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Selecting a product on Amazon can be a challenge, especially given the often thousands of reviews a product can receive. To make this task easier, Amazon is currently testing a new feature that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to automatically summarize reviews and highlight the most important information.
The basic idea behind this innovation is to provide customers with better guidance amid the plethora of opinions and reviews. In recent weeks, the company has begun testing a new feature. This AI-powered function analyzes all existing reviews of a product and searches for the central statements. It then automatically generates a compact summary from them, showing the product's pros and cons.
Currently, this function is available to selected users of the Amazon mobile app. However, it is only available in English for the time being and only affects certain product categories such as televisions, headphones and smartphones. Despite the still limited application, it is already apparent that the generated summaries have some weaknesses.
It is important to note that this feature is still in the testing phase. The automated summaries are so far occasionally contradictory and repetitive. For example, it can happen that the battery life of a laptop is referred to several times, while at the same time the performance is mentioned as a negative aspect.
The previous summaries tend to emphasize positive aspects more than negative ones. However, some arguments are too generalized to make sense in the context of the product. For example, the "ease of use" emphasized by AI for a smartphone could refer to both the intuitive user interface and the setup of the device.
Amazon describes the AI used as merely a "generative system." Nevertheless, the feature has a filter function that allows users to select certain parameters that are particularly important to them. In the case of sports equipment, for example, these could be properties such as durability, comfort and functionality.
Although AI-based summarization of reviews still has room for improvement, it could make the shopping process on Amazon more efficient in the future. By providing compact information, customers could make informed decisions faster and improve their shopping experience.
A representative survey of 605 companies with more than 20 employees in Germany, commissioned by the digital association Bitkom, shows that only 2 percent of respondents consider Germany to be the leading nation internationally in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
Nevertheless, 25 percent of respondents rate German companies among the world's leaders in AI research.Bitkom President Dr. Ralf Wintergerst emphasizes Germany's long presence in AI research and the outstanding scientists in the country. However, he urges greater use of these strengths for marketable AI solutions.Wintergerst points out that AI is a cross-sectional technology and requires a broad application base in industry.He also criticizes Germany's restrictive rules on the use of non-sensitive data, which would hinder the development of AI.
The survey results show that currently 41 percent of companies see the U.S. as the leading nation in AI, followed by China with 23 percent.Japan, Israel and Taiwan are well behind at 7 percent, and 4 percent each.The forecast for 2030 looks similar, with 38 percent of companies seeing the U.S. as the leader, 25 percent seeing China, and only about 1 percent seeing Germany.
Bitkom's upcoming Big-Data.AI Summit on September 20 and 21, 2023, in Berlin will address concrete applications of AI in companies, best practices, cross-industry strategies, industry-specific solutions, technologies, trends and societal challenges in the field of AI.
In terms of technology adoption and innovation, German startups play a decisive role, as a recent study by the digital association Bitkom shows. The survey of 203 technology startups from Germany makes it clear that artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data occupy the top positions. Currently, 53 percent of the startups surveyed use Big Data and data analytics, while 49 percent rely on AI. These trends are expected to continue to grow as they top the list of technologies that startups are considering - 39 percent are thinking about adopting AI, and 31 percent intend to use Big Data and data analytics.
Compared to the overall economy, startups clearly set themselves apart from established companies. Across the economy, only 15 percent are using AI, while another 25 percent have plans to use it or are discussing it. For data analytics, the share in the overall economy is 39 percent, and for discussions about it, 37 percent.
Bitkom President Ralf Wintergerst welcomes this development and predicts that startups will help make AI and Big Data more accessible to small businesses and SMEs. He emphasizes that these technologies will not only be used, but also further developed to bring new products and services to market.
To promote the spread of AI applications from the startup sector, Bitkom points to the AI voucher for small and medium-sized enterprises envisaged in the German government's startup strategy.
In addition, technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G and 3D printing are emerging on the startup scene.However, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), blockchain and the metaverse are still in the development and discussion phase.While only 8 percent of startups are currently using VR/AR, 22 percent are planning or discussing its use. The situation is similar for Blockchain, which is used by 5 percent of startups but planned or discussed by 22 percent.For the Metaverse, 3 percent of startups are already users, while 15 percent are planning or discussing its use.
Wintergerst emphasizes that while technologies such as the Metaverse, VR/AR and blockchain have been discussed for some time, their breakthrough has yet to occur. Companies are encouraged to closely follow developments in the startup space and gain their own experience with these technologies early on.
Other technologies such as drones, robotics, autonomous driving and quantum computing play a lesser role in the German startup scene. Nevertheless, some startups are also discussing or planning future use here.
