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In a recent in-depth discussion, Colin Masson, Research Director for Industrial AI at ARC Advisory Group, and Dustin Johnson, CTO of Seeq—a global provider of advanced analytics, AI, and enterprise monitoring to industrial companies—explored the transformative potential of industrial AI, covering everything from user interface design to the nuances of AI agents and assistants. This conversation offers invaluable insights for industrial customers looking to leverage their time-series data and AI effectively.
Enjoy the whole conversation on Buzzsprout as a conventional audio podcast.
To cherry pick the Industrial AI topics you want to hear (and see) discussed, tune into our SPARCs Channel on YouTube.
SPARCs are ARC Advisory Group’s shorter format podcasts, where we address key questions with industrial leaders about how people, processes, and technology converge in the industrial sector to shape a more digital—AND more sustainable—future.
Only got 5-10 minutes? Each of the SPARCs below are somewhere between 3 to 8 minutes!
Key Topics and Takeaways
Our discussion spanned a wide array of topics, offering a comprehensive view of the current state and future of industrial AI. Here’s a breakdown of the key areas covered:
Generative AI and the Modern User Interface (Gen UI)
The Concept of Gen UI: Dustin Johnson introduces the term "Gen UI," describing how generative AI can enable custom user interfaces, allowing users to create buttons, forms, fields, and charts tailored to their specific workflows. This capability is similar to "macro recording on steroids". This is a shift away from "additive manufacturing" of user interfaces, where interfaces start blank and build up, to "subtractive manufacturing" where interfaces start full and are filtered down, a critical shift that is enabled by AI.
Implications for Industrial Users: This approach to UI design can significantly enhance user experience by providing a more intuitive and efficient way to interact with complex systems.
Check out the SPARC on AI's Impact on Modern User Interfaces:
The Challenge of Time-Series Data for Large Language Models (LLMs)
Why Time-Series Data is Difficult for LLMs: Time-series data isn't language, making it difficult for LLMs to process, as these models are trained primarily in language. LLMs require pre-processing steps to convert time series data into a human-digestible format.
The Need for Data Transformation: According to Dustin, the key is to transform the time series data into tabular data before it can be effectively used by LLMs. Tools like Seeq are crucial in this transformation.
Check out the SPARC on Gen AIs Challenges with Time-Series Data:
AI Assistants vs. AI Agents
Defining the Terms: AI assistants respond to specific prompts and provide outputs accordingly. AI agents, on the other hand, are more autonomous, maintaining context and performing tasks in the background.
Benefits of Each: Both assistants and agents have distinct advantages. Assistants are useful for onboarding and training, while agents can monitor and perform tasks autonomously.
Seeq's Approach: Seeq currently provides capabilities that fall in the gray space between the two, offering AI tools that interact with the platform but are not yet fully autonomous, as well as monitoring by exception capabilities based on machine learning. The company is moving towards empowering users with broader scope using more "agentic AI" that can answer broader questions such as "what went wrong in my plant yesterday?”
Listen to the SPARC on AI Agents vs AI Assistants:
The Role of AI Assistants in Industrial Settings
Beyond Clippy: While some AI assistants might feel like the infamous Clippy 1.0, modern AI assistants have unparalleled natural language interface capabilities.
Benefits: AI assistants can accelerate user onboarding, provide customized assistance, produce work products, and bridge the gap between technical and non-technical users.
Use Cases: Seeq's AI assistant has enabled customers to achieve sustainability goals 2-8 times faster by eliminating stumbling blocks. It has also helped companies like British Sugar address workforce skill gaps and knowledge loss by reducing the time to fully skill experts.
See the SPARC on AI Assistants, Copilots, Genies—and Clippy:
Predictions for 2025 and Beyond
Hype vs. Reality: Dustin believes that Gen AI is currently on a hype curve, but there is a substantial kernel of value behind the excitement. While some hype will wane due to surface-level implementations and security concerns, AI-fueled innovations like Gen UI will continue to mature.
Evolving Expectations: AI will become more deeply embedded in tools and lives, and society will adapt to the challenges.
The Focus on Value: The focus will shift toward applying the right AI tool for the right job, emphasizing value and use cases.
Hear Dustin and Colin's thoughts on the future of AI in the SPARC 2024 Reflections and Outlook for Gen AI Impact on the Industrial AI Toolbox:
The conversations between Colin Masson and Dustin Johnson provides a balanced perspective on the current and future state of industrial AI. While there are challenges and limitations, the potential benefits are immense, especially in improving user interfaces, accelerating onboarding, and enabling more efficient operations. For ARC's industrial customers, understanding these nuances is critical to successfully deploying and leveraging AI technologies.
Interest SPARCed?
Thanks for tuning in to this SPARC! Share these episodes with others who are passionate about applying technology the right way to address skills gaps, create more intelligent processes, while building a more profitable and sustainable future. For those looking to go deeper, ARC Advisory Group offers longer format Digital Transformation and Sustainability Podcasts, and unparalleled guidance in developing digital transformation and sustainability strategies for industrial organizations. Reach out to us for expert insights and support that can help you turn these ideas into action and lead your organization toward a more profitable and sustainable path.
To contribute to SPARCs, or the Digital Transformation and Sustainability Podcasts, contact Jim Frazer and Colin Masson at ARC Advisory Group through your client manager.
For ARC Advisory Group recommendations for closing the digital divide by embracing Industrial AI, and governing and guiding major decisions about enterprise, cloud, industrial edge and AI software, please contact Colin Masson at [email protected].