Next IT, the world’s leading provider of Intelligent Virtual Assistants (IVAs), is pleased to announce a partnership with robotics pioneer and former NASA astronaut Dan Barry. Dr. Barry’s passion for exploring new ways artificial intelligence can serve humanity will speed Next IT’s quest to change the way technology interacts with the world.

“There are few technologies in existence today that have a greater potential to impact our lives than artificial intelligence. But to turn that potential into reality, we must warm people up to the idea of letting AI-driven technologies into their everyday lives – whether in the form of virtual assistants or robots,” said Barry. “Next IT Intelligent Virtual Assistants offer a critical component to furthering the wide-spread adoption of artificial intelligence; they are capable of building trust and putting people at ease with AI interactions.”

Dr. Barry is an accomplished biomedical researcher and engineer whose work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Grass Foundation, and the American Heart Association of Michigan. He’s the founder of Denbar Robotics, a creator of robotic assistants for home and commercial use that concentrates on assistive devices for people with disabilities. He also co-founded 9th Sense, which designs and builds telepresence robots. He serves as chair for Space and Physical Sciences and co-chair for AI and Robotics at Singularity University.

“There are tremendous synergies between us in terms of intelligent machines,” said Denise Caron, Chief Technology Officer at Next IT. “Next IT benefits greatly from having Dr. Barry join our advisory board; his reputation for courage and innovation is truly inspiring. Together, we will drive critical advancements in the fields of computer science and artificial intelligence – some of which have the potential to change everything that we know about how we interact with technology and the role that it will play in our future.”

About Next IT

Next IT is the world’s largest provider of Intelligent Virtual Assistants that help companies deliver the perfect online customer experience. Its Intelligent Virtual Assistants combine the intimacy of 1-to-1 service that customers love with the speed and accuracy of automated self-service that scales cost-effectively. Some of the world’s largest organizations rely on Next IT for conversational customer care that boosts satisfaction, loyalty, and revenue, including Aetna, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and the U.S. Army. Please visit www.NextIT.com for more information.