8 applications of AI in 2024 that every CEO needs to know about

In recent years, AI has been such a hot topic, you can almost hear the echos of managers saying "What about AI?" every time you start a video meeting.

The reality is, AI's is not a fad, it's here to stay, and it's already delivered massive change to our working lives over the past few years.

Going into 2024 and beyond, you can expect AI applications to streamline and scale operations, no matter your business size or industry.

We're specialists in using AI and machine learning to develop videos. And here's our biggest takeaway:

Don't expect AI to replace human intelligence. 

Expect AI to buy you time, efficiency, and extra brain power. 

While the tech that evolved over the past few years is revolutionary, the result is the same age-old growth story. You can do more with less, scale without the extra headcount, give your company the upper hand, and ultimately, keep shareholders happy.

The next industrial revolution is around the corner. And we're not talking about smart home devices, self-driving cars, or space exploration. Check out how artificial intelligence is going to shake up your industry.

What industries can benefit from AI? 

If you're short on time, the TLDR is that every industry can benefit from AI.

Integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning models into your systems and workflows is like having a tech assistant on steroids. It works in any industry, crunching data and helping you streamline operations, boost ROI, and innovate. It aids in refining products, predicting maintenance needs, and streamlining research with lightning speed.

Think about outsmarting fraudsters in real time — banks tackling fraud detection in seconds is huge for financial institutions. Or imagine hotels creating unforgettable stays for each guest and stores stocking precisely what you need. With artificial intelligence help, you can better understand customers, make more profitable decisions, and save yourself time and resources.

AI applications cut through complexity in construction and farming, using adaptive intelligence to ensure projects stay on track and within budget.

While things like autonomous vehicles are a great time-saver for consumers, such an evolution could vastly improve the distribution network's efficiency and costs.

AI is a literal lifesaver in the healthcare industry, speeding up and giving more accurate diagnoses, using real time traffic data to improve ambulance routes, personalizing treatments, reducing strain on healthcare practitioners, and contributing to drug discovery through advanced data science.

In education, AI models, analysis of quantitative data, speech recognition, and generative AI are particularly effective at developing quality training materials and distributing training to employees at an incredible scale. Plenty of software is being developed to help companies innovate, respond, and act.

Check out the video below to see how Heineken is ditching PowerPoint in favor of AI videos. 

Software, manufacturing, transportation industries, and even law firms get a boost from AI. If you can think of an industry, artificial intelligence can help.

1. Best uses of AI in Learning & Development

AI speeds up video production, enhances training quality, distills complex materials into digestible summaries, and generates comprehensive training content from mere bullet points.

This tech-driven approach personalizes the learning experience, catering to diverse learner needs because AI content is:

• Personalized: With AI, you can expose learners to specific paths, get quick language translations (for texts and videos), and localize content to fit different cultures.
• Flexible: You can turn content into bite-sized "snackable" video courses and summaries of long documents, provide chatbots as on-demand tutors or virtual assistants, and create how-to and tutorial videos they can choose from.
• Scalable: Think global with AI-generated training videos that ensure consistent, high-quality training in any language for any team.
• Engaging: Boost engagement through interactive simulations, video summaries, and options to connect with peers with the same learning goals.
• Effective: Optimize skill development and knowledge retention with AI performance analysis and immediate feedback.

Applications of AI for internal L&D teams 

There are two excellent artificial intelligence applications in L&D:

1. Creating high-quality AI-generated videos covering anything from corporate training to internal communication videos and comprehensive investor updates. These videos can be made using AI avatars from software like Synthesia or transformed from long-form lectures into impactful micro lessons using tools like Opus. 
2. Creating reports, market analyses, or whitepapers. With the right input into tools like Gemini or ChatGPT, you can whip up original training documents based on bullet points or existing information.

Beyond those tried and tested AI applications for L&D, artificial intelligence can also help diversify training materials to be more accessible. For example, text can be quickly turned into AI-generated podcasts, and audio lessons offer knowledge on the go. AI can even improve how you and your employees process academic papers through apps like Listening. 

AI tutors and training assistants guide employees within learning platforms, facilitating human-like interaction. They also create personalized learning paths that fit unique needs and answer job-related questions. 

Similarly, educational chatbots use big data analysis and natural language generation to provide instant feedback — they answer questions on the spot. These bots rely on a vast knowledge base of information on a specific topic and use natural language processing (NLP) to understand queries and machine learning algorithms (ML) and deep learning to improve response accuracy over time.

