.
And here’s the inside scoop: once A.I. is in session, it will be able to predict whether an advertising or marketing campaign is doomed to fail or not. The financial implication of this is outstanding. Just imagine — how much money would you have saved if you knew a campaign was doomed to fail?
Improved customer service and automatic sales
Have you ever tried to sell anything? It’s stressful, to say the least. Depending on what you’re selling, you’d have to be on your feet the whole day, calling out to people and endlessly smiling, hoping they will buy.
With the advent of artificial intelligence, you no longer have to do that. A.I. will be able to pair salespeople with those that are in need of the products they are selling. Gone will be the days of being ignored; customers would talk to you because they see that you have what they need.
Sales are interconnected to marketing strategies. It can take some time to create those. A.I. will help you with that, too. Since it will be constantly analyzing your campaigns, it will let you know what works and what doesn’t for your company.
Just take a look at this survey and you’ll be amazed at the possibilities.
The Future is Here
Just think about it: ten years ago, a computer with 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive was something only aliens would have possessed. Ten years later, in the present day, a computer with the same specs is mediocre at best.
Why are we giving this example? This stands to show that technology does not sleep. It constantly evolves. And we, the business owners, must brace for what is coming: the domination of A.I. in all aspects of our lives, not just in the entrepreneurial landscape.
While it’s true that A.I. will never replace human effort, if used properly, it will facilitate the development of small businesses to an extent you would not have dared dream about. If you are not adapting now to the presence of A.I. in your industry, you just might find yourself overtaken by your competitors.
BIO: David Kosmayer is CEO and Founder of Bookmark, a Website Builder disrupting the future of web design with Artificial Intelligence. David created his first company at 22 just coming out of college. Marketing Extensions Inc., an online affiliate and marketing agency, was born from the basement of his parent’s home. This company grew under his leadership into a 55-person team, topping $60M in revenue in less than a decade. David is highly focused, dedicated and passionate about building successful companies.
