Welcome to the Wild West of intelligent document processing (IDP), a frontier that’s still being explored with boundless possibilities. As an organization with a legacy of processing over 2.5 billion pages, we’ve learned a thing or two about wrangling data, so we’re here to show you the ropes in your journey toward AI-powered document processing. 

The possible: AI as the law-abiding sheriff

Imagine artificial intelligence (AI) classifiers as the sheriffs of document processing. They’re adept at corralling vast herds of data, extracting names, dates, and codes with the precision of a sharpshooter. They’re bringing order to chaos and staying vigilant against the threat of unstructured data. They follow the protocols set for them but aren’t making or establishing the law of the land.

The challenges: AI’s frontier limitations

But let’s tip our hats to reality: these AI sheriffs aren’t invincible. They thrive on clear, legible data, but throw in a smudged, poorly scanned document, and they might just miss their mark. And when it comes to understanding context, AI sometimes can’t tell the difference between a horse and a cactus if the details are muddy. It’s like expecting a sheriff to know every face in a constantly changing crowd.

The reality: AI’s wild hallucinations

Then there’s the issue of AI hallucinations – not the kind induced by desert heat, but where AI starts seeing data mirages. This is where the human deputies come into play. AI, like a lone ranger, can do a lot but can’t be left to run the town unsupervised. It needs the nuanced understanding and context that only humans can provide.

The scenario geared for accuracy: AI and human collaboration

The most accurate approach in this frontier is a partnership between AI and human expertise. Let AI handle the heavy lifting of document processing, akin to patrolling the streets, while humans step in for the complex, judgment-heavy tasks – like diffusing a standoff. It’s the classic combo of brains and brawn.

The scenario geared for high speed & less cost: AI as the solo ranger

In this landscape, AI classifiers function like solitary rangers, independently managing the vast prairies of data. Their role is to handle routine, predictable tasks – extracting names, dates, and specific codes from well-structured documents with incredible accuracy. 

The conclusion: Embrace the new frontier with caution

So, to our IT cowboys, data wranglers, and business deputies: intelligent document processing is an ally on this frontier, but it’s not a magic bullet. It has the potential to transform your document landscape but requires guidance and expertise to get the results you want. 

Remember, whether to build your own AI posse or outsource to seasoned gunslingers, the key is not just in having the tools but knowing how to wield them in the unpredictable world of IDP.

So, saddle up and join us on this thrilling ride into the future of document processing – it’s a challenging journey, but one rich with opportunity.