FRONT OF HOUSE
Katie King, co-founder of AIinFM, comments: “Technology is advancing at an astounding pace and we are now seeing increasing numbers of actroids in real life settings, interacting with real people. This is only the start and as technology continues to advance, I’m certain that artificial intelligence and actroids will become more commonplace in the Facilities Management sector very soon.
“Cognitive buildings are also becoming more commonplace in the built environment. This technology is aware of occupants and will understand your preferences if given permission. This will propel the workplace into the next generation - just imagine a building that knows which coffee you like and your preferred meeting room temperature.
“AUGMENTED
REALITY IS GREAT FOR TRAINING FRONT OF HOUSE STAFF.”
“The development of this type of technology will not stop now it has begun. In addition to the business implications, it’s also important to consider the socio-economic impact of AI which has its pros and cons. Our latest survey results indicate that the ‘impact of artificial intelligence will be ‘transformational’ within next decade’. FM service providers will need to adapt more quickly than they have in the past.”
THE BENEFITS With such a vast uptake of AI and
robots predicted, organisations must plan for the integration of new technology. Rather than simply installing a device, it is essential that these actroids represent your company in the same way a human would. Policies are important in this respect, helping to maintain your brand values and brand perception.
The type of actroid required will also vary depending on the sector in question. Technology companies for example, are likely to want to be perceived as forward thinking and will therefore be drawn to
www.tomorrowsfm.com
actroids that show a large array of capabilities. On the other hand, a manufacturing plant may be more interested in actroids that can take on repetitive jobs to help increase productivity over long periods of time.
The benefits of actroids in the FM space are extensive, not only can they interact with visitors and carry out tasks, they can also work unsociable hours and can have a dual purpose – something a human cannot do. Evening shift robots can double up as security guards, monitoring the building and being the first line of defence should any security threats occur. This is especially beneficial in high-risk environments such as testing laboratories that may be targeted by activists. With the development of the Internet of Things, this will also enable such robots to be linked to CCTV allowing the robot to analyse any security issues much faster than a human.
HUMAN TOUCH Advancing technology has the aim
of supporting humans’ development as a race - making people’s working lives easier. Despite being a labour saving device, for now at least, AI will still be developed, managed and programmed by people.
In addition to supporting humans in carrying out tasks, augmented reality is great for training front of house
staff, especially when staff are based in locations that are difficult to reach. The software can train people how to sign in, health and safety procedures, and directions around a building.
CONCLUSION For the time being, the human touch
and ability to interact with visitors is irreplaceable, however organisations need to start preparing for a future filled with actroids, robots and AI as technology continues to develop rapidly.
There are still many unanswered questions. To what extent is AI allowed to have a free reign? Will there be cross country standards and regulations, or will these be global? If a country specific approach is taken, this could mean that actroids are able to provide certain tasks in some countries but not in others. Each of these scenarios will have a differing impact on FM providers, especially those operating across borders.
Before that time comes, the government must decide on how far we allow this to develop and who is responsible for turning the technology off. Is it the person working alongside the actroid, the facilities manager, the company CEO? And, will the actroid even allow itself to be turned off, as after all it wouldn’t be in its interest to do so?
www.ecsynergy.eu TOMORROW’S FM | 47
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