Streamlining workflows with AVA AI

ENVISION an AI platform that boosts productivity, facilitates better decision-making, and simplifies data administration. Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI) AVA AI takes on the challenge of handling data from various sources, offering a comprehensive solution that brings everything together, boosts efficiency and helps businesses make better decisions.

At its core, AVA AI is designed to streamline how businesses interact with their data. "In line with our mission to make AI work for our clients and their stakeholders, we designed AVA AI with the sole purpose in mind to simplify how enterprises interact with their data," shared Dr. David Hardoon, ADI chief executive. "By streamlining processes and enhancing workflows, we enable them to not only make informed decisions swiftly and efficiently but also to uncover valuable insights."

AVA AI offers an intuitive, enterprise-ready chat interface, allowing users to use natural language to engage with backend systems. This functionality enables teams to break down data silos and access crucial information securely. The platform is versatile, integrating both cloud-based and on-premise systems, and offers the ability to pull data from internal sources while also searching the web when needed.

Security is a major priority for enterprises adopting AI technology, and AVA AI could address this concern with its robust encryption and granular access control. The platform complies with industry standards to minimize external threats and regulatory risks. It also provides detailed audit trails and usage analytics, enhancing transparency and optimizing operational workflows.

Customizable and scalable

AVA AI's strength lies in its customizability. Organizations can tailor the platform's agents — specialized programs capable of performing tasks such as document parsing, research and data extraction — to meet their needs. These agents use retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) technology, ensuring that the responses are accurate and evidence-based, eliminating the risk of irrelevant or inaccurate information.

ADI has seen success with AVA AI in various sectors. A multilateral development bank, for example, has utilized the platform to phase in multiple workstreams, each tailored to the unique needs of its departments. With document access, integration with large language models (OpenAI GPT-4, Anthropic Claude 3, Meta Llma 3), and domain-specific capabilities, AVA AI ensures personalized and trustworthy outputs.

In an interview with Guy Sheppard, ADI's chief commercial officer, he highlighted the practical applications of AI, particularly their AVA AI platform, across various industries. Sheppard stressed that AI should not only be a "myopic genius" offering specific answers but must also handle complex workflows effectively.

AVA AI is tailored to industries like power generation and construction, where vast health and safety manuals are digitized to assist operators in retrieving crucial information quickly. Sheppard explained, "We're meeting much more of the end-to-end workflow, which is often overlooked in AI applications."

For legal and compliance, AVA AI provides robust data handling by redacting sensitive information based on user permissions, a feature that Sheppard considers vital for maintaining security and efficiency in high-stakes environments. "It's about giving users confidence and peace of mind that these AI models are both faithful and relevant," he noted.

Sheppard also mentioned use cases in climate risk modeling, insurance claims and investment decisions. Insurers could use AI to assess claims by analyzing satellite imagery to predict flood damage more accurately. One of the most promising areas is AI's ability to assist in decision-making by accurately consuming complex data, which is essential for industries with high regulatory and operational demands.

The platform is easily accessible through various channels. It is compatible with popular productivity suites like Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Office 365, as well as messaging apps like Google Workspace and Azure SharePoint. Because of its broad feature set and simple integration, AVA AI is well-positioned to make a significant impact in Southeast Asia's enterprise AI market.

Future outlook

When asked about ADI's long-term vision for AVA AI, Sheppard explained that they aim to scale the platform globally, focusing on expanding its use in industries beyond Southeast Asia. While quantum computing is not an immediate focus, he acknowledged its potential. "We want technology for everyone," he said.

ADI aims to make AVA AI available to organizations of all sizes, emphasizing no-code or low-code solutions that empower non-technical users. "We're trying to become more industry-agnostic because technology is agnostic," he stated, emphasizing their ambition to provide flexible, adaptable AI solutions for various businesses.

As AVA AI continues developing, ADI aims to offer organizations a flexible platform to enhance productivity, decision-making and security. With its customizable features and wide-ranging applications, AVA AI could provide a solution that can help businesses optimize their operations and manage data more effectively.

(The article was originally published by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado on The Manila Times.)