Remember when artificial intelligence (AI) was the stuff of science fiction? Not long ago, AI was a cool and novel technology that seemed to dwell in the distant future. But today, AI is part of the mainstream, with virtual assistants and other AI technology included on nearly every modern mobile device.
A study by McKinsey found that tech giants such as Google and Baidu are spending upwards of $30 billion on AI-related research and development. In fact, that same study found that 2016 saw artificial intelligence expansion undergo a three-fold increase in spending over three years, with figures reaching nearly $40 billion dollars.
This growth has many companies looking for ways to integrate AI and other innovative technologies—such as predictive analytics and augmented reality—into their mobile apps and software. But as with any technology, there are a number of artificial intelligence pros and cons you should consider so your team can make an informed decision.
Pro: AI is Novel
The element of novelty makes it relatively easy to market and promote apps with artificial intelligence. As such, mobile apps with AI have a greater chance of gaining massive popularity—an event that may translate into a significant profit margin.
Of course, novelty is only beneficial if you’re using AI in a unique or innovative way. In some cases, including AI may simply make your app more competitive, assuming similar apps feature comparable technology. A wonderful example of this can be found with the Associated Press, which now uses artificial intelligence to draft content on minor league sporting events and earnings reports. This frees up journalists to focus on more pressing stories, leading to greater productivity. And speaking of productivity, Google’s G Suite is one of several office software platforms to serve up automated email responses users can choose from when replying. So while this usage of AI is undeniably innovative, it’s also useful and practical.
Con: A Poorly-Done AI Feature Can Appear Campy or Glitchy
Artificial intelligence must be supported by a strong interface and well-developed parallel technology, such as a sophisticated predictive analytics engine or a solid natural language processing (NLP) feature.
If you lack the time, resources or funding to develop these parallel technologies, you may end up with an artificial intelligence app that doesn’t respond in a logical, consistent and useful manner. Most developers agree that it’s better to omit a mobile app feature than to include a poorly-crafted version of that functionality.
Pro: AI Can Improve Mobile App Performance
Artificial intelligence can elevate your mobile app’s performance to the next level, as you can achieve otherwise impossible objectives. Personalization is one area where AI is really beginning to shine.
Mobile developers are continually discovering new ways to create a more personalized and engaging experience through artificial intelligence. After all, some of the pros of AI are that it can make selections, record information, anticipate needs/wants or offer information the user is apt to appreciate. This can range from making product or viewing recommendations to noticing erratic GPS movements and offering navigation help. The net effect is a more useful, engaging and user-friendly mobile app.
Con: Artificial Intelligence Can be Complex to Implement
Implementation is a common pain point when considering artificial intelligence pros and cons. Adding AI capabilities can be challenging due to the abundance of moving parts which must operate in symphony in order to deliver a positive user experience.
AI apps must be configured to process input in an intelligent, adaptive way. Then, that input must be evaluated and used to formulate an appropriate response or output. What’s more, most artificial intelligence apps have the ability to learn, so there’s a need to identify trends and modify behaviors accordingly. While AI implementation can be complex, most agree that the end result is worthwhile, and an AI-capable developer can ensure the app build process is smooth and painless.
If you wish to create an artificial intelligence-powered mobile app, you’ll need an experienced team of developers. At 7T, we take a futuristic view, focusing on some of the most rapidly-advancing areas of technology, such as augmented reality, virtual reality and predictive analytics.
7T is headquartered in Dallas. We also maintain regional offices in Austin and Houston, although we work with clients across the United States. If you’re ready to learn more about the AI mobile app development process, contact 7T today.
