Artificial Intelligence is now being used all around the globe for a variety of purposes. Most times, it slips under the radar, and a recent survey confirms this – findings say 33% of consumers believe they are currently using AI, while in fact, 77% are actually doing it.

Artificial Intelligence is a game-changer in the way modern life moves forward. Based on machine learning, AI finds use in a variety of areas, including autonomous cars, virtual PAs like Microsoft’s Cortana and Apple’s Siri, and Google searches, which often seem to be able to read people like an open book. These days, Artificial Intelligence is also integrated into an application relevant this post – diamond grading.

The Beginning of AI-Based Diamond Grading

Once a complicated and confusing process, which had to be done manually, diamond grading can now be fine-tune using computers. Initially, the only tools we had to gauge diamond quality were the human eye and perception, making it exceptionally hard to achieve standardized diamond grading on a consistent basis. As it was to be expected, this gave rise to discrepancies in the thousands, mainly when it came to diamonds graded by different labs.

One good example here is cut grading, which assesses the cut of a polished diamond in order to predict its appearance and value. Many confuse cut grade with diamond shape, but the former relates to the intersecting behavior of a stone’s facets, and is responsible for its dimensions and proportions, which need to be severely accurate.

Back when cut grading was done manually, a professional gemologist closely inspected each stone to learn its pertinent qualities. The change came in 1992, when new software was introduced, which could automatically conduct computerized measurement of gems and give out superbly accurate results. The computer-based grading device made at the time easily outclassed humans in this respect. Since then, cut grading technology has developed in complex ways. This includes both optical scanners and analytical software, which got more sophisticated as time passed. The precision of measurement we have now is almost superhuman; at micron level in fact.

AI Envelops Full Diamond Grading

With more advanced technologies coming in all the time, whether in AI or diamond analysis, AI-based technologies were soon able to blanket all of diamond grading. AI-based color grading and clarity grading options came out two years ago, and this year they opened the world’s first AI-driven, fully automated grading lab, which when you think of it, is an out-and-out marvel.

The growth of AI is poised to bring significant impacts on the diamond industry. While its full implications are as yet unclear, the following four things are bound to occur on a global scale.

Reliable Diamond Grading

AI-based diamond grading takes out the chance of significant error, which in the case of humans is always a given. However, instead of replacing the gemologist’s expertise and knowledge, it achieves non-biased and standardized accuracy, which can help gem labs improve grading consistency across the board. This also allows stricter adherence to industry grading standards, meaning reliability goes up. At the end of the day, this is beneficial to all involved parties – manufacturers, labs, consumers, and retailers.

Consumer Confidence

Lab grown diamonds have exploded in popularity thanks to the avant-garde consumer habits of the millenials, as well as Gen Z. Suffice to say the diamond industry has taken a big hit from this. Boosting consumer confidence through AI grading helps, by giving people precise and irrefutable grading results with objective technological processes to back them.

Constantly Improving Accuracy

AI-driven grading extensively uses machine learning. This means the higher the number of diamonds an AI device has scanned, the more intelligent it has become, and the more correct its results will be after this. Machine learning mixes data collated by the device and uses it to tweak its algorithms. Gradually but unstoppably, it grows in accuracy and efficiency.

Efficient Sorting and Supply

The methodologies used for AI based diamond grading assist manufacturers in the sorting their gem inventory based on market needs. This makes supply more efficient, as well as consumer-driven. For instance, two diamonds graded the I2 on clarity can vary greatly. AI-aided grading and sorting lets manufacturers easily pick out a bunch of I2 diamonds lacking black inclusions, and do this far more accurately. Sorting filters using AI can assist in building diamond collections to specifically match market needs.

Adobe says that 15% of companies in the world use AI already, and if things go to plan for the rest, this figure will have doubled in a year. Some industries like diamond grading already have AI as a mainstay. While AI has definitely not grown to the point where futuristic robots control homes and human-driven cars have become obsolete, the world is certainly headed in that direction.