A User wishes to evaluate an idea, for example, to start a new business or incorporate it into their existing business portfolio.
This should be at any scale, i.e. from a personal project to a global corporation.
The User describes the idea and adds any supporting information in a trusted secure location, so there is no compromise of potential Intellectual Property Rights.
Ideally, the User also describes the characteristics of a successful outcome, in terms of holistic Scenarios that GPT-3 or similar language model could consider as Goals.
A hierarchy of AI Agent(s) could perform a more holistic response, for example:
global and/or local considerations, risks, opportunities, threats (e.g. competitors)
benchmark against other (similar) ideas
the potential for new Intellectual Property Rights, and avoidance of infringements of existing ones
any legal constraints for the endeavour (e.g. planning permission, barriers to entry, local customs)
extra external support (e.g. engineering expertise, financial (start-up sponsorship etc.) )
how the idea compares with best practice (by industry quartile?) - including latest technology developments, for example IoT opportunities from a logical description of the idea
implementation planning, value analysis, target market(s) identification, ROI prediction
alignment and optimization of different Business functions (e.g. the impact that Engineering changes have on Manufacturing)
generate suitable Artefacts e.g. documents, data structures
generate trusted contextual data (e.g. for IP, business integration, training etc.)
identify, recommend and implement specialist functions (e.g. to set up a Blockchain support network for impacted Business functions and Supply Chains; or keep records of smart device exchange in an IoT network).
Here is a rough example to illustrate the principle for the Internet of Things (IoT). There are many potential applications of IoT technology, and identifying the best potential for an Idea is a key success factor. Evaluation may proceed as follows:
IoT are networks of physical objects embedded with sensors & software to connect and exchange data with other devices and systems. IoT opportunities can be expressed as generic patterns of LOGIC as follows:
L (Let it Be): “Keep things as they are” - A desirable Ecosystem status is monitored and maintained by the application of controls
Example: monitor & control the refrigeration temperature of sensitive goods throughout their supply chain
O (Organize): “Plan something for me” - Events are triggered in sequence or in parallel to achieve a desired outcome at a particular Event
Example: sense the approach of a worker and prepare their needs in advance (security and access, job instructions etc.)
G (Go for It): “Do something for me” - Events are detected that result in decision making and the triggering of subsequent advantageous Events
Example: detect people in unauthorized areas, secure the area and raise the alarm
I (Intelligent): “Make things better” - A complexity of Events yield complex data which can be collected, processed and transmitted
Example: adapt street lighting to local weather conditions, natural hazards, exceptional circumstances
C (Caution): “Let me know” - An Event is detected, and a User is informed either to trigger a corrective Action or just to be informed
Example: my dog escapes and his tag lets me know his whereabouts.
Think about the Scenarios that could fulfill all or part of the Idea. For example, if your goal is to design a better fire emergency response, the contribution of IoT technology could be expressed as follows:
“emergency Services get alternative directions based on the emergency progress and risks” → (O)
“initiate automatic fire extinguishing based on local hazard assessment” → (I)
The context of the Idea (Scenarios in 2.) plus the opportunities to realize the Idea (Patterns in 1.) provide a guide into defining the Solution: the optimum application of people, processes, materials and technology. Depending on the scale and complexity of the Idea, this might need architectural evaluation with Systems Engineering discipline.
