- We're getting close to the end of this course,
but the future is continuing to happen.
The changes that have occurred in the modern workplace
over the last five years are probably nothing compared
to the changes that will take place over the next five.
Artificial intelligence, machine learning,
and predictive applications will keep pushing
out the boundaries of the possible.
While the Internet of Things makes
it possible to connect to more all the time.
What do I mean?
Well, let's unpack that statement a little bit.
As computer processing continues
to grow, both in terms of speed
and capacity, we're getting closer
every day to artificial intelligence,
building a brain that is capable
of independent thought and decision making.
What's even more impressive is that even now,
computers are capable of learning by watching actions
and interactions, and making predictions
by applying that information to solve problems.
How does this relate to the modern workplace?
It's already having an impact in finance,
the health industry, and retail.
CRM software already makes
suggestions regarding sales prospects.
Want some examples?
I can give you a couple that might surprise you.
How do you think Facebook knows
to suggest a name of one of your friends
to tag to a picture?
Guess what?
Their facial recognition software relies
heavily on what they call artificial neural networks
that mimic the brain's structure.
And have you ever gotten a call from your bank
telling you about suspicious activity on your account?
How do they do that?
Well, they are also using those neural networks
to compare transaction size, location, type,
frequency, etc., etc., and when they see
something that falls outside the pattern,
it flags that so that a live person takes further action.
We won't even talk about Siri or Alexa
or any of the other personal assistants
that live in your devices.
The fact is, this is growing,
and it's growing in acceptance too.
And then there's the Internet of Things.
What a concept.
All of the devices that can now talk
to each other, interact with each other,
and can be controlled or worked with via
online apps, it's truly amazing.
I can envision a day where a smart system
will be able to wake you up in the morning
with the day's news and weather,
give you traffic updates as you drink your coffee,
and turn down the lights and thermostat when you leave.
And react accordingly if you decide
you want to work from home that day too.
We will increasingly be able to rely
on computers, not only to monitor,
but to make decisions and take action
to resolve issues and solve problems.