Small business leaders learned artificial intelligence is within reach at Friday’s meeting of the East Texas Technology and Innovation Coalition. Sagnik Dakshit, computer science professor at the University of Texas at Tyler, told the nonprofit organization, sponsored by PCDWorks of Montalba, how the university can partner with local companies to automate tasks and remain competitive.
Though companies like Microsoft and Amazon are investing billions of dollars in AI to develop large language models, small business applications do not require such large investments.
Dakshit encouraged small business owners in East Texas to partner with students and professors at UT Tyler’s Soules College of Business to create AI programs and applications based on smaller language models targeted at their commercial needs.
In retail businesses, for example, AI can help with demand forecasting, recommendations, cashierless technology, inventory management and customer sentiment analysis. The university can also create programs that assist in industry, manufacturing, human resources, healthcare applications, marketing and many other small scale commercial applications.
UT Tyler’s students have already developed dozens of applications, from job searches and selecting clothes, to updating databases and improving productivity.
The university is open to collaborating with small business owners on several levels, including capstone projects, course projects, student internships, faculty research projects, consultancy, experts, and patent licensing. The capstone projects, which involve application of academic knowledge, are often required before students graduate.
“We have a bunch of capstone projects that we undertake every semester,” Dakshit said. “If you have a project you think students can help you with, reach out to us.”
ETTIC is a nonprofit organization that aims to improve the local economy through technology innovation, advanced manufacturing businesses and workforce development. The organization is a coalition of local governments, colleges, business leaders and lending agencies.
Christope Trahan, Executive Director of the Palestine Economic Development Corporation and a board member of ETTIC, said partnering with UT Tyler’s computer science department is an excellent opportunity.
“AI is radically changing the way that business is done, and the rate at which businesses are assessing and adapting AI to better service their customers and streamline their operations is skyrocketing,” Trahan said. “Through partnership with Soules’ computer science department, local businesses can benefit from the expertise of professionals on the cutting edge of this emerging field to solve today’s problems with tomorrow’s solutions.”
For information about ETTIC email apyle@pcdworks.com.
To contact Sagnik Dakshiit, email sdakshit@uttyler.edu.
