5 AI Deep Learning Tools Companies Need to Watch

Deep Learning is a concept that’s still in its early stages of development, though it has the potential to create significant change when it comes to how we understand and use Artificial Intelligence. Contributing to the growing umbrella of AI and Machine Learning technology, Deep Learning is yet another tool that’s here to process information, make decisions for us, and enhance the extent to which service providers can deliver solutions.

What is Deep Learning?

The intent behind creating Deep Learning was to have technology that can process information and make decisions just like that of a human brain. What the technology does, in this case, is use algorithms and neural networks for pattern recognition that resemble the way a person would process information and make decisions.

Deep Learning, also referred to as Deep Neural Networks can be used across a variety of industries for a variety of purposes. At the moment, its most notorious usage methods include self-driving, predictive analytics, and speech recognition. Do you think it’s going to stop there? We guarantee you it isn’t…

Deep Learning offers a closer glimpse at the capabilities of artificial intelligence that are quickly surfacing, and it's expected to have a significant impact on various fields, including healthcare, finance, and cybersecurity. With their ability to process and learn from large amounts of data, Deep Learning algorithms will revolutionize how businesses approach complex problems and make decisions to solve them.

How is it Useful to Businesses?

The most important thing right now for companies in industries such as Finance, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Insurance, E-Commerce, Advertising, and industries alike is to evaluate how they will adapt their service delivery model to the increasing demand for integrating AI technology. 

Deep Learning can be a game changer for these industries, as it will provide them with the ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data, as well as gain insights from that data that were previously impossible for companies to obtain. 

3 Examples of This:

• A pharmaceutical manufacturing company could use Deep Learning to analyze findings from clinical trials and predict how effective a new medication will be. 

• A financial firm could use algorithms from Deep Learning to analyze trends in the stock market and provide that information to investors.

• For a manufacturing company using complex machinery, Deep Learning can predict when maintenance will need to happen, identify failures before they occur, and even optimize the manufacturing process itself.

When you see examples like this, the value of process automation seems obvious though not many fully understand what it entails. Some businesses aren’t ready for AI technology simply because they don’t understand its full capabilities and how those capabilities will benefit their business.

How Deep Learning Keeps Companies Competitive

In coming years, the ability to organize, analyze, and process data will be the most important and sought-after function for every business's daily operations, workflows, and especially service delivery. Deep Learning and AI algorithms alike are what companies are increasingly turning to when supporting their back-end, which includes tasks such as data management and predictive analytics. 

To lay it out more clearly, here are 5 specific Deep Learning tools to pay attention to:

1. TensorFlow: A deep learning tool developed by Google, written in C++ and CUDA. This tool supports various programming languages such as Python, Java, and Go. It simplifies the creation of machine learning models for mobile, web, desktop, and cloud, and supports large-scale neural networks with multiple layers.

2. DeepLearningKit: This is an open-source Deep Learning tool developed in Swift for Apple devices with a graphics processing unit (GPU). It supports pre-trained models and low-latency Deep Learning calculations. It also supports Convolutional Neural Networks and aims to support other deep learning tools such as Torch or TensorFlow.

3. Keras: Keras is a high-level neural network API written in Python that runs on top of TensorFlow or Theano. It supports recurrent networks and convolutional networks, as well as multi-input and multi-output training. It offers simpler and faster prototyping with its modularity, minimalism, and easy extensibility.

4. Caffe: An open-source Deep Learning tool developed by Berkeley AI Research and community contributors. Its advanced architecture allows for innovation and application propagation. According to research, Caffe is faster than TensorFlow.

5. H2O.ai: This is an open-source Deep Learning tool written in Java that supports various machine learning algorithms. It seamlessly integrates with Apache Hadoop and Spark for big data analysis and has an easy-to-use Web UI.

Remain Competitive Using AI

Although not every company that will undergo digital transformation in the next few years will necessarily integrate Deep Learning tools right away, it’s still important to know about its presence. Deep Learning can be a separating factor for businesses that want to maintain a competitive edge in their industry amid the widespread adoption of AI.

Deep Learning tools like the ones listed above are great options for workflow optimization and data management, which, as we said, cannot be understated when planning for the future of your business.

What’s Next For AI?

Save this infographic for a quick reference.

The future of AI looks bright with continuous advancements in Deep Learning and other AI technologies. As more industries and businesses continue to adopt AI, programmers will play a crucial role in developing and improving AI algorithms and tools. However, the best thing for any business to do right now is to start strategizing for how they will use these tools to support longevity.

The way to do this is by bringing in AI experts to help identify areas within workflows that are repetitive and that could be automated to promote efficiency and save time.

Written By Ben Brown

—

ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to Fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.

How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Software Development

AI is not a new concept anymore. Public understanding of its capabilities is broadening rapidly and changing how we view professional services. What AI has given us at this moment in time is not a threat to jobs, but rather an opportunity to get behind the remodelling of employment which is something that will become a threat to service providers who don’t.

