Supercharging human capability

What sets the present generation of cognitive computing solutions apart from the past is the advent of hugely more powerful and cost-effective computer systems that can process information at high speed, says David Powers, professor of computer science and director for the Centre of Knowledge and Interaction Technology at Flinders University. Combined with big data collections forged from enterprise databases, social networks, sensors – even CCTV – plus the advances in machine learning and deep neural networks, this means it's now possible to use cognitive platforms to generate far more useful insight. Powers, who has been working in the field of artificial intelligence and cognitive science for close to 40 years, says that the support rendered by cognitive computing platforms already ranges from the automation of contact centres to handle routine queries, to training young surgeons using haptic devices, which give tactile feedback, before the doctor is let loose with a scalpel on a human body. He describes the present generation of cognitive platforms as offering "triage" style support, dealing with the routine automatically and supporting humans through more complex challenges. He has been involved with a series of university spin-off businesses such as Clevertar.com.