This is the first of a three (3) part post on the connection between Artificial Intelligence and Knowledge Management.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become the latest “buzzword” in the industry today. However, AI has been around for decades. The intent of AI is to enable computers to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, as such AI will evolve to take many jobs once performed by humans. I studied and developed applications in AI from the mid to late 1980’s through the early 2000’s. AI in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s evolved into a multidisciplinary science which included expert systems, neural networks, robotics, Natural Language Processing (NPL), Speech Recognition and Virtual Reality.

Knowledge Management (KM) is also a multidisciplinary field. KM encompasses psychology, epistemology, and cognitive science. The goals of KM are to enable people and organizations to collaborate, share, create, use and reuse knowledge. Understanding this KM is leveraged to improve performance, increase innovation and expand what we know both from an individual and organizational perspective.

KM and AI at its core is about knowledge. AI provides the mechanisms to enable machines to learn. AI allows machines to acquire, process and use knowledge to perform tasks and to unlock knowledge that can be delivered to humans to improve the decision-making process. I believe that AI and KM are two sides of the same coin. KM allows an understanding of knowledge to occur, while AI provides the capabilities to expand, use, and create knowledge in ways we have not yet imagined.

The connection of KM and AI has lead the way for cognitive computing. Cognitive computing uses computerized models to simulate human thought processes. Cognitive computing involves self/deep learning artificial neural network software that use text/data mining, pattern recognition and natural language processing to mimic the way the human brain works. Cognitive computing is leading the way for future applications involving AI and KM.

In recent years, the ability to mine larger amounts of data, information and knowledge to gain competitive advantage and the importance of data and text analytics to this effort is gaining momentum. As the proliferation of structured and unstructured data continues to grow we will continue to have a need to uncover the knowledge contained within these big data resources. Cognitive computing will be key in extracting knowledge from big data. Strategy, process centric approaches and interorganizational aspects of decision support to research on new technology and academic endeavors in this space will continue to provide insights on how we process big data to enhance decision making.

Cognitive computing is the next evolution of the connection between AI and KM. In future post, I will examine and discuss the industries where cognitive computing is being a disruptive force. This disruption will lead to dramatic changes on how people will work in these industries.

About the author:  

Dr. Anthony J Rhem leads the KM Institute's "Information Architecture and ECM" training and certification program.  He serves as the President of A.J. Rhem & Associates, Inc., a privately held Information Systems Integration and Training firm located in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Rhem is an Information Systems professional with over thirty (30) years of experience, a published author, and educator, presenting the application and theory of Software Engineering Methodologies, Knowledge Management, and Artificial Intelligence.

 In addition Dr. Rhem serves as a Professor of Knowledge Management and Director of Research at The Knowledge Systems Institute - Master of Science Knowledge Management Program.