In recent years, advancing technology developments have fundamentally changed a wide range of industries, and the world of public relations (PR) is no exception. An up-and-coming AI startup from Rostock, Germany, has set out to revolutionize the way PR is done. This company has managed to use innovative AI technologies to maximize the efficiency, accuracy, and reach of PR campaigns.
The AI startup: a Rostock pioneer
The startup, known as "FDS," was founded in 2019 by a group of talented researchers and technology enthusiasts in Rostock, Germany. From the beginning, their goal was clear: harness the power of artificial intelligence to transform the traditional world of PR. The team consisted of experts in machine learning, natural language processing and data analytics - the perfect combination to develop a breakthrough solution.
Artificial intelligence as a game changer in PR
Traditional PR often involves time-consuming tasks such as manually creating press releases, identifying relevant media contacts and analyzing coverage. This is where "FDS" comes in: Using advanced AI technology, they have developed a platform that enables automated PR campaigns.
The platform uses AI algorithms to search news sources and gather relevant information. It can detect trends in news coverage, identify keywords, and even analyze the sentiment of the coverage. This allows PR professionals to create more targeted and effective messages and precisely target their audience.
Efficiency, accuracy and reach
Implementing AI in PR strategies has several benefits. First, it significantly increases efficiency. Tasks that used to take hours or even days can now be completed in minutes. This allows PR teams to focus on strategic planning and creative content.
The accuracy of the information provided by the platform is also a big win. AI is able to analyze large amounts of data in a short amount of time and identify patterns, minimizing human error and enabling more informed decision-making.
Not least, AI-powered PR expands the reach of messages. By identifying relevant journalists and media contacts, the platform can ensure that information reaches exactly those most likely to use it.
Future prospects
FDS, based in Rostock, Germany, has already attracted attention in the industry and won some high-profile clients. The platform has the potential to fundamentally change PR practices and help companies spread their messages more effectively. The innovative power of this Rostock-based startup shows that the combination of AI and PR has a promising future.
At a time when information flows fast and competition is more intense than ever, the interplay between human expertise and AI support is becoming increasingly relevant. FDS could be just the beginning in terms of how AI will continue to turn the PR landscape on its head in the years to come.
The tech landscape in Germany has changed rapidly in recent years, and technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics play a central role. According to a recent survey of 203 tech startups commissioned by the digital association Bitkom, these technologies have proven to be indispensable for the success of startups. The results impressively show that startups that rely on AI and data analytics are not only ahead of the game, but are also the ones shaping the innovations of the future.
The current status quo: AI and data analytics dominate
A look at the statistics makes it clear just how entrenched AI and data analytics now are in the startup world. More than half of the startups surveyed (53 percent) are already using Big Data and data analytics to optimize their business processes and gain deep insights into their target groups. Even more impressive is the prevalence of AI, which is being used by 49 percent of startups to develop smart solutions and products.
It gets even more exciting when you look at the startups' future plans. Almost 40 percent of the companies surveyed are planning to introduce AI in the near future. The situation is similar for Big Data and Data Analytics, where 31 percent of the startups are discussing or planning their use. These figures underscore not only the current importance of these technologies, but also their future relevance for the startup landscape.
Startups leading the way: AI and data analytics in the overall economy
Comparing the use of AI and data analytics in startups with the overall economy, the pioneering role of young companies becomes particularly clear. While only 15 percent of companies in the overall economy use AI, 49 percent of startups already rely on this technology. Similar proportions are also evident in data analysis: In the overall economy, 37 percent use these technologies, while the figure for startups is 53 percent.
Bitkom President Dr. Ralf Wintergerst highlights the importance of this development, saying, "The fact that so many innovative founders are using AI and Big Data to develop new products and services is a positive sign. Startups will play an important role in making these technologies more accessible to smaller companies and SMEs."
The symbiosis of AI and data analytics
One notable aspect of this development is the close relationship between AI and data analytics. AI requires data to learn and make intelligent decisions. At the same time, AI enables more efficient analysis of big data, which in turn enables deeper insights and better business decisions. This interaction highlights the need for an integrated approach to implementing AI and data analytics.
Emerging technologies and their relevance to startups
The survey also provides insights into emerging technologies that could become more important in the coming years. The Internet of Things (IoT) is already being used by a quarter of startups, while nearly 30 percent are discussing or planning integration. 5G technologies have also piqued the interest of startups, with 17 percent in the planning or discussion phase.
Also exciting is the growing discussion about technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and blockchain. Currently, 8 percent of startups are using VR/AR, while an impressive 22 percent are discussing its use. Similarly, while 5 percent of startups are already using blockchain, 22 percent are planning to use the technology.
In summary, the survey highlights the changing nature of the German startup scene. AI and data analytics have evolved from emerging trends to indispensable tools that determine the course of business development. With their agile approach and willingness to integrate new technologies, startups are at the forefront of this movement that will undoubtedly shape the future of business.