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The Evolution of AI and Its Impact on Medium-Sized Businesses

The current era of Artificial Intelligence marks a turning point for medium-sized businesses by opening up new possibilities in data management and processing. This article goes through the development history of AI – from the initial rule-based expert systems to advanced language models like (Chat)GPT. It examines how these latest models revolutionize the application of AI technologies through improved accessibility. We demonstrate how medium-sized businesses in Germany can benefit from these developments, especially through reduced entry barriers and more efficient data processes.


Complex diagram of rule-based AI with a man pointing at various connected symbols and lines representing expert systems in the context of the first wave of AI development.

First Wave of AI: Rule-Based Expert Systems


At the beginning of Artificial Intelligence (AI), rule-based expert systems were at the forefront. These systems functioned by translating human expert knowledge into "If-Then" rules in a machine-readable structure to replicate specific expertise. They were capable of providing valuable assistance in areas with clear rules, such as in medicine. A well-known example is the MYCIN system, developed in the 1970s for the diagnosis of bacterial infections.


Despite some successes, these early AI systems also had significant limitations. Their effectiveness was limited to areas where the required knowledge was clear and structured. There were mainly problems in handling unexpected situations not covered by the existing rules. Moreover, maintaining and updating the knowledge base to keep up with new insights was a significant challenge.


These difficulties, along with inflated expectations, led to periods of reduced interest and funding, known as "AI winters." These times clearly showed the limits of the technologies available then and the need for more flexible approaches in AI research.


Abstract representation of a neural network with multi-layered, interconnected nodes in various colors, symbolic of the second wave of AI with deep learning technologies.

Second Wave of AI: Deep Learning


The second wave of artificial intelligence development, which began in the 2010s, was significantly marked by breakthroughs in the field of Deep Learning. This period was characterized by the increased availability of large amounts of digital data and significant improvements in computing power. Deep Learning is based on neural networks inspired by the structure of the human brain and consists of several layers of nodes, called neurons. These networks are capable of recognizing complex patterns in data by learning through training with extensive data sets. This method has proven to be particularly efficient in image and speech recognition, as well as in applications such as machine vision and language processing.


A key moment in the development of Deep Learning was the impressive success of AlexNet, a deep neural network, at the ImageNet Challenge in 2012. This competition aimed to identify and classify objects in an extensive image database. AlexNet not only far surpassed all previous approaches but also demonstrated the superiority of Deep Learning in image recognition. Since then, Deep Learning systems have dominated this area, leading to significant further development and the end of the ImageNet Challenge, as the task is considered largely solved.


Following these successes, artificial intelligence has made impressive progress in numerous areas, including:


  • Mastery of board games like chess and Go by innovative systems like AlphaZero and AlphaGo.

  • Advancement of scientific discoveries, especially in protein structure research.

  • Improvement of fraud detection in the financial industry through detailed analysis of transaction patterns.

  • Creation of personalized experiences in social media and e-commerce through advanced recommendation algorithms.

  • Revolutionizing diagnostic procedures in healthcare through AI-powered image analysis.

  • Diverse applications in voice assistance and autonomous vehicles.


Despite these successes, there are significant limitations to Deep Learning. These include the high costs for training the models, due to the need for powerful hardware, extensive and high-quality data, and qualified AI experts. Furthermore, Deep Learning is effective for tasks with a limited scope but struggles with more complex challenges requiring a comprehensive understanding of the real world.

Graphic depiction of an office workspace with an individual conducting an OpenAI API query on a computer screen, set against a network of nodes representing LLMs (Large Language Models), illustrating the process of prompting in the third wave of AI

Third Wave of AI: Revolution through Language Models


The latest wave of innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), led by powerful language models like the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT), the technical backbone of ChatGPT, represents a turning point. This development stands out from previous breakthroughs by significantly improving the accessibility and usability of AI technologies for a broader range of applications. Especially for medium-sized businesses in Germany, this opens up novel opportunities to use and shape the AI landscape.


Functionality of Language Models


Language models like GPT revolutionize text processing by being trained on extensive text data to predict the next word in a sentence. This process requires significant computing capacities and the use of specialized hardware, which can drive the costs for such ventures into the millions, if not billions.


However, the true value of these models lies not solely in their ability to predict words. Through the use of advanced algorithms, they become multifunctional tools that go far beyond generating text. They have proven to be flexible and versatile, with applications ranging from chatbots to sentiment analyses, programming assistance, data analysis, and medical assistance functions.


Opportunities for SMEs


Direct competition in the development of such advanced AI models may seem unreachable for medium-sized businesses. However, the good news is that they do not need to embark on the development themselves. Once developed and trained, these models are made accessible through user-friendly programming interfaces (APIs) that allow easy integration into existing systems. Thus, medium-sized businesses can benefit from the advanced capabilities of large language models like GPT-4 without having to invest in expensive hardware or specialized knowledge.

Two professionals discussing a complex data visualization with network nodes representing the integration of the OpenAI API into business solutions, emphasizing the importance of efficient query handling and prompt design within Large Language Models (LLMs) for corporate innovations.

Our Contribution


We position ourselves as a link between top-tier research in AI and the specific needs of medium-sized businesses. Our goal is to unlock the potentials of Large Language Models (LLMs) and develop customized solutions tailored to our clients' individual requirements. Our approach offers several advantages:


  • Lower barriers to entry: The need to employ own AI experts or invest in expensive hardware is eliminated.

  • Accelerated prototype development: Through access to LLMs, we can quickly develop working prototypes, significantly shortening development times.

  • Reliability and comprehensive knowledge: The models possess a broad spectrum of knowledge and can also deal with incomplete or substandard data.

  • Expertise across various domains: LLMs cover almost every subject area and support many languages, making them universal helpers.

These advantages significantly lower the barriers to entering AI-based innovations. Medium-sized businesses now have the opportunity to explore and implement innovative AI solutions with much lower investments than before.


Would you like to learn more about how your business can benefit from the latest AI technologies? We are ready to show you how customized AI solutions can advance your business. Contact us for a no-obligation insight into the opportunities AI can open for your company.

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