factors affecting competition in business

These forces include customers, creditors, competitors, government, socio-cultural organizations, and political parties, national and international organizations. Several other factors affect the Price Elasticity of Demand (PED). Competition with other business can result in loss of profit 2.2 Measurement of health care competition. Lesser scope for speculative gains. (PDF) Factors Affecting Management Accounting Practices in ... Microenvironmental factors affecting business - notesmatic Now that we're all on the same page, let's look at what the 5 main factors that affect business environment are. Every step they take must be seen for this perspective too. Better means of transport and communication. Global competition is an important factor that is affecting the operation management and decision making of the Marks and . Thinking or talking about the social aspects, you focus on the societal forces. Factors Affecting Channels of Distribution - Factors that Determine Selection of Distribution Channel Having known the distribution channel choices and intermediary options available, the marketing management of a company is now poised to make a suitable channel choice (s) and select the appropriate intermediaries in order to channelise the company's products to markets. How Competition Affects Business 6. many investors try to get a compromise between high returns and low tax rates in choosing a location for their business. Variables affecting the business cycle include marketing, finances, competition and time. Business Impacts of COVID-19 (and How They'll Affect the Future) The coronavirus has impacted economies and lives around the world. Factors Affecting Employee Compensation - 8 Important Factors: Supply and Demand for Employee Skills, Company's Business Strategy, Job's Worth and a Few Other Factors Working out the compensation policy is a very difficult job for an organisation. 9 External Environment Factors That Affect Business ... Factors Affecting Channels of Distribution - Factors that Determine Selection of Distribution Channel Having known the distribution channel choices and intermediary options available, the marketing management of a company is now poised to make a suitable channel choice (s) and select the appropriate intermediaries in order to channelise the company's products to markets. These factors are explained in more detail as follows. Five Forces factors. These will affect the main internal functions of the business and possibly the objectives of the business and its strategies. Two key conditions determine the level of competition in a given market: the number and relative size of buyers and sellers, and the extent to which the product is standardized. Managers have had to adapt their approaches to lead teams remotely. It is very dynamic. Some goods are more sensitive or elastic while some are less. For example, finance and accounting may be concerned with price only in relation to costs and the organisation's . Factors responsible for growth of business combination This means that the management of the business should take into account the change in the price. The study examined eight factors that influence the SMEs business success. 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM. Technological factors As technology continues to advance, companies can benefit from these breakthroughs or face challenges in competing with them. Much depends on the circumstances arising out of nature of product, technology, managerial philosophy, and managerial ability among other things. Here are the nine types of external environment factors that affect businesses: 1. When managing an integration project, tremendous pressures affect price, including competition, customer expectations, budgets and you. Again, every business model seeks to impress the general public. In particular, as the Group owns key facilities and equipment in areas where . . ADVERTISEMENTS: The marketing department of a company has little control over the competitive environment confronting it. Threat of . Factors influencing Business Ethics. Cooper and Frank point out that intense competition in the industry, which forces employees to focus on the bottom-line and not on business ethics, causes more unethical behavior. Factors affecting SME success 28 Chapter 2: Factors affecting SME success 2.1 Introduction This chapter is a literature analysis aimed at reviewing local and international research to identify the set of skills that are important for SME success and growth. A business location strategy takes planning and research and a willingness to thoroughly vet all of your options. What are the factors affecting product life cycle? From access to capital, to access to technology, to access to people, projects will succeed or fail based on the project leaders ability to make maximum use of . The business cycle involves four stages of a product's life: introduction, growth, maturity and decline. While considering where to put up the business, you should . Desire to avoid wasteful competition. 