The battle in artificial intelligence

The goal of AI is to replicate a range of functions associated with human intelligence like planning, reasoning, inference, prediction, language processing, and image recognition. These are effectively trained by observing humans performing specific tasks and once trained, the systems can be deployed and they continue to update their knowledge and rule base as new instances arise. However, AI is nothing new with machine learning and deep learning algorithm intelligent computers helping to improve service and efficiency now ubiquitous in almost every industry.

Consumer based applications like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa robots are all starting to feature in our everyday lives, and we are starting to see it applied in hospitality. Avvio recently launched Allora, billed as the world’s first direct booking platform powered by AI. Allora’s job is to analyse large volumes of data, and identify which variations will yield the best booking engine configuration to drive direct bookings and guest loyalty by orchestrating better personalised online experiences.

AI big data applications include the ability to quickly discover more information about guests to help tailor the experience, and also automate a lot of the resulting actions but AI programs still remain narrowly focused. In late 2016, a pop song called “Daddy’s Car” was released as a derivative of a Beatles tune, with a soothing beat and vaguely uplifting lyrics. Sony’s Computer Science Laboratories in Paris produced the song, written by an AI system called Flow Machines. The melody and harmony were composed by AI, and a human musician mixed the sound and wrote lyrics for the track.

AI will make big data easier to manage for serviced apartments and guests will become smarter shoppers

AI can be a valuable tool for serviced apartments to collect and analyse data to discover as much information about travellers as possible. This way they can quickly tailor the experience to meet specific individual needs. Not only will they be able to sift through data a lot quicker, but also automate a lot of resulting actions too. For example, concierge; front desk, cleaning and maintenance and power management.

If AI assistance establishes itself in the everyday, guests will be empowered with the ability to search and query travel options against very specific requirements and receive the answers they need almost instantly.

Extended stay hotels are already using AI robots and programs to improve guest experience like Wally the robot butler at Residence Inn, Los Angeles and there’s Ami the Chatbot at Montcalm Luxury Hotels, London.

For large and small hospitality companies alike, the potential to be nimble and fast moving when going after new market opportunities is key to success. As is a willingness to trial the next AI iteration of company practices.

There are doubts as to whether the technology will always depend on vast amounts of data, and how openly knowledge will be shared.

Some argue that there are literally no bounds to what such systems could achieve. If AI could surpass human capabilities and become super-intelligent, it may well be man’s last invention.

Artificial intelligence v humanity will be one of the debate discussions with 140 industry leaders at Serviced Apartment Summit Recharge, Amsterdam, January 23-24, 2018. Limited tickets remaining.