Hitching a Ride with AI: Your Chocolate Bars and the Self-Driving Revolution
Ever seen a robot handling Hershey’s chocolates at a factory? You might just get used to that sight. Morgan Stanley’s crystal-ball-gazing has revealed that robots are set to handle more than just your favorite sweets; they’re aiming for the last-mile home deliveries too.
Now that’s a box of chocolates I wouldn’t mind signing for!
The AI-powered Overhaul of Transportation
Our transport industry is about to board the AI express. From supply chain management to job roles, things are going to look quite different. We’re not just talking sidewalk robots and self-driving trucks, folks. There’s also word of generative AI that can predict and explain disruptions in supply chains.
Heck, it might even make “back office” tasks a thing of yesteryear, according to those Morgan Stanley folks.
Rethinking Supply Chains
Ever tried tracing the origin of your breakfast cereal? It’s not just a farm-to-table journey; it’s a global production and transportation web. With manufacturing units scattered across different parts of the world, even the slightest hiccup in the supply chain can leave you staring at empty shelves. Remember the Russia-Ukraine war or the Covid-19 pandemic?
Generative AI might just be the secret sauce that keeps things rolling smoothly. By predicting and possibly preventing supply chain disruptions, AI could save us from the dreaded ‘out of stock’ notice.
Embracing Generative AI in Logistics
But AI isn’t just set to solve supply chain puzzles. Investment firm Jefferies predicts that AI will also play a critical role in maintenance scheduling, optimal shipping routes planning, and real-time shipment tracking.
Generative AI? More like Generous AI!
Making AI Mainstream in Shipping
Shipping giant Maersk is one firm that’s taking the AI revolution to heart. From helping customers plan better with predictive cargo arrival models to understanding the sales process, Maersk is upping its AI game. It’s like Maersk is throwing its own AI party and we’re all invited!
Job Losses and Digital Disruption
But as with all revolutions, the AI wave isn’t without its casualties. There might be some job losses in the traditional sectors. Yet, I think we’ll see a creation of new roles too. After all, we’re going to need more people to train our AI buddies to respond better.
Just a heads up though, the Morgan Stanley analysts have also flagged the threat of high-tech digital entrants disrupting the logistics space. It’s a case of the double-edged sword; AI could make operations more efficient but might also cut out some of the middlemen in logistics.
AI Startups: Catalysts of Transformation
With an eye on the future, Maersk has invested in several AI startups. But they’re not just throwing money around; they’re learning from these startups to stay ahead of the curve. After all, who wants to be the dinosaur in the age of AI?
Introducing Knowledge Assistants
Overordering and underordering are still rife in the industry, often due to communication gaps between internal teams. Imagine the possibilities if we had AI-powered knowledge assistants to help streamline the process.
Sure, the rise of AI might mean leaner business planning teams, but that’s the future, folks!
In the age of AI, the question isn’t just about how many humans it takes to transport a box of chocolates. It’s about how many humans an AI assistant will replace to make that transport more efficient.
So next time you grab a Hershey bar off the shelf, take a moment to appreciate the AI revolution that might have got it there.
