The power of AI to boost efficiency and job satisfaction

Becoming front page news since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, AI is now top of mind globally. But for many years now, AI techniques like machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision have been contributing to major changes in how companies create strategy, products are designed and made, consumers receive services, and people do their jobs.

AI has already had impacts in nearly every industry. In most cases, AI is providing capabilities that augment human workers instead of replacing them. AI’s value-add to workers in various industries include the automation of repetitive tasks, analyzing vast amounts of data, providing insights for decision making, handling routine customer queries, and analyzing medical imaging at scale. Handing these tasks using AI and automation frees workers to focus on activities where humans excel, such as in jobs requiring emotional intelligence, creativity, adaptability, and complex decision-making in uncertain and dynamic environments.

Industry examples of how AI enhances jobs

Educators can use AI to tailor educational content and learning plans to the needs of individual students for more successful learning experiences and outcomes. AI can also automate many administrative tasks, giving teachers more time to dedicate to teaching and mentoring.

Human resources specialists can use AI to automate parts of the recruitment process, such as resume screening and candidate ranking, to narrow candidate pools down to the best applicants quickly and efficiently. AI tools can also be used to provide insights into employee engagement, helping managers and HR professionals assess workplace satisfaction and retention.

Farmers can use AI to optimize crop yields by monitoring soil conditions and weather patterns and use AI-based analytics to suggest optimal planting times, irrigation schedules, and nutrients. Crops can be monitored with sensors, drones, or satellites to capture images and computer vision is then used to analyze them for signs of disease or stress, enabling timely intervention.

In each of these industry examples, AI works alongside human beings, helping them to do their jobs more efficiently and accurately. A recent global survey of CEOs by consulting firm PwC, released at the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, found that AI is seen by chief executives both as a way to streamline business operations, and as a disruptive force that requires companies to reinvent themselves or perish. Three quarters of the executives surveyed said that AI will significantly change the way their company creates, delivers, and captures value in the next three years.

AI optimization spotlight: Unburdening administrators in multiple industries with intelligent document processing

Intelligent document processing (IDP) uses a combination of AI techniques, including computer vision, natural language processing, and machine learning, to extract, analyze, and organize data from documents. Users include large corporations, law firms, finance and accounting firms, mortgage companies, healthcare organizations, government agencies, and research centers.

Automated document processing isn't new. Systems using optical character recognition (OCR) were designed years ago. They extract data from structured forms and integrate it into databases and applications. But IDP is much more functional, automated, and can handle data from structured (e.g., Excel spreadsheets, relational databases, XML documents), semi-structured, and unstructured (e.g., email, images, video, social media posts) documents.

Organizations can purchase the hardware and software to bring IDP into their environments, or use IDP as a managed service. AI adds powerful features to all stages of IDP.

• Computer vision algorithms improve the accuracy of OCR tools used in documents and data in various formats.
• Natural language processing tools help to classify different kinds of data (e.g., different languages, numerical, audio) and identify the most relevant sections in documents and other media.
• Trained AI models pull out relevant data from documents (e.g., names, addresses) and store it in separate databases in an easily accessible format.
• Sentiment analysis and other AI tools apply metadata to improve searching for data in large repositories and conducting analytics.
• Machine learning validates the data in documents and other media against internal and external data sets to make sure it is correct and up to date.
• Insights from data generated by AI-based analytics are integrated into other business software and process workflows to support decision making.

AI-driven IDP is a boon to administrators, researchers, government workers, real estate agents, property managers, logistics managers, healthcare administrators, HR managers, imaging analysts, law clerks, and many others who rely on document processing. It’s a clear example of how AI augments rather than replaces jobs, reducing manual or repetitive tasks, adding greater precision, and enabling people to put their talents to better use.

For more information on intelligent document processing with AI, read the white paper "Power to the People: 6 Ways Intelligent Document Processing Empowers Your Staff."