With companies like Apple just beginning to offer their own takes on mixed reality, it’s clearer now than ever that augmented reality tech is here to stay. Still, developing AR software can be a time-consuming process for organizations that aren’t intimately familiar with the workflows and assets required. Business leaders are always looking for an edge to stay ahead of their competition, and they’d do well to consider embracing artificial intelligence when formulating their AR strategies.
While AR’s progress has been steady, advances in AI have shot ahead. Artificial intelligence is swiftly becoming part of our everyday lives and is projected to be even more ubiquitous in the years to come. AI models trained on massive data sets can not only shorten the development time of augmented reality applications but also provide a stable foundation for new ways of doing business. With this in mind, it’s critical that B2B and B2C companies understand the benefits of combining AI and AR.
Remote Work
With the rise of remote and hybrid working models, AI and AR can fill the much-needed gap of bringing people together regardless of geographic location or time zone. Coworkers can all gather in the same meeting room or boardroom virtually through the power of AR and use AI to whiteboard, analyze data, review projects and more. AR and AI combined can also power language translation tools that instantly put words on a screen before users’ eyes in the language of their choice (like subtitles for real-life) making communication easier for multi-language distributed teams.
For companies that require hands-on training, AI and AR combined can power digitally-rendered scenarios that teach trainees everything they need to know in a low-risk environment. Working with robust data sets, AI tools can rapidly generate three-dimensional AR models of objects, buildings, training assets, and even entire scenarios within a person’s field of view, enabling people to learn through interaction without any of the risks that could come from other forms of immersive training. Everything from simulated customer and client interaction to life-like simulations of emergency scenarios can be replicated in augmented reality, allowing trainees and workforce veterans alike to further develop their skills.
Customer Care
In the B2C world, the customer is king – and AI and AR-powered solutions have created the next generation of customer care tools. From personalized product recommendations based on AI-generated synthesis of browsing history, clicks and other parts of data footprints to AR applications that let customers virtually try on a product or see how it looks in their home, the possibilities seem overwhelming.
Object recognition is the key component here, and augmented reality platforms that utilizing machine vision to continually build and reinforce AI data sets give businesses a huge advantage. By leveraging machine learning, more advanced facial recognition and object tracking options are now possible, with the potential to change the way customers browse, shop, and make purchasing decisions. This also enhances the quality of the customer insights B2C businesses gather, further empowering them to target their ideal customers.
Sales and Client Engagement
On the B2B side, AR and AI combined can demonstrate and sell a product or service in an entirely new way. Enhancing product presentations with AR enables potential clients to get an immersive look at your key offerings and that same technology can also be applied at trade exhibitions – where just the hype around using AR to augment your display is enough to draw potential clients in.
On the back end, AI and AR can be leveraged for productivity. While AI can’t be relied on to do every part of your business, integrating artificial intelligence tools to visualize data in augmented reality, present plans and forecasts for decision makers, and even simulate interactions with potential new business clients can give early adopters an edge over their competitors in a fast-changing landscape.
Conclusion
Merging AI and AR to create powerful user experiences in the boardroom, on a website or during a demonstration is how many organizations will set themselves apart from the competition in the coming years. The first companies that consider combining AI and AR to rapidly iterate and explore new ways of doing business with other companies and customers will be ahead of the curve. As this technology is still so new and open-ended, those who get started first will be the first to discover organization-transforming breakthroughs.
About the Author
Kelly Peng is CEO and chief technology officer of Kura, which makes augmented reality glasses that achieve 135-degree field view and long-wear comfort. Kelly is a Forbes 30-Under-30 honoree, inventor, engineer, and entrepreneur.
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Diving into this article felt like a glimpse into the future – and man, the synergy of AI and AR is a game-changer! The way it’s shaping remote work is mind-blowing – virtual meetings where we can whiteboard, crunch data, and bridge language gaps seamlessly? That’s a game we all want to play. And the impact on training? Digital scenarios that feel real without the risks – sign me up! The blend of AI and AR in customer care, from personalized recommendations to virtual product try-ons, is the future of B2C relationships.
On the B2B side, using AI and AR for product demos and trade exhibitions is pure genius. The visual impact is a game-changer. Plus, integrating AI to visualize data in AR for decision-makers? Talk about leveling up productivity!
Thanks a ton to the author for this eye-opener. The insights into the AI and AR combo are not just informative but downright exciting. Here’s to the future of immersive, intelligent experiences!