Article From Magazine systemsintegrationasia.com Edition September 2024

https://www.systemsintegrationasia.com/digital-magazine/
https://issuu.com/spinworkz/docs/sia_september_2024

I remember back in the early 2000s when transitioning from conventional photography to digital was no easy task. Photographers who were used to developing photos with chemicals had to adapt to digital photography, which required nothing more than a computer with substantial RAM for editing and adjusting images. I recall how professional photographers at that time needed to stockpile film rolls to ensure they could run multiple photo sessions without interruption. I, too, struggled to learn Adobe Photoshop to enhance my photos. Although I disliked the process, I had to adapt because technology was rapidly changing how we captured images. This shift affected not only professional photographers but the entire world.

Today, we live in an era where hybrid work is as commonplace as ordering iced tea, iced coffee, or mineral water at a restaurant. If you think about it, almost half the people you invite to a meeting now expect it to be online— they no longer anticipate in-person meetings. The time wasted in traffic and transportation seems unnecessary with our advanced video conferencing and collaboration technology, which makes distant colleagues feel as if they’re right beside us. So, what’s next?

I once imagined the future might bring us something akin to Iron Man’s Command Center, where Robert Downey Jr. waves his arms to access epic visual displays of information. However, I’m not so sure anymore. While that kind of visual and control technology is impressive, it may not be practical or necessary for our current business processes.

AI is now the trending technology—if you’re not using it, you might be considered outdated. Personally, I’ve been amazed at how AI helps me create stunning images for my pitch decks. It’s so efficient that I no longer need to subscribe to Shutterstock or iStock; I just use Openart.ai to generate AI images.

This got me thinking: what could the future hold for AI in video conferencing? Since flat panel displays, whether LCD or Micro LED, will likely remain with us for a long time, video conferences will continue to be housed within that familiar square box. AI might enhance the visual aspect by creating avatars, artificial backgrounds, or even real-time deepfakes. These are all possibilities that AI can already achieve.

Remember during the COVID-19 pandemic when a video surfaced of a guy at a football stadium with a laptop strapped to his belly and a green screen behind him? He was watching the game while simultaneously attending a Zoom meeting, pretending to be in his home office. With AI’s ability to create realistic video backgrounds, such antics might soon be unnecessary.

AI is also proving useful in video conference content. It can assist in real-time by suggesting answers during meetings, which is incredibly helpful in interview-like scenarios where participants ask questions. AI listens, analyzes, and provides recommended responses on the spot. It’s practical, time-saving, and makes our lives easier.

In terms of working collaboration, AI can now help us build the perfect pitch deck in minutes—a task that used to take hours. This frees up time for other activities, like scrolling through Instagram or posting on LinkedIn. However, this raises an important question: if AI takes over tasks that once required our brainpower, what should we focus on instead? Until AI is universally adopted, there will be gaps in activities that only human capabilities can fill.

In large AV system deployments, one of the most challenging tasks is project management. Project managers and site coordinators must develop extensive yet efficient project execution programs, often involving hundreds or thousands of activity points. While I haven’t heard much about AI applications in project management for AV deployments yet, I’m eager to see how AI could streamline the process, helping us create, manage, control, and monitor projects more effectively.

However, there’s one thing AI cannot do: visit a construction site, pull Cat-6 cables, crimp them, and perform testing and commissioning. This is the domain of skilled technicians, who play a crucial role in building our impressive AV systems.

Change is the one constant in this world. We need to adapt, embrace change, and become part of it. Sometimes we follow change; other times, we lead it. One thing is certain: if you lead the change, it will last forever.