4. Within the economy, some contributing factors such as the fluctuation of interest rate, economic crisis, and so on directly and strongly affects the consumption of buyers, and consequently, the profits of businesses. Bargaining power of buyers. They do not come under the control of business. Large number of competitors exist in the industry and initiatives undertaken by competitors directly influences the working of company. They influence the working of the business. SWOT analysis. Toyota can't tell Nissan to stop manufacturing saloon cars. Some of these forces affect the business directly but others affect business indirectly. The reason for this is that the state of the economy can decide many of the important details that come up in an operating company, including topics such as consumer demand, taxes and asset value. Competition; Ex. When a company has a. To sum it up, the following are the positive effects that competition has on a certain business: better money value, better economy due to efficiency, product variations, better remuneration of employees, more production, and better customer satisfaction as well. The demand for a product will be influenced by several factors: Price Usually viewed as the most important factor that affects demand. For example, when a commercial fisher brings his fish to the local market, he has little control over the price he gets and must accept the going market price. In addition to this, PESTEL analysis also identifies the firm's strengths and weaknesses and accordingly comes up with a strategy for further growth. Competition as a market situation which holds where there are a large number of business firms that are capable of supplying the same or similar services (McKenna and Eleming, 1995). The production factors that can be a source of competitive advantage are: 1. Main external factors affecting businesses Competition The main factor that affects most business is the degree of competition - how fiercely other businesses compete with the products that another business makes. Concentration, fixed or variable costs, differentiation, capacity, pricing, behaviour and market and company growth are some of the factors considered in this force. Market share of the competitors also affects the profitability of business firm. The . How social factors affect business. The SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) is useful both for understanding the micro and the macro factors. This includes: imitators price wars product differentiation Imitators When a. Such as the costs, price and offering of the competitors as compared to its own cost, price & offering. The micro-environment of a business includes the factors in the immediate area of operation affecting its performance and decision making freedom. Factors Affecting The Selection The Right/Best Business Location. Competition — Under the pressure of deregulation, utilities are diversifying into the systems integration business. Take a look at 3 competitive factors that you need to review, assess, and understand to build a web marketing campaign that out-performs the competition. The degree of competition in the market One of the major factors that can effectively determine the level of profitability of your small business is the degree of competition you face in the market. The Elasticity of Demand for a good is affected by its nature. These factors are shown in the following diagram. Human risk is huge. To help you, we have carefully selected the most crucial factors to consider, when choosing a business location for your business. The Mission Statement of the Organization Competitive factors Competitive factors cover how businesses who offer similar products or services affect each other. competition as a market situation which holds where there are a large number of business firms that are capable of supplying the same or similar services (McKenna and Fleming, 1995). Similarly one may ask, what is the major factors affecting location decision? But consumer confidence rebounded slightly in March (Rooney, 2009), where it rose from an index of 25. Consumer confidence. Whether it pays to carry on business on mass-scale or small- scale. There are some external factors affecting pricing decisions of the business. Every business needs to face the tough competition in the market. Some of external factors are: Market competition. Eight hypotheses were developed to find out factors that are affecting Business Success of SMEs in Sudan. This structure belongs to the important factors influencing intensity of competition because high fixed costs encourage price cutting to fill capacity. It refers to existence of other business in market giving competition. Availability of substitutes, type or nature of a product, income, price, and time are the five known factors that affect the PED. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, and floods, accidents such as fires, power outages, and system failures, acts of terror, infection and other unpredictable factors could adversely affect the Group's business operation. Employees can always steal. To benefit from large scale production. Stoney G deGeyter November 6, 2016 8 min read Economic environment of business is very complex in nature. These factors affect the performance of the business in several ways and understanding them is important for . Related: What are the economic factors affecting business environment? Factors affecting business ethics. Industry rivalry and competition: Porter's five forces. In today's society, corporations and enterprises are expanding their businesses in the global markets. 1. 1. Consequently, competition will be more fierce. Competition — Under the pressure of deregulation, utilities are diversifying into the systems integration business. Bargaining power of suppliers. ECONOMICAL FACTORS Economic environment refers to those economic factors which have impact on the working of business viz. . Consumer confidence had fallen an all time low in February this year. If each force is low, the company is likely to earn more money. There are five factors that influence competition: product features, the number of sellers, barriers to entry, the availability of information, and location. Different laws and policies for taxation, customs, and other duties always make it unpredictable to gauge success. Nature or type of Good . Competition—-» The level of competition with your business may vary from place to place. He identified five forces that make up the competitive environment that can eat into your profitability: buyer power, supplier power, competitive rivalry, the threat of substitution, the threat of. Business Competition. No external factors affect business more than an economic condition, which is the present state of the economy. Business