Applications of AI at educational institutions

In the educational sector, artificial intelligence applications transform how content is created, personalized, and delivered. An artificial intelligence chatbot like ChatGPT can swiftly craft lesson plans, summaries, and quizzes that fit specific learning styles.

Planning the learning process with detailed lesson plans on platforms like Eduaide.ai, producing interactive learning activities, and even the actual learning is easier to handle with AI solutions:

• Need a quick summary of a topic? You can generate it almost instantly with artificial intelligence and turn any pile of information into structured data.
• Want to learn through podcasts or audiobooks? Artificial intelligence can do that, too, even helping you master a new language with pronunciation guides and practice. Learning a language with chatbots that use spoken language and voice recognition is becoming the norm. 
• Feeling stuck in a classroom? Diving into augmented and virtual reality is a game changer, but even interactive AI courses with branching scenarios help students get excited about learning.

2. Best uses of AI in Sales

In your sales team, AI is best used for roleplay training, perfecting sales pitches, and speeding up the process of creating sales materials such as emails and demos. It can also improve how you process data for cold and warm outreach, especially if you try a tool like Lemlist to build a lead list.

Using AI videos, you can: 

• Train 1000+ sales reps in a matter of months.
• Create training from plain text.
• Easily update your AI videos at any time.
• Book 35% more meetings at trade shows.
• Experiment and iterate sales training faster.
• Save up to €15,000 in costs per learning production. 

Artificial intelligence tools can be used to transform bullet points into eye-catching slideshows at the click of a button, and that means your sales reps can focus on research and pitching rather than scrambling to create custom slideshows.

Here's an AI video designed for training sellers on pitching techniques:

Chatbots offer 24/7 customer interaction. These always-on, never-tiring team members ensure no lead disappears off your website without booking a demo or handing over their email address.

Speaking of lead generation, AI is a powerhouse for sifting through consumer data to pinpoint potential buyers. It makes your targeting efforts sharper so resources can go where they make the biggest splash in revenue. Clearbit, for instance, can identify potential leads with real-time data about individuals or companies, helping businesses better understand their customers and prospects.

3. Best uses of AI in Marketing

In the high-octane marketing world, AI can predict market trends and create written and video content that transforms how brands connect with audiences.

Marketing campaigns that use artificial intelligence and machine learning can be more personalized, efficient, and impactful on the bottom line, not to mention they steal the show.

Delivering personalized video messages in 7 languages through the mouth of legendary soccer player Lionel Messi or making a virtual David Beckham raise awareness about the world's deadliest disease, Malaria, in 9 different languages are no small feats. 

Still, the examples above are just the tip of the iceberg since AI also excels in the grunt work. Its versatility extends to transforming blog posts into videos and vice versa, ensuring your content strategy covers all bases without doubling your workload.

AI tools can generate compelling copy that captures your brand voice and resonates with your target audience, from scripts for posting on social media platforms to ads.

Applications of AI to create product marketing materials

Artificial intelligence applications in this sector change how marketing materials are created, offering exceptional efficiency and creativity. AI video makers like Synthesia enable brands to produce how-to videos, product demos, and explainer videos 20x faster.

Without requiring extensive resources or time, AI makes your marketing videos more visually captivating. It ensures your message is heard and eases access to what was once a costly endeavor. Quality AI videos can boost the SEO of landing pages by 50% with high completion rates and engagement.

As for written content, artificial intelligence tools like Persado or Jasper can help you generate marketing content like product descriptions that pop off the page and high-converting copy for websites, brochures, and email campaigns. Content at Scale is an excellent tool for scaling your SEO content strategy, helping you generate optimized blog posts faster and easier.

Together, AI-generated videos and text are redefining product marketing materials, making it easier than ever to tell your product's story in an efficient and impactful way.

Applications of AI to create a marketing strategy

When it comes to strategizing, AI is your 24/7 on-call team member. AI-powered research tools like SparkToro offer a glimpse into the power of AI for market analysis. They allow brands to tap into rich data sources to identify trends, understand audience behaviors, and pinpoint where their messages will have the most impact.

Analyzing previous performance is another area where AI and machine learning shine, providing deep and actionable insights. Forget hunch-based strategies and focus on hard evidence to optimize your campaigns for better engagement, higher conversion rates, and, ultimately, a stronger ROI.

Artificial intelligence applications for marketing strategies are about leveraging technology to predict and create the future. You're crafting messages that turn every audience touchpoint into an opportunity to connect, engage, and convert.

With AI, the possibilities are exciting, offering a new frontier in marketing that is as creative as it is analytical.

