TLDR: Stuart Hubbard, Senior Director of AI and Advanced Development at Zebra Technologies, is advising companies to strategically leverage their vast amounts of frontline data to overcome the growing challenge of high-quality data scarcity for AI training. This approach aims to maximize the benefits of AI solutions by tapping into a rich, often underutilized, resource generated directly from daily operations.
In a critical move to address the escalating concerns over the diminishing supply of high-quality data for artificial intelligence (AI) training, Stuart Hubbard, Senior Director of AI and Advanced Development at Zebra Technologies, is advocating for businesses to fundamentally rethink and better utilize their frontline data. This guidance comes as reports indicate a significant increase in data use restrictions, with 25% of data from top-tier sources being restricted between April 2023 and April 2024 due to websites limiting data scraping for AI training. Some experts even predict that the global stock of human-generated public text could be depleted between 2026 and 2032, or even sooner.
Hubbard emphasizes that the quality of data presents a substantial hurdle for generative AI and deep learning solutions. ‘Inaccuracies, biases, or a lack of variety reflecting real-life use cases in the data will lead to poorly performing AI models that do not support business growth, intelligent automation, or a more connected frontline,’ he stated. To counteract these issues, new AI models and advanced data capture and analysis solutions are being developed to unlock currently underused data sources.
One such invaluable, yet largely unexplored, resource is business data generated directly on the frontline. This includes real-time data produced within workflows, on devices, and through industrial technology systems. Industries like retail, manufacturing, and logistics generate massive volumes of data at the intersection of workers and machines, offering a rich landscape for AI development. For instance, in manufacturing, frontline data can encompass defects and anomalies in materials, components, and finished items, as well as packaging quality.
Zebra Technologies, a leader in digitizing and automating frontline workflows, is at the forefront of efforts to enhance both the availability and quality of enterprise data in industrial environments. Hubbard advises business leaders in IT, operational technology, and AI development to focus on capturing and harnessing this frontline data. This can be achieved by deploying technologies such as mobile computers equipped with computer vision, agentic AI, and voice AI, alongside smart cameras, sensors, and software utilizing deep learning and 3D algorithms. He also highlighted that well-established technologies like radio frequency identification (RFID) can be viewed in new and promising ways.
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By transforming this raw frontline data into actionable insights, businesses can drive significant value, foster intelligent automation, and create a more connected and efficient frontline. Zebra’s commitment extends to ensuring responsible AI development through robust ethical guidelines and legal frameworks, alongside advanced data integration and processing tools. The company is actively developing solutions like the Zebra Mobile Computing AI Suite and Zebra Companion, an AI-powered assistant for frontline teams, to empower workers and improve operational efficiency without replacing human capabilities.