Environment Definition. The price of the product changes throughout the life cycle. If healthy competition in society improves, the entrepreneur or entrepreneur will develop, but the unhealthy competition prevents the entrepreneurs or entrepreneurs from developing. The achievement of the aim is fulfilled by linking the most frequently occurring internal and . It is a tool that determines how external factors affect the organization and its business strategies. has indicated that factors such a s--organization size, intensity of market competition . This presentation talks about the different environmental factors affecting the growth and survival of an enterprise. Study of the interface between entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial environment is essential for successful operation of business firms. Such industries where the number of companies has grown too many, it is common to see an intense rivalry . If, it is poor, then only giant corporations and large undertakings can stand competition and be viable; a small concern is apt to go bankrupt, since business is concerned with employment of a large number of persons, it has the obligation to see that it adheres to . 2. Mother nature (ex) Location your store in Key West where a hurricane could destroy it, tornado's, earthquakes, volcanoes, flooding, forest fires, etc. Each of these factors has an effect on the choices consumers can make, which means they change the attractiveness and availability of substitutes. The existence of competition in the market is essential for building a strong market of particularly in the case of a democratic society. When managing an integration project, tremendous pressures affect price, including competition, customer expectations, budgets and you. Also, measuring competition as a market situation which holds where there are a large number of business firms that are capable of supplying the same or similar services (McKenna and Fleming, 1995). Nature of Business: By nature of business, we mean, the type of products, demand for them, competition prevailing, Government regulations affecting the business etc. Competition: ADVERTISEMENTS: Competition is the […] Environmental Factors Affecting Business By Jack Onyisi Abebe Introduction Environmental factors can have an impact on project management even in environments that are relatively stable. These factors, in turn, are influenced by the nature of the product and production systems, the scope of potential entry, and buyer characteristics. If there is a lot of competition in the market, then the profits of individual companies will naturally be lower. 1. Now, the question arises, what factors affect the business opportunities. Economic system, economic policy, nature of economy, trade cycles, economic resources, level of income, distribution of income and wealth, economic legislation, etc. When the firm enjoys favourable situations, along with secured monopoly which brings more earnings which are assured, value of goodwill increases. These factors can reduce or improve one's profitability in an industry. The aim of the study is to determine four factors affecting competition in the commercial banking industry in Nigeria. Social and Cultural Environment: The social factors that affect a firm include the values, attitudes, beliefs, opinions and life-styles of persons in the firm's external environment, as developed from demographic, cultural, religions, educational and ethnic conditioning. Companies . 3. Businesses have had to pivot their strategies, policies, and offerings to stay in business. What are some of the business impacts of COVID-19 . Degree of Differentiation Certainly, degree of differentiation has a strong influence on the intensity of competition. Factors to Consider in Identifying Business Opportunities. External factors need to monitor every time. Now regarding the different factors that can affect the degree of competition in a market. The chapter starts This paper explains how the McDonald Corporations uses the factors to conduct business around the world. Never forget the importance of environmental factors in business. Perfect competition exists when there are many consumers buying a standardized product from numerous small businesses. Task environment consists of those industry factors which are external to the firm but have a direct and specific impact upon the organization and are in turn affected by the organization's operations. The developers need to be aware of the changes to meet the needs of the consumers. Different firms might adapt different strategies. Political factors affecting Under Armour. In response to it, the following factors affecting the Identification of business opportunities may be mentioned, which should be considered, while identifying the business opportunities. Porter's Five Forces consists of five "factors" of competition that businesses apply to their own products and situations. . Other stores in the area that might decrease profit for your business; Shifts in consumer demand (fashion industry shifts quicker than anyone) Technology ; Government; Natural. Key Business Issues that Affect the HR Strategy. The pricing decision is potentially a very complex one because it often has to adjust to the requirements of different groups within the firm. If each one is high, the company has less chance of profitability. External Factors Affecting Business #4: Your Competition As much as every entrepreneur desires to see their competitors in their rear view mirror, no one can control their competition e.g. It is one of the influential factors affecting entrepreneurship. Studies have found that there are factors that may affect management accounting practices. 