Software development is one of the key industries that will face significant change from AI, but this is an excellent thing for companies who view it as an opportunity and pivot their strategy accordingly. Chat GPT can write code in seconds. Anyone who’s used it knows it can pretty much do anything you tell it to, which is why its rise has been so meteoric. 

Chat GPT from Open AI is just one example - 39 other companies are just as close in competition with Open AI, never mind all the startups and concepts that have yet to hit the market. With that in mind, it’s safe to say that, unlike other trends that eventually blow over, AI and Machine Learning are here to stay.

Software Development Using AI

The entire purpose of AI is to make processes/workflows better and enhance the results that can be delivered. For example; look at a company like Microsoft which not only invested $10 billion in Chat GPT  but has also taken its AI product development to the next level. What Microsoft did was create various platforms that assist in the programming process in ways that allow software developers to do their job more effectively.

Visual Studio IntelliCode and CodeSpace are both AI services built by Microsoft meant to correct errors made in code for developers. If you ask a software developer today who’s been coding for the last 20-30 years what a difference tools like Chat GPT, Visual Studio IntelliCode, and CodeSpace would’ve made in their past projects, they’d tell you it would’ve saved them countless hours of typing, debugging, and testing. 

That’s what this is all about— adapting to these new tools to enhance what we’ve been doing all this time but to do it better, faster, and more efficiently.

Shift in The Role of Software Developers

The tasks that Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning handle are typically time-consuming, repetitive, and cover less comprehensive duties. Software development involves a significant amount of these tasks such as extending source code, going through iterations, and debugging. 

In the future, if AI is fully handling these responsibilities without the need for constant supervision - software developers would be able to take on more of a managerial role and handle tasks that are more complex or require hands-on creativity. Tasks that would classify as “complex” or “creative” in software would be as follows:

• Developing new algorithms or even programming languages

• UI/UX design

• Graphic design for software products

• Developing new software features that enhance the user experience

• Developing and implementing new software testing methodologies

• Solving complex software problems

• Creating complex software architectures

• Building new frameworks for development

• Conducting in-depth research and analysis related to software development and emerging technologies

• Collaborating with marketing and sales teams to effectively market and sell software products

• Collaborating with customer support teams to ensure that software products meet the needs of end-users

• Mentoring and coaching junior software developers

• Overall leading software development teams and projects

There is a myriad of things that developers will still be crucial for. As a matter of fact, there’s much more opportunity for a software development company who learns how to manage and integrate AI products than there’s ever been for any new technology in the industry before.

What AI Products Will/Do Clients Want?

The types of AI products that a software service provider would create are highly subjective based on the clients they serve. For example, it doesn’t take an expert to tell you that a hospital is going to require a much more sophisticated and elaborate architecture than an E-Commerce store. 

Nonetheless, there are common interests among companies in various industries when it comes to AI product development that includes the following:

Predictive Analytics: Machine learning and AI are great for analyzing large quantities of data which would allow them to make predictions that are more accurate toward outcomes. For example, a financial services provider could use predictive analytics to recognize patterns in customer behaviour and offer customized opportunities or products based on that data.

Virtual Assistants or Chatbots: Of course, with the popularity of Chat GPT - companies are going to want to integrate chatbots that improve the user experience. Some specific functions of these tools could include processing inquiries, and assisting site direction, or they could be complex like the ability to triage patient inquiries.

Deep Learning Applications: Using artificial neural networks, Deep Learning applications can replicate the function of a human brain. This is the technology behind driverless cars, voice recognition, structuring investment concepts, language processors, fraud detection, and much more. Now, Deep Learning is still a long way from its true potential which makes it a key area to watch for any service provider interested in artificial intelligence integration.

Video and Image Analysis: Video and image analysis is a game-changer for security companies as it can detect people, objects, emotions, and behaviours using AI technology. This not only assists with investigations but also has implications for industries such as advertising and entertainment, which are both finding new ways to leverage this technology to drive growth.

For example, advertisers can analyze consumer preferences as well as what’s trending - then design campaigns based on that information. It can enhance the visual design process by finding what design trends consumers are responding the best to and then incorporating them into marketing materials. 

The Next Steps For AI 

There’s a lot to unpack from everything we just covered, yet this is still just the tip of the iceberg. AI is becoming beyond comprehensible but, again— this is a time with immense opportunity for those who take the time to learn, adapt, and integrate.

Software development has long been a field that demands constant learning and adaptation which is why the best software providers will ensure their business responds remarkably to the demand. 

Written By Ben Brown

—

ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.

The Benefits and Challenges of IT Project Outsourcing

Software development projects don’t always go to plan - the vast majority of them run into complications, but often for very preventable reasons. For example, many companies have in-house software development teams that handle their projects. Companies that can afford an in-house team tend to just be more comfortable with that which is understandable. 

