The 10 most innovative artificial intelligence companies of 2020

Artificial intelligence has reached the inflection point where it’s less of a trend than a core ingredient across virtually every aspect of computing. These companies are applying the technology to everything from treating strokes to detecting water leaks to understanding fast-food orders. And some of them are designing the AI-ready chips that will unleash even more algorithmic innovations in the years to come.

1. GRAPHCORE

For enabling the next generation of AI applications with its Intelligent Processing Unit AI chip

As just about every aspect of computing is being transformed by machine learning and other forms of AI, companies can throw intense algorithms at existing CPUs and GPUs. Or they can embrace Graphcore’s Intelligence Processing Unit, a next-generation processor designed for AI from the ground up. Capable of reducing the necessary number crunching for tasks such as algorithmic trading from hours to minutes, the Bristol, England, startup’s IPUs are now shipping in Dell servers and as an on-demand Microsoft Azure cloud service.

2. PERSADO

For tutoring clients like Chase to fluency in marketing-speak

Ever tempted to click on the exciting discount offered to you in a marketing email? That might be the work of Persado, which uses AI and data science to generate marketing language that might work best on you. The company’s algorithms learn what a brand hopes to convey to potential customers and suggests the most effective approach—and it works. In 2019, Persado signed contracts with large corporations like JPMorgan Chase, which signed a five-year deal to use the company’s AI across all its marketing. In the last three years, Persado claims that it has doubled its annual recurring revenue.

3. LIVEPERSON

For becoming a maven in discerning customer intent via messaging apps

We may be a long way from AI being able to replace a friendly and knowledgeable customer-service representative. But LivePerson’s Conversational AI is helping companies get more out of their human reps. The machine-learning-infused service routes incoming queries to the best agent, learning as it goes so that it grows more accurate over time. It works over everything from text messaging to WhatsApp to Alexa. With Conversational AI and LivePerson’s chat-based support, the company’s clients have seen a two-times increase in agent efficiency and a 20% boost in sales conversions compared to voice interactions.

4. VIZ.AI

For catalyzing care after a patient’s stroke

When a stroke victim arrives at the ER, it can sometimes be hours before they receive treatment. Viz.ai makes an artificial intelligence program that analyzes the patient’s CT scan, then organizes all the clinicians and facilities needed to provide treatment. This sets up workflows that happen simultaneously, instead of one at a time, which collapses how long it takes for someone to receive treatment and improves outcomes. Viz.ai says that its hospital customer base grew more than 1,600% in 2019.

5. NVIDIA

For transforming sketches into finished images with its GauGAN technology

GauGAN, named after post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin, is a deep-learning model that acts like an AI paintbrush, rapidly converting text descriptions, doodles, or basic sketches into photorealistic, professional-quality images. Nvidia says art directors and concept artists from top film studios and video-game companies are already using GauGAN to prototype ideas and make rapid changes to digital scenery. Computer scientists might also use the tool to create virtual worlds used to train self-driving cars, the company says. The demo video has more than 1.6 million views on YouTube.

6. HIVE

For bringing savvy to measuring the value of TV advertising and sponsorship