4. Best uses of AI in Customer Support

AI improves customer support with chatbot 24/7 assistance, personalized recommendations based on customer history, and customer video training hubs that enhance the customer experience and reduce costs. It also helps train employees in customer-facing roles more effectively. All of it pays off in customer satisfaction and ultimately leads to increased profitability for your business. 

AI product onboarding videos, for instance, can provide a positive user experience, dramatically reduce the learning curve for new users, and skyrocket customer satisfaction metrics from the outset.

Chatbots, aside from answering FAQs, give personalized assistance around the clock. Immediate responses keep customers satisfied and engaged, reducing churn rates and fostering brand loyalty.

Behind the scenes, artificial intelligence empowers customer support with automatic suggestions of resources that help resolve issues more efficiently. This speeds up resolution times and enhances the quality of support. Plus, AI can analyze customer interactions to suggest improvements and keep the help materials relevant and up-to-date.

From AI-powered ticketing systems like Freshdesk's Freddy AI to virtual support agents like Zendesk AI, artificial intelligence tools can rapidly transform how your organization handles customer support.

5. Best uses of AI in Human Resources

Leveraging AI technology, machine learning algorithms, and deep learning for your human resources is a smart move.

It allows you to optimize talent acquisition, enhance employee engagement through personalized training programs, and streamline administrative tasks. Artificial intelligence improves operational efficiency and fosters a productive work environment where teams are more robust, diverse, and engaged than ever before.

Tools like Leena AI, a Gen AI employee assistant, can reduce HR tickets with up to 70% self-service ratios. With AI, you create a more innovative workplace and balance it with ethical considerations and personal development opportunities for every team member.

Recruitment applications of artificial intelligence 

AI makes recruitment faster and more efficient to connect with top talent. Automated talent acquisition tools powered by AI can create outreach videos and sift through applications, identifying candidates who not only meet the criteria but also have the potential to thrive within the company culture. 

The level of recruitment precision provided by AI-powered evaluation software like Harve reduces the time-to-hire and improves the quality of hires.

Meanwhile, AI-driven analytics can forecast hiring needs and candidate success, ensuring businesses are always prepared for the future.

Applications of AI for employee onboarding and support

HR can use AI-powered technology to welcome new hires with employee onboarding video programs. But imagine turning key-role people at your company into custom AI avatars. You could have a digital double of the CEO, the head of HR, or department managers always ready to show up in a video looking at their best and greeting new hires or communicating essential messages.

See below how a custom AI avatar impacts the workplace:

As new team members evolve, they can use other AI onboarding resources like just-in-time video training. They learn at their own pace, focusing on what helps them drive the best results in their role.

You can even implement automation tasks based on AI and machine learning to free them up for creative and collaborative work that will increase their job satisfaction and your employee retention.

This shift will not only boost employee loyalty but also open doors for new roles dedicated to developing and managing AI technology!

As for regulations and ethical considerations, AI can act as your compliance guardian. Whether you employ it to create compliance training or automate compliance monitoring and data protection, it'll help keep your business on the right side of regulatory and ethical standards.

With HR involved at all organizational levels, this department can particularly benefit from AI applications. Platforms like Credo AI show how a company can implement a control center to track, assess, report, and manage the AI systems it adopts.

6. Best uses of AI in IT Operations

The shift towards AI-driven IT operations, the adoption of neural networks, and even facial recognition systems allow businesses to use technology to safeguard assets, streamline processes, and ultimately, drive better bottom-line results.

Making strategic tech investments that pay off in efficiency and security keeps stakeholders and the wider business network in a position of strength.

However, using an AI system in IT operations is also about adopting a forward-thinking approach to compliance and cybersecurity that protects the business and contributes to its growth in the digital age.

Applications of AI for compliance 

Artificial intelligence applications in business can proactively eliminate gaps in compliance, maintaining a seamless operational flow. Likewise, artificial intelligence enables the scaling of bespoke video training for compliance, offering tailored learning experiences that are both engaging and effective. 

Whether you need to manage compliance or automate the monitoring of certification statuses to ensure every team member is up to date with compliance certifications, AI is a real helper.

Tools like HandsHQ's training register exemplify how AI can streamline compliance processes. They provide an integrated platform for managing and tracking training requirements and completion status, ensuring no detail is overlooked.

Applications of AI for cybersecurity training and best practices

Cybersecurity is a team sport with high business stakes, and AI has the capacity to coach and keep everyone on your team ready for the game.