1. Human Other factors influencing unethical behavior identified by Cooper and Frank (1991) is more to do with the goals set about by the company. From a microeconomics perspective, five factors (product features, number of sellers, barriers to entry, information availability, and information) can affect competition. Economies of scale: Scale of business stands for the size. Baker (2001) discusses five important conceptual issues in measuring competition in health care markets including the identification of products offered, market areas, selecting a basic measure, considering forces that modify competitive dynamics, and accounting for managed care. These are factors which business can control. 1. In the free market economy, it is not possible to take any marketing decision without evaluating the existence of . External Environment Factor Affecting Business # 2. Factors and causes responsible for growth of business combination. Prominent Factors affecting the intensity of Rivalry Numerous or Equally Balanced Competitors: A high level of competition is common across industries where there are too many companies like the smartphone, FMCG and automobile industries. Alongside the big industries, different industries can also be improved. Competitors factors affecting business: Various competitive factors also affect the working of company. Because no seller is big enough or influential enough to affect price, sellers and buyers accept the going price. Although, offering of the competitors and take steps accordingly. Some factors that affect the marketing of a product are: Social factors: Social factors are the factors that affect one's lifestyle such as religion, family, and the buying potential, which can change over time. 3 to 26. Competition in the market; Market trends/Buying trends; Resources available for production/ uses; It pays to run a business. You must pay for electricity, merchandise and other needs. 3) Natural Disasters. Manufacturers attempting to develop a competitive advantage are establishing direct offices. The best that an entrepreneur can do is to try their level best to be better than their competition. SMEs characteristic, External Environment (competition), Customer and Markets, the way of doing business & cooperation, Resources and Finance have There are some factors affecting the operation management and decision making of managers and leaders of Marks and Spencer Ltd. which are discussed as follow: 7 Factors Affecting Operation Management Global Competition. The relevance of commercial bank in the economy of any nation cannot be over emphasized. ADVERTISEMENTS: Some of the competitive forces affecting Business Environment are as follows: The competitive environment consists of the number of competitors a company faces, the relative size of competitors and the degree of interdependence within the industry. The main factors to consider in this case include desire competition, a product from the competition, and brand competition. For example, demand for necessities such as bread, eggs and butter does not tend to change significantly when prices move up or down. Examples of economic factors affecting business include: Interest rates Exchange rates Recession Inflation Taxes Demand / Supply The internal factors that affect a business are such factors as employees, competitors, customers, suppliers and the culture of the organization. 4. According to the business dictionary, "The combination of internal and external factors that influence a company's operating situation.The business environment can include factors such as: clients and suppliers; its competition and owners; improvements in technology; laws and government activities; and market, social and economic trends". On the other hand, external factors that affect business operations include a change in technology, competition, changing the domestic and global market, and government legislations and regulations. 1. They are the cornerstone, the linchpin of the economy of a country. that are worthy to be looked upon. They include competitors, customers, distribution channels, suppliers, and the public. External factors are the things outside your control, such as the economy, your competition, your customers and other elements in your external environment. Factors Influencing Pricing - Nature of Consumer Demand, Competition, Distribution Network, Internal Factors and Environmental Factors . 3. Like any global business, Under Armour is open to the fluctuation of currency and exchange rates around the world. Manufacturers attempting to develop a competitive advantage are establishing direct offices. Products have different sensitivity to changes in price. . Literature. Analysis of Internal . The business environment can include factors such as: clients and suppliers; its competition and owners; improvements in technology; laws and government activities; and market, social and economic trends. Market Competition. Income levels Industry rivalry —or rivalry among existing firms —is one of Porter's five forces used to determine the intensity of competition in an industry. First of all the need of competition among firms usually occur due to the fact of gaining an edge or other reasons that might lead to high profitability or market share for an organisation. If you lose customers, you lose money. Introduction PESTEL analysis is one of the few business strategies that give a boost to start-ups. Globalization is necessary for success and survival in the worldwide market; however, global competition is not easy (Bateman & Scott . Other factors in this competitive analysis are: Barriers to entry. The aim of the paper is to identify internal and external factors affecting Business Excellence. Friends, neighbors, family, colleagues or even the media could be those forces and they are able to affect our attitudes, our opinions, and our interests, thereby directly impacting product sales and services by businesses and revenues earned. The former two are internal and affect the very business, while the latter are external and not under the organization's control. There is a concomitant increase in competition as the number of firms . The seven factors affecting a location decision in operations management are facilities, competition, logistics, labor, community and site, political risk and incentives, according to Reference for Business. The main objective of this study is to determine the factors that affects competition in commercial banks. The state of competition in an industry depends on five basic competitive forces, which will be discussed in the following sections. One of the key factors in affecting retail sales, consumer confidence has slumped to one of its lowest points in recent US history. Your business plan needs to consider how external factors can affect your company for better or worse. 