Hip Hip Hurr-AI at Infocomm 2024
I’m positive that nobody is shocked that synthetic intelligence (AI) is the buzzword at Infocomm 2024, however is it safe? And does it work? Let’s dig in.
The primary session I attended Wednesday at Infocomm 2024 was known as “Chat GPT for AV.” The presenter confirmed how the platform could possibly be used to reply a typical request for proposals (RFP) by importing the RFP doc instantly into ChatGPT. I used to be impressed on the fast response, nevertheless it additionally appeared fairly generic; aren’t gross sales proposals supposed to assist differentiate one firm from one other? If all of the bidders used ChatGPT to generate a response to the RFP, received’t the proposals all sound the identical? Additionally, how would the undertaking proprietor or advisor really feel about importing the undertaking paperwork into Chat GPT? Aren’t these proprietary paperwork?
There was no hesitation about proprietary info on the a part of the presenter, I suppose they felt that after an RFP was out, anybody can do something with it. Even when there’s a disclaimer on the paperwork, nothing is stopping somebody from importing the paperwork to ChatGPT. Taking this a step additional, nothing is stopping a hacker from pretending to be a professional AV integrator. If the RFP response is solely generated from the RFP, it is going to reply the entire RFP questions in essentially the most optimistic mild, which means it might not replicate the precise expertise or {qualifications} or expertise of the bidder. If the RFP says the corporate must be in enterprise for at the very least 5 years, then ChatGPT will say it has been in enterprise for over 5 years. This can seemingly result in false {qualifications}. These have been an issue earlier than however now with AI, it’s a lot simpler to lie about who you might be, or what you might be certified to do.
The presenter additionally demonstrated that ChatGPT shouldn’t be superb at telling jokes, as a result of as I all the time say, robots usually are not humorous. He went on to point out how ChatGPT may write one thing within the type of Dr. Suess. However did Dr. Suess give them permission to write down about random topics? Isn’t this the identical as Scarlett Johassan’s voice getting used with out permission? And extra importantly, is the Chat GPT generated poem anyplace close to pretty much as good as one in all Dr. Suess’ well-known books, equivalent to “Oh The Locations You’ll Go” or “And to Suppose That I Noticed It on Mulberry Avenue?” In fact not! It’s only a waste of time and pc assets, in my view. I needed to dip out of the session early, however there are different AI classes I plan to hit up earlier than the present is over.
I discussed Xten-AV in my earlier column. Like many different cubicles, Xten-AV was speaking up its AI capabilities. The corporate defined how AI is automating numerous paperwork, and serving to to refine its product library. Xten-AV’s AI mannequin understands what you might be doing and may counsel merchandise that may slot in your undertaking. A superb instance could possibly be an adapter cable that’s sometimes ordered with a chunk of drugs. XTEN-AV additionally makes use of AI to generate preliminary AV gear rack layouts.
The corporate’s use of AI shouldn’t be really one thing new, although; XTEN-AV has been using this kind of AI for about 5 years. It’s simply being marketed as AI now as a result of AI is so stylish. I actually favored how XTEN-AV had strong examples of how AI will help AV people do their jobs sooner, not simply write up generic paperwork. There have been no Dr. Suess imitations or hallucinations. Additionally, Xten-AV’s merchandise are absolutely carried out, examined and able to go, not like a number of the AIvaporware I’m seeing on the present ground.
One of many newer AI-enabled applied sciences that I discovered extra about this week is from Merlyn Thoughts, which is being showcased within the Newline and Samsung cubicles. Merlyn Thoughts is mainly AI-enabled distant management for training; it might work with academics’ laptops and different expertise within the lecture rooms. It really works so much just like the Xfinity cable TV distant: you push a button on a handheld distant and ask a query, then launch the button. What units Merlyn Thoughts aside from different options is its safety features, permitting academics to go looking on-line content material with out concern of hitting any grownup web sites or different not-safe-for-school pages. Merlyn can learn a presentation that’s on the display screen and counsel related content material, and its giant language mannequin is pulling from trusted academic content material, not your complete Web.
In line with the Merlyn Thoughts webpage, it doesn’t promote private info, retain voice audio after processing or use voice audio to establish people. This voice recognition characteristic is one thing different AV options are flaunting with out realizing the privateness, safety and fairness issues that voice identification can elevate. This kind of emphasis on safety and privateness makes me pleased.
So, how nicely does Merlyn Thoughts work? Let’s simply say a commerce present ground shouldn’t be the identical as a typical classroom.
Once I tried the Merlyn Thoughts distant management within the Newline sales space, it had bother separating my voice from the opposite voices and noise on the ground, even after I tried slowly shouting. It is a widespread downside with any new voice management. The microphones within the handheld distant are sometimes chosen to be small and low price, not high-fidelity, and the system depends on AI and digital sign processing algorithms to separate the voice from the background noise, and translate the voice into textual content. Add in a relentless barrage of background noise from a tradeshow like Infocomm, and the demo gear that may have labored flawlessly within the check lab doesn’t carry out very nicely. Background noise apart, the Newline Merlyn Thoughts demo did work and, general, I used to be impressed.
The Samsung sales space expertise was a little bit completely different, and the demonstrators admitted the brand new interactive whiteboard product was a prototype. Samsung says, “New AI-powered options embody automated transcriptions from spoken classes and the power to generate detailed class summaries that spotlight key factors and most important matters. By analyzing the instructor’s voice transcription, the written materials on the show and offered academic supplies, it might additionally generate quizzes for college students. It additionally makes use of machine studying to enhance content material accuracy and block inappropriate content material. Moreover, via a collaboration with academic expertise firm Merlyn Thoughts, the show will characteristic voice recognition expertise optimized for academic environments. This can simplify management of the Interactive Show and assist tailor its functionalities to align with school-specific curricula.”
Key phrase: will.
Very similar to the Merlyn Thoughts distant had bother determining what was being stated within the Newline sales space, the distant within the Samsung struggled to know my voice even when talking slowly and loudly. Furthermore, the Samsung demo system may solely search what was on the display screen, it was not in a position to seek for any new matters. It had been arrange just for cautious demonstrations utilizing content material about amphibians. Whereas this can be a widespread follow at Infocomm and different commerce reveals, it took away the wow issue. It was kind of like searching for a TV, and the salesperson telling you that just one channel was accessible.
Keep tuned, as I will likely be writing yet one more article about Infocomm earlier than the weekend is over.
