AI and Virtual Reality Are Boosting the Remote Work Experience
The new sciences of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) are combining to make remote work more efficient and more fun. Employees can occupy the same virtual space while physically remaining remote.
Here are some wins for remote workers on the AI side:
1. Using generative AI as a colleague
Remote workers sometimes face obstacles when trying to access company, product or customer information from afar. Now, if the employer has incorporated generative AI in company databases, a worker simply places a query and gets the information they need. (Query: Give me the list of all contracts we’ve had with XYZ company. Query: What are our company’s statistics on customer satisfaction?)
AI can do other tasks, acting like a remote coworker:
Providing instant transcriptions of a video meeting you were unable to attend
Translating and summarizing a call transcript related to your project from another language
Generating proposal narrative based on similar company projects
Editing a proposal or converting a Word document into a PowerPoint
2. Accessing AI as your cybersecurity safehouse
One of an employer’s biggest beefs against remote work is that proprietary information might get stolen when transmitted outside company firewalls. AI has a function that encrypts your data, monitors devices and networks for signs of unauthorized access, and stops the threat.
3. Asking AI to be your supervisor
Bosses biggest gripe about remote workers is the difficulty of keeping tabs on their productivity. New AI algorithms can monitor remote performance, time management and project progress, and send automated reports to managers. If AI identifies gaps in performance, new algorithms can suggest an employee training program or resources for self-improvement.
VR is moving into the remote workspace, too
Another technology making remote work more collaborative and less isolating is Virtual Reality. Using a VR headset, remote workers can participate in:
1. Virtual collaboration
Remote workers often cite isolation from their teammates as a downside to remote work. Now, using VR headsets, workers can join others in virtual collaboration teams, sometimes seeing and hearing colleagues in a virtual meeting room, or examining a virtual 3D prototype and discussing refinements.
2. Training
Avatars can be created that represent customer situations, where remote customer service staff can rehearse problem solving. The avatar, in another example, can be someone who needs to be diagnosed in a virtual healthcare setting. Or VR can be used to replicate new machinery that can be operated remotely during the VR meeting by each participant, who can ask questions. HR can create a room of culturally diverse employees (all avatars), and then invite and train staff on cultural sensitivity.
3. Prototyping
VR also is a boon to retail environments. Employees used to congregate in the same space to understand a sales floor and discuss how to alter the planogram to boost sales. Now, with VR, shelving displays can be virtual, with product easily moved around, generating revised sales forecasts based on company proprietary data. Sales, store designers and customer service people can be in different locations and yet, through VR, feel like they are in the same prototyping space.
The technology is changing and making access to VR tools faster and cheaper. VR smart glasses are replacing the big video goggles, and they transmit as well as receive, so others can see what you are looking at.