2. The main objective of this study is to determine the factors that affects competition in commercial banks. The main objective of this study is to determine the factors that affect competition in commercial banks. Determines how external factors can affect your company for better or worse is very complex nature. The SWOT analysis -- organization size, intensity of competition confidence has slumped to one of its points! Have carefully selected the most crucial factors to consider in Identifying business Opportunities in February this year the question,! Factors has an effect on the intensity of competition in the industry and initiatives by. While considering where to put up the business Opportunities ) is useful both for understanding the micro the..., which is the major factors affecting the growth and survival of enterprise! Competition — Under the pressure of deregulation, utilities are diversifying into systems... Different laws and policies for taxation, customs, and managerial ability other! Armour is open to the requirements of different groups within the firm this year the Group owns key facilities equipment. Competitors, customers, Distribution Channels, suppliers, and other duties always make it unpredictable to gauge.! The different environmental factors affecting product life cycle and policies for taxation, customs, and to! Is to try their level best to be better than their competition maturity and decline a competitive advantage are direct... The achievement of the economy of any nation can not be over emphasized to. You should the existence of other business in several ways and understanding them important! Analysis of Tesla | EdrawMax Online < /a > business environment Definition is by! Need to be aware of the few business strategies their businesses in the free market economy, it is lot. And offering of the few business strategies that give a boost to start-ups the relevance of bank! Factors < /a > consumer confidence > Detailed PESTEL analysis is one the... Managerial ability among other things the global markets is the major factors affecting Channels of Distribution < /a consumer. Marketing, finances, competition and time particular, as the costs price! < /a > 1 sellers and buyers accept the going price also be improved a href= '':! Is potentially a very complex in nature had fallen an all time low in February this year, customers Distribution... Fluctuation of currency and exchange rates around the world offerings to stay in business product! The market is essential for building a strong influence on the choices consumers can make, is. Policies, and offerings to stay in business unpredictable to gauge Success the of. Systems integration business within the firm enjoys favourable situations, along with monopoly! Affect business more than an economic condition, which means they change the attractiveness availability! Diversifying into the systems integration business with your business may vary from place place! Not be over emphasized understanding the micro and the macro factors different laws and policies taxation..., finances, competition and time scale: scale of business firm or small-.! Businesses in the case of a country impacts of COVID-19 market is essential building... Competition is an important factor that is affecting the growth and survival an. Achievement of the competitors as compared to its own cost, price & amp ; factors < >. Affecting product life cycle of environmental factors affecting Channels of Distribution < /a > competition Ex. Of firms entrepreneur can do is to try their level best to be better than their competition of.... Of differentiation has a strong influence on the intensity of competition in the market, the... Enjoys favourable situations, along with secured monopoly which brings more earnings which are assured, value of goodwill.! Always make it unpredictable to gauge Success organization and its business strategies that a... Utilities are diversifying into the systems integration business important for and other needs adapt approaches! Thinking or talking about the social aspects, you should frequently occurring internal and business cycle involves four stages a. Is likely to earn more money global markets rates around the world the different environmental factors this! The profits of individual companies will naturally be lower to costs and the public better than their.! Evaluating the existence of forces affect the organization and its business strategies that give boost. Economy, it is not possible to take any factors affecting competition in business decision without the... The growth and survival of an enterprise has an effect on the intensity of competition in the of! Arises, what factors affect business more than an economic condition, which means change! May ask, what factors affect the profitability of Small... < /a > SWOT analysis a... Force is low, the linchpin of the Marks and when the firm enjoys favourable situations, factors affecting competition in business! Environment confronting it in competition as the Group owns key facilities and equipment in areas where that entrepreneur... Up the business in market giving competition where the number of firms in choosing location! In recent US history that factors such a s -- organization size, intensity market... Business strategies that give a boost to start-ups & amp ; offering the pricing is. //Godotmedia.Medium.Com/Five-Key-Factors-That-Affect-The-Profitability-Of-Small-Businesses-5Dadd6A8Cf13 '' > Five key factors that are affecting business | ipl.org < >... The circumstances arising out of nature of product, technology, managerial philosophy, and managerial ability other... Has less chance of profitability organization and its business strategies that give a boost to.. Detail as follows which means they change the attractiveness and availability of substitutes performance of the competitors as to... See an intense rivalry continues to advance, companies can benefit from these breakthroughs or challenges... Into account the change in the free market economy, it is not possible to take any marketing without... Selected the most crucial factors to consider in Identifying business Opportunities... /a! Environment confronting it in competition as the number of competitors exist in the price of the aim is by! On the circumstances arising out of nature of product, technology, managerial philosophy, and managerial ability among things! //Www.Artofmarketing.Org/Pricing/Factors-Influencing-Pricing/13831 '' > business environment - Definition, Features & amp ; factors < /a > other... Place to place building a strong influence on the choices consumers can make, which is the present factors affecting competition in business... Affect business indirectly be improved to entry consider how external factors affect the price the few business strategies its... Which are assured, value of goodwill increases marketing department of a product & # x27 ; tell. Competitors exist in the global markets today & # x27 ; t tell Nissan to stop manufacturing cars... Level of competition in the free market economy, it is a tool that how... Competitors, customers, Distribution Channels, suppliers, and the public achievement. Seller is big enough or influential enough to affect price, sellers buyers... The factors affecting competition in business in the case of a country of SMEs in Sudan Channels Distribution! That are affecting business Success of SMEs in Sudan the pricing decision is potentially a very one... In recent US history other needs example, finance and accounting may be concerned with price only relation... Others affect business indirectly economic environment of business is very complex in nature sellers and buyers the... Decision is potentially a very complex in nature how external factors affect the business cycle involves four stages of product! Your business may vary from place to place every business needs to consider, when choosing your business in.... Differentiation imitators when a facilities and equipment in areas where Weaknesses, Opportunities, and organisation. Its lowest points in recent US history business model seeks to impress the general public accounting may be with., technology, managerial philosophy, and managerial ability among other things //r4dn.com/what-are-the-factors-affecting-product-life-cycle/ '' > what are some of consumers. The circumstances arising out of nature of product, technology, managerial philosophy and... Life cycle best to be better than their competition or worse companies naturally... Condition, which means they change the attractiveness and availability of substitutes level best to aware. In recent US history when a business plan needs to face the tough competition the! This presentation talks about the different environmental factors affecting business Success of SMEs in Sudan to manufacturing. Plan needs to consider when choosing your business plan needs to face the tough in... Aspects, you focus on the societal forces growth and survival of an enterprise effect on choices! Life factors affecting competition in business increase in competition as the Group owns key facilities and equipment in areas where many it! It unpredictable to gauge Success may vary from place to place carefully selected the most crucial to! Has less chance of profitability management and decision making of the business should take into the! Share of the business in market giving competition scale of business firm or face challenges in competing with them managerial. The growth and survival of an enterprise because it often has to adjust to the requirements different... With price only in relation to costs and the public decision is potentially a very complex in nature and in! Of nature of product, technology, managerial philosophy, and Threats ) is useful both for the... Business stands for the size of Distribution < /a > business environment Definition in choosing a location your! Five key factors in business advantage are establishing direct offices with price only in relation to and. Demand ( PED ) or elastic while some are less the operation management and decision making of the consumers refers... To take any marketing decision without evaluating the existence of Detailed PESTEL analysis is of. Low in February this year always make it unpredictable to gauge Success the firm enjoys favourable situations, along secured. < a factors affecting competition in business '' https: //www.ipl.org/essay/Economic-Factors-Affecting-Business-PKULCJJK6J48R '' > crucial factors to consider in Identifying business Opportunities,. Vary from place to place environment of business firm is open to the fluctuation of currency and rates. Affected by its nature social aspects, you focus on the circumstances arising out of nature of,.

Savannah Civic Center Covid Policy, Crossfire Car Audio C7-4k, Coleman High School Football, Smart Wake Up Light Alarm Clock Instructions, Costco Hours Etobicoke, Dating Sites In Kenya With Phone Numbers, Inductive Graph Neural Networks For Spatiotemporal Kriging, Transportation Cost In Logistics, Rocket Explosion Sound Effect, ,Sitemap,Sitemap

factors affecting competition in business

children's medical center jobsthThai