AI/ML and Location-Based Technology
Location-based technology allows for the use and analysis of space, time, and geography in order to make an educated guess about a device’s current and even future whereabouts. Like most things, there are both advantages and disadvantages to this type of technology.
On the one hand, you might absolutely love hopping in your car and having your phone estimate that it should take you approximately 26 minutes to get to work. On the other hand, you may not want your phone or anyone else to shout your daily routines to the world, much less have it tell your spouse or significant other that the taco spot down the street is one of your “Significant Locations.”
Ultimately, when it comes to location-based technology, being intentional about balancing our needs for location services with our desires for privacy and security is key. Does that new app really need location permissions??? Probably not.
Over the past few years, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) has become somewhat of a hot topic. When thinking about the wonders of AI/ML in conjunction with location-based technology, I began to ponder about how they…intersect (see what I did there? 😊). AI is commonly used to process large datasets while ML identifies patterns and trends within the data. This can allow us to make informed decisions and even predictions.
So what does this mean in the context of combining AI/ML with location-based technology? Well, I’m glad you asked. What if you could avoid getting caught in rush hour traffic on a daily basis with the help of your phone providing efficiency-routing intel hours or even days in advance. On the flip side, you know how they put all the little knick-knacks in your path on the way to the cash register in the store? Imagine that…but on a larger scale, to the point where entire store layouts are optimized to make you spend the most money possible. That’s the stuff of nightmares.
In terms of business and industry, the obvious benefit of combining AI/ML and location-based technology is increased efficiency of locational data collection and analysis, offering insights into customer behavior. Additionally, the ability to personalize marketing in real-time could have a profound effect on customer satisfaction and subsequently the success of a business.
Like all new beginnings, especially the technology-related ones, the marriage of AI/ML and location-based technology will likely be riddled with technical challenges and ethical considerations., but I look forward to the day that I can avoid long lines at rental car agencies and major travel disruptions because something somewhere was “thinking” ahead.