Editorial comment
Over recent months, AI has once again surged to the forefront of popular consciousness. You can’t look on LinkedIn for more than two minutes without seeing a(nother) post about ChatGPT, an article about Meta’s Make-A-Video conjuring up some Lovecraftian stop-motion nightmare, or an update on Microsoft’s latest attempt at an AI companion that doesn’t make vague threats of world domination (Note: it’s not going too well, unless the :P emoji at the end of the sentence stating “I want to destroy whatever I want” was meant to indicate wry humour and not barely concealed relish).
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Despite these quirks, AI has already proven itself to be a powerful tool when it comes to monitoring and managing data-intensive processes across a range of industries, including cement. I’ll let ChatGPT explain: “AI is being used in various areas of the cement manufacturing process, including production, maintenance, and logistics. In the production process, AI is used to optimise the cement composition, reduce energy consumption, and lower emissions. AI models can analyse data from sensors and other sources to provide real-time insights into the production process, allowing operators to make quick adjustments to optimise the process. By improving the efficiency of the production process, cement plants can reduce their energy consumption and, as a result, reduce their carbon footprint.
Maintenance is another area where AI is making a difference in the cement industry. Predictive maintenance models powered by AI can help identify potential equipment failures before they occur, allowing plant operators to schedule maintenance activities proactively. This approach can help reduce unplanned downtime, extend the lifespan of equipment, and improve worker safety.
Finally, AI is also being used to optimise logistics and transportation in the cement industry. By analysing data from traffic and weather sensors, as well as real-time traffic updates, AI can help determine the best route and time to transport cement to its destination. This approach can help reduce fuel consumption, lower transportation costs, and ultimately reduce emissions.
In conclusion, AI is a game-changer for the cement industry, helping to improve productivity and reduce emissions. By using AI-powered models to optimise production, maintenance, and logistics, cement plants can reduce their energy consumption, extend the lifespan of equipment, and improve worker safety while lowering their carbon footprint. The benefits of AI in the cement industry are significant, and it is expected that the industry will continue to leverage AI to drive sustainability and productivity gains in the years to come.”
The previous four paragraphs took ChatGPT about 30 seconds to produce. It’s good, but not perfect; for example, a human author, would likely have included some specific examples of projects, knowing that this would be of interest to the audience. And this is the nub of the entire AI phenomenon – the AI didn’t do that because I didn’t tell it to. Though powerful, AI remains a tool dependant on human input and guidance. Much science fiction plays upon the idea of ‘the robots’ taking over, but the future we’re heading towards seems to be one where AI is used to enhance human endeavour rather than replace it.
As ChatGPT noted, AI is a game-changer for industry. I think that before long, we’ll look at back and wonder how we ever got along without it.
