14 Revolutionary AI Applications in 2024: Real-World Examples

The industrial world is undergoing a revolution, and the driving force is artificial intelligence (AI).

AI is no longer science fiction; it's a driving force reshaping every industrial sector known to man. The applications of AI today are more exhaustive than in the tech industry or robotics. From optimizing factory production lines to aiding doctors in diagnoses, artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the world around us, fundamentally altering how we operate.

Fueled by advanced algorithms, AI tools empower organizations to handle complex tasks, automate repetitive manual work, and boost overall productivity. 

Although the above list doesn’t encompass all AI applications, it provides a solid overview of how artificial intelligence is being used across a wide range of business sectors. Going further, we'll take a deep dive into how this technology is making a real difference in our everyday lives.

A breakdown of AI applications in 7 industries

Each of the following industries uses AI in revolutionary ways. Within each example below are two use cases of AI and how it benefits businesses and individuals.

1. AI in healthcare

It seems logical that AI in healthcare would top the list. Medical professionals at all levels have encountered artificial intelligence to some extent. From front desk receptionists at clinics to CNAs, nurses, doctors, surgeons, and those in specialized areas, AI is helping automate processes across the board. 

Robot-assisted surgery

Artificial intelligence via robotics is a high-level use case where AI-powered bots assist with surgery, including heart, colorectal, and thoracic. Using robots to assist surgeons helps with higher accuracy, lower risk of infection, less blood loss and pain, shorter hospital stay, and quicker recovery times. Studies have shown that the longer a person has to stay in the hospital, the more likely they are to get sick again within six months to one year. Thus, robot-assisted surgery is an advancement concerned with patient wellness and overall recovery. 

Medical records sorting

Another beneficial innovation for patients and medical professionals is automated digital medical records. Instead of the tired stacks of folders with decades of health records kept in file cabinets at your clinic, electronic health record (EHR) tools are using AI to help document, sort, and store records in digital form. This helps cut back on the time it takes to dig through years of patient information when speed and accuracy are vital. Additionally, digitized health records make it easier for patients to access their own information on a shared online health portal.

2. AI in education

At first glance, it’s logical how education would be ripe for tech-based advancement. Edtech, or educational technology, implements technological resources to improve student learning as well as automate tasks for instructors. 

Automating administrative tasks

AI takes over tedious administrative tasks in education so teachers can have the time to focus on students. This includes automating personalized messages, grading papers, managing parent communication, handling enrollment and courses, and even assisting with HR duties. AI allows schools to run smoother and teachers to connect better with their students.

Smart teaching

AI helps with the digitization of lectures, conferences, and guides which creates a rich learning experience. The content that students interact with can also be personalized based on performance data and student's needs.

Many classrooms have also been implementing AI-powered tutors or assistants that can help students with reading, language learning, and social interactions. 

3. AI in marketing 

Marketing is multi-faceted and deals with a number of operations that could benefit from total or partial automation. Because of this, marketing technology, or martech, is crucial for business success. Martech is the software used to improve marketing campaigns and strategies, and it's currently being transformed by AI technology. 

Advertising optimization

AI helps create targeted ads by analyzing customer behaviors and patterns and optimizing bidding and creative elements. Rather than spending endless hours A/B testing and running different headline and description combinations to determine click-through rates, Google’s Responsive Search Ads can be used to compile results. Google AdWords will show different combinations en masse, helping marketers to optimize headline-description combinations and broaden reach for potential customers. 

Data analytics

Data analytics, which is powered by machine learning, is essential for any AI-powered marketing solution. With potential customers, contacts from email lists, random site visitors, and those who register for one-off promotions such as webinars, marketers are swimming in rich, valuable customer data. Deriving data effortlessly from this extensive data can fuel effective marketing strategies.

4. AI in e-commerce and retail

AI in e-commerce and retail is a sector that benefits largely from automation given the volume of customer information, stock and inventory (in-store and online), and sales forecasting and predictions that have to be tracked.

Inventory management

AI uses powerful algorithms and data analysis to eliminate the guesswork in stocking. These systems crunch historical sales data, market trends, and even seasonal spikes to accurately predict demand. By automating inventory tracking and reordering, AI ensures you have the right products on hand when customers need them, maximizing sales and minimizing waste.

Personalised shopping experience

AI is transforming e-commerce personalization and the shopping experience. Through data analytics and machine learning, AI analyzes individual customer preferences, browsing habits, and purchase history. This allows stores to recommend products you'll love, deliver targeted marketing campaigns, and offer customized promotions. With a shopping experience that feels designed with the customer in mind, AI fosters customer satisfaction and loyalty.

5. AI in travel

AI uses extensive data analysis to provide actionable insights, facilitate trip planning, and improve the safety, accessibility, and comfort of transportation.

Personalized trip planning

AI-driven travel tools analyze a wealth of data, such as traveler preferences, budget constraints, and past travel experiences, to generate personalized travel itineraries. By suggesting accommodations, activities, and attractions based on individual interests, local events, and online reviews, AI simplifies the trip planning process, allowing travelers to discover exceptional experiences.

Route planning

AI algorithms support travelers and transportation providers by utilizing real-time data processing and predictive modeling techniques to determine the most efficient routes. These tools also consider traffic conditions, weather patterns, and fuel efficiency. Through AI-powered navigation apps, travelers receive dynamic route recommendations and alternative options to minimize travel time and avoid congestion.

6. AI in public relations (PR)

The public relations industry is a hyper-specific area that uses artificial intelligence. Nevertheless, PR professionals are benefiting from AI in the workplace.

Audience insights generation

Machine learning is helping with predicting consumers’ wants and needs. ML algorithms track trends in user data and make predictions based on their findings. AI can help companies shape their approach while creating targeted products and services based on what ML algorithms detect as “trending.”

Social interactions

Using chatbots to reach out to consumers on social media is a trending way PR professionals can amplify their social reach. By communicating via AI chatbot software, brands can give automated responses to their audience. This helps brands keep an active social presence that can be monitored by a social media specialist as a means of cross-checking consumer-chatbot interactions. 

7. AI in recruitment 

For human resources (HR) professionals, automating the recruitment process through artificial intelligence and machine learning is becoming widely popularized because it cuts back on manpower while making the task of finding candidates more streamlined. 

Blind hiring

Blind hiring is a process of selecting candidates without seeing them. ML algorithms can sort through applicant data under specified search parameters that focus solely based on experience and credentials rather than demographic information. This can help teams become more diverse in terms of skills, education background, gender, ethnicity, and other unique characteristics that job candidates bring to the table.

Candidate screening

Companies like ZipRecruiter already do this. By using what they call “matching technology” (i.e. AI and ML-powered filtering software tools), ZipRecruiter’s automated tools scan job candidates’ profiles and resumes to find keywords that are industry-specific so that they can help find the right candidates for the role while filtering out those that don’t fit the needs of the role. In a matter of seconds, the ML algorithm is able to scan hundreds of profiles and resumes to give recruiters a quick idea of the talent pool out there. 

AI for every use case 

While people have historically wondered what the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence truly are, it’s clear to see that AI is more helpful than it is harmful. Whether in a high-tech industry or something more people-focused, artificial intelligence brings assistance to consumers and workers at all levels.

Intrigued? Check out conversational AI, a tool that is helpful in all industries to enhance customer engagement.