What is cognitive computing

Cognitive computing goes beyond the traditional rule-based AI by incorporating different features such as:

• Machine learning, as it allows systems to learn and adapt from data without explicit programming.
• Natural language processing (NLP), as it enables computers to understand and respond to human language in its natural form.
• Pattern recognition, as it identifies hidden patterns and relationships in data, which leads to deeper insights.
• Reasoning and inference, as it draws conclusions based on incomplete or uncertain information, like the human brain.

Cognitive computing combines various technologies such as:

• Deep learning. These neural networks can learn complex patterns from massive datasets. It imitates the structure and function of the human brain
• Knowledge graphs. It highlights relationships between entities and concepts, enabling systems to reason and draw inferences.
• Signal processing, which analyzes and interprets data from various sources, like images, audio, and sensors.

Where is cognitive computing used?

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The possibilities are endless as cognitive computing continues to evolve and find new applications in various fields. Let’s look at well-known diverse applications across various sectors:

• Healthcare: Analyze medical images for early disease detection, personalize patient care, and predict patient outcomes.
• Finance: Detect fraud, assess credit risk, and develop intelligent trading algorithms.
• Manufacturing: Optimize production processes, predict equipment failures, and personalize customer experiences.
• Customer service: Provide personalized recommendations, automate repetitive tasks, and offer chatbot support with near-human understanding.
• Research and development: Accelerate scientific discovery by analyzing vast data and identifying promising research avenues.

What is the difference between cognitive computing and AI?

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Cognitive computing helps people make decisions, while AI uses algorithms to solve problems or find patterns in large amounts of data. 

AI is great at tasks like playing games or recognizing things in pictures. But cognitive computing aims to understand the world more broadly, so it can solve a wider range of problems.

Here is the difference explained in simple terms:

• AI: Think of a computer that can play chess and make smart moves because it understands the game rules.
• Cognitive computing: Imagine a computer that reads medical reports, figures out possible health issues, and even suggests treatments, similar to how a doctor uses their knowledge.