AI Tech to Sort Scrap Material
for Recycling to Cut Cost and Reduce Price
The world
recycling organisation hears how the new technology will transform the industry.
·
Computer
vision systems identifying and sorting electronic components, robotic arms
dismantling devices and automated robots extracting lithium batteries.
·
“Ambient”
technology such as intelligent glasses with microphones and cameras.
· The BIR Convention in Singapore attracted more than 1,200 delegates representing over 570 companies in 59 countries.
A forward-looking,
dynamic and thriving vision of a global recycling industry supported by generative
artificial intelligence (AI) was set out at the Bureau of International Recycling’s
World Recycling Convention in Singapore. On 28 October, at the event’s Opening Session
chaired by BIR President Susie Burrage OBE, the huge potential to recyclers of ground-breaking
uses of AI was the theme of the keynote address from Dr Ayesha Khanna, Co-Founder
and CEO of Addo, a global AI solutions firm based in Singapore, on 28 October.
Her overwhelming
message was that generative AI is being adopted faster than any previous new technology
and recyclers “had no choice but to embrace the AI revolution or be left behind”.
She quoted a recent Bank of America report that investment in AI over five years
by large companies could boost operating profit margins by 2%. “That may not seem
like much but it adds up to billions of dollars annually. I really want to emphasise
that, in the long run, it's a game changer.”
Quoting
several examples of AI use by globally known companies, Dr Khanna said their CEOs
were now talking about the technology in terms of results – noting that generative
AI is 80% cheaper than it was 16 months ago. Tesla was leading the way with robots
costing US$ 20,000. “That's the world we're entering into and even these costs are
going to go down further.”
For BIR
members, she explained, this could mean computer vision systems identifying and
sorting electronic components, robotic arms dismantling devices and automated robots
extracting lithium batteries. AI was also changing “ambient” technology such as
intelligent glasses with microphones and cameras. "You can do on-the-job training
so that new employees receive instant guidance. You can do automated reporting,
where somebody's walking around with the glasses and recording [inventory], or giving
you live feedback according to the standards of your industry. It's exciting to
be in this era now.”
Collaborate
to win
Leaders
of recycling companies were urged to think about the implications and share their
learning and experiences. “I would encourage you [to get together] as a group and
just brainstorm. Every industry is looking for its own use cases.
"It's
an incredible opportunity but you must do it with proper risk management, or you
could lose trust or have liability and you won't have the success you're capable
of seeing otherwise.”
Dr Khanna
spoke openly of the risks of AI, and mentioned phishing, deep fakes and the danger
of vital company data being “poisoned” by hackers. But she insisted the tools were
available to overcome such challenges. “I have an AI consulting firm so if anyone
should be afraid, it should be me. But I'm very confident. I'm excited about it,
because this means my business is going to grow.”
She also
talked about the need for regulation. “In every country, they are realising that
AI is the only way to give their company a head start so they can be more competitive.
But in order to do that, they must be regulated, because you have to stop companies
from manipulating through AI.”
Those who
thought Governments always lagged behind were wrong, the speaker asserted. “Governments
have smart people. In the United States, President Biden has said every federal
agency needs to have a chief AI officer because of this precise reason.
“I would
encourage all of you to upskill yourselves to work with AI. You don't need to learn
coding. You just need to learn how to work with AI.”
Record
membership
The BIR
Convention attracted more than 1,200 delegates representing over 570 companies in
59 countries. They were welcomed by President Susie Burrage OBE, of Recycled Products
Ltd, UK, in her introductory speech, where she pointed out that Singapore was an
important destination for BIR to hold the event, not only because Asia is a significant
consumer of recycled materials but also because of the growing number of members
from the continent. She announced that “for the first time in our history”, BIR
boasts more than 1,100 members from 73 countries.
“As our
membership continues to grow, so does our collective influence, benefiting the industry
as a whole,” Ms Burrage said. “Our great advocacy team has been working on many
fronts, in particular on the Global Plastics Treaty and producing our third position
paper, this time on international trade.”
She listed
an array of initiatives now underway. They include a new service to corporate members,
the BIR Business Digest, with the first issue providing guidance on the implementation
of the EU waste shipments regulation. A comprehensive environmental study of recycling
was being prepared, as was a series of videos on the London Metal Exchange as part
of the new BIR Academy. Ms Burrage also mentioned the second issue of the organisation’s
The Recyclist magazine which had contributed to “significantly expanding our visibility
across our industry and beyond”.