You can use customized training modules to ensure all employees know and are equipped to implement data security protocols. And you can create realistic cyber simulations that allow employees to practice their skills in a safe space. 

Immersive training will help them respond better to actual threats, minimize potential risks, and defend your company's digital assets. Plus, if employees have questions, managers can quickly sort most of them out with a Gen AI enterprise virtual assistant like Leena.

7. Best uses of AI in Operational Efficiency

AI has the power to reshape how businesses operate from the ground up. That's why the strategic shift towards AI-driven operations is a clear win for forward-thinking leadership focused on long-term success and sustainability.

AI tools like Reclaim help automate scheduling for the workweek, and UiPath's Robotic Process Automation (RPA) handles essential but tedious administrative tasks, from automated data entry or phone calls transcripts to managing resource allocation.

By integrating the right artificial intelligence solutions, you're not just tweaking your operations but redefining what's possible. You'll achieve new levels of productivity that contribute directly to your bottom line.

Applications of AI for production optimization

AI is revolutionizing production lines, introducing predictive maintenance and quality control measures that preemptively address issues before they escalate. This not only minimizes downtime but also ensures the consistent quality of products. 

AI algorithms leverage computer vision and image recognition to analyze data from machinery and predict failures, allowing for:

• Timely maintenance
• Real-time product quality monitoring
• Instant flagging of any deviations from the norm

Applications of AI for logistics

For logistics, AI promises no more guessing games or empty shelves. It can predict usage patterns and determine what you'll need and the optimal route to source it so your stock is always just right and you waste less. Moreover, you'll keep customer satisfaction high by being the one who always provides without delay.

For instance, IBM Watson Supply Chain relies on AI to help businesses optimize inventory management, forecast demand, and manage supplier relationships. As expected, supply chain optimization directly translates to cost savings and improved customer satisfaction.

AI for agriculture

From helping farmers predict how much food their crops will produce to keeping pesky bugs at bay with drones with AI capabilities that spread pesticides relying on dynamic in-field data, AI can do a lot in agriculture. It will help data scientists by crunching numbers from soil samples, weather patterns, and satellite images and give smart tips to farmers. 

Organizations like Intellias develop AI-powered agriculture software and even create complete ecosystems of technologies for agribusinesses. This technology-driven approach increases yields and contributes to sustainable farming practices.

AI for global challenges

Putting AI to good use may also involve scanning millions of key data points and real-time reporting. Think of satellites zooming around the Earth, eyes peeled for clues about the planet's health, with super-smart AI helping them analyze all that data and turn it into actionable insights.

It can track sneaky deforestation, as Picterra does, show climate change unfold in real-time, and even rush aid to disaster zones faster than ever before.

8. Best uses of AI in Operational Excellence

The strategic use of AI for operational excellence makes efficiency go hand in hand with ethical responsibility. By integrating AI, you streamline processes and significantly enhance your teams' efficiency and productivity while focusing on delivering results and driving shareholder value.

Ethics applications of artificial intelligence 

AI-driven ethical training programs make the boring ethics lectures a thing of the past. They personalize learning experiences, making complex concepts more accessible and engaging. And empower every team member to navigate ethical dilemmas confidently, fostering a culture of integrity and accountability.

Through interactive modules and AI-powered analytics, you can identify areas where the team needs more practice and create customized training to address them. This proactive approach keeps everyone on the right track, ensuring regulatory compliance and boosting the organization's reputation.

AI-generated harassment training videos bring ethical dilemmas to the table, offering a dynamic and immersive learning experience. By witnessing realistic scenarios, employees can better understand the nuances of ethical decision-making, preparing them for real-world challenges.

How to utilize AI for employee health 

Beyond ethics, AI plays a crucial role in promoting employee health. From monitoring work patterns with Reclaim AI to suggesting personalized wellness tips, AI-driven tools that prioritize the workforce's well-being can pay dividends in business growth.

Headspace, for instance, an AI app for guided meditations, can also be used by employees during the workday for increased focus and deep work.

On a separate note, medical data analytics allows you to implement targeted health programs, reducing absenteeism and improving productivity. This focus on health benefits the individuals and boosts the organization's performance, creating a win-win situation for all stakeholders. AI can also help reduce skyrocketing medical costs for both employers and employees by providing something as simple as personalized nutritional advice at scale.

Take the first step to implement AI today

The future is intelligent, and with the insights you just gained, it's yours for the taking.

Ready to leave your competitors in the dust? Discover the power of AI video creation. 

Use this free AI video maker to make your first video with Synthesia. Once you create a video from plain text, a world of opportunities opens up for your business.