However, in-house teams are not without risk; for example, let's say a company is taking on a big process automation project. The in-house team gets the brief and notices that some of the requests are not in their ballpark of expertise. This is a simple problem, it happens often. These are 6 common consequences of ignoring it:

• Going over budget

• Significant project delays

• Low-quality final product

• Dissatisfied stakeholders

• Damaged team morale

• Damaged company reputation

This is just one very simple instance of something that can go wrong in-house and there are endless potential challenges all with their own set of consequences when it comes to developing software. However, effective execution during software implementation has a major emphasis on RISK MITIGATION which is why businesses often choose to seek consultancy.

Alibaba Example

To give you a real-world example - we’ll examine Alibaba. Alibaba is a company doing well over $140 billion in revenue today - but it wasn’t always that way. In the early stages of being a startup, Jack Ma, the company's founder, was facing trouble accessing the resources he needed while living in China. 

What he needed was web development, and when he eventually found specialists in the United States, he outsourced development to them and started seeing results immediately. This led the company to set a record in funding at $25 billion by 2014.

What It Means To Outsource

Outsourcing software development doesn’t always mean you bring a project to a third-party right from the jump and get them to take care of it. It can sometimes, but outsourcing can also involve project takeover which is needed in cases where the project has been done poorly or the in-house team has too much on its plate and it’s not a priority at the moment. 

Whatever the case may be - bringing in a third-party development team can be a great move for businesses and avoid the trap of project failure before the project even has a chance to be completed. 

With that said, when the process is executed optimally, there are 3 key benefits seen from outsourcing that you wouldn’t see from in-house development:

1. Cost reduction: Software development is expensive, and when you add employee benefits and vacation time off to that, it adds up to paying for results you’re not getting. On the other hand, when you outsource, you're only paying for the results of the project you get from the team. You’re not paying the same salaries when work is slow or results aren’t optimal. With outsourcing, you quite literally get what you pay for and nothing less.

2. Talent pool: Software developers have a lot of flexibility in terms of their working conditions. Some may work for a company and freelance on the side, or even work at several companies each for short terms. The point is, top talent may not want to be confined to one company. So yes, while an in-house team will have developers with an employee mindset and dedication - their capabilities may be limited in certain aspects of performance that you could only get from a diverse portfolio. 

3. Further domain knowledge: Outsourcing companies will have experience working with various companies in your industry which means that their experience level is fueled by observing different approaches to serving other businesses. This is not disregarding the expertise of an in-house team, however, there is a tendency to follow the “do things the way we’ve always done it” mentality which is not sustainable in 2023.

When a company hires an outsourcing team, they now have access to new mindsets and opinions, not just from an outsider looking in - but from trained professionals who’re ready to pivot and take on whatever you give them.

Deciding Whether Or Not To Outsource

Anytime you’re faced with the question “Why should we outsource this project?” start by examining why you shouldn’t outsource it. When an investment is being made for the greater good of an organization, it makes the most sense to start by analyzing all the risks involved. 

From that point, you can see if the benefits outweigh the risks and make an informed decision. The reason we recommend the “negative first” approach is that oftentimes teams get caught up in fixating on all the potential rewards that they neglect to construct proper contingency planning. 

Challenges From Outsourcing

The most common industries that outsource IT services include Finance, IT, Payroll, and CRM services. The most common projects companies from these industries typically reach out for include cloud services, process automation (especially robotic process automation), API integration and customer service support.

While all this is going on, some obstacles will arise but the whole idea is that with an experienced team of experts, you won’t have to worry about these obstacles impacting your project. With that being said, here are some of the most common issues to look out for:

Project Delays

Delays often occur when there are communication barriers between the service provider and the client. Both parties can be at fault for not properly outlining the scope, timeline, deliverables, or even changes made to the project. To avoid this, both parties need to prioritize having regular check-ins that ensure that the project is on track.

Quality Issues

Outsourcing a software development project can also come with some quality risks. When working with a third-party provider, there is a chance that the quality of work may not meet your expectations. This can be due to a lack of understanding of the project requirements or inadequate skills on the provider's end. 

For this reason, It's non-negotiable to have a proper quality assurance process in place that will catch any issues early on. In addition to this, there needs to be sufficient communication before the project starts to ensure expectations are understood and that the outsourcing team can support your needs.

Security risks

The phrase alone emphasizes how important it is to team up with a reputable software development firm. Now, when you think you have the right team, remember that you will be sharing sensitive information. For this reason, companies looking for outsourcing services need to make sure they ask about the teams' security and confidentiality measures.

What’s Important to Understand

There is risk involved with any level of change in an organization, however, we’re living in an era where change is inevitable with technology, especially watching AI becoming more advanced by the day. Companies need to re-evaluate their business processes in 2023 and find ways to implement this technology to still be operating in 2033. 

Businesses need to asses their assets and find any that are expendable. In some cases, it may make sense to delegate work to a third-party software services provider. This is a recommended path if it means it’s going to help your business succeed.

Written By Ben Brown

—

ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.