In 2016, people have witnessed the digital and physical worlds continuing to merge as everyday objects, commercial and industrial equipment, and entire cities become smart and connected to the cloud. Analysts expect that by 2020 more than 50 billion devices – wearables, store inventory sensors, autonomous vehicles, medical equipment, city infrastructure and more – will be connected to the internet and each other.1 And people's relationship with technology – how it is used, the experiences it enables and what benefits people derive from it – are beginning to shift dramatically. Not since the transition from analog to digital has there been the potential for transformation of this magnitude: Networks are evolving faster than ever to accommodate the intense bandwidth demands created by the ever-growing number of always-on, connected devices to access, analyze and share data in real time. In 2016, Intel has been working with policymakers, the industry and industrial leaders to focus on four areas that will help spur innovation and enable more rapid transformation, leading to greater and new opportunities for industries and consumers: artificial intelligence, 5G networks, automated driving and virtual reality/merged reality.

AI has been a hot topic for legal in blogging and thought leadership. Outlets like Legaltech news and Forbes have reported on the emerging use of AI in the legal industry and how it has helped many firms find success in the changing market of a client-demand based business model. The billable hour is beginning to put a strain on many firms, with clients evaluating legal services to meet their value-based, consultative needs. The Center for the Study of the Legal Profession at the Georgetown University Law Center and Thomson Reuters Peer Monitor 2016 Report addresses these trending changes in the industry, stating "What once was a seller's market has now clearly become a buyer's market, and the ramifications of that change are significant." This new buyers-mindset has been consistently evolving since 2008: "[The] market for law firm services has changed in significant and permanent ways. Clients who previously deferred to their outside firms on virtually all key decisions regarding the organization, staffing, scheduling, and pricing of legal matters are now, in most cases, in active control of all of those decisions."

Today's tech buzzword, artificial intelligence (AI), can be a difficult concept to wrap your head around. AI technology, which holds vast potential to revolutionize the way the world works, is often used to paint an apocalyptic view of the future. We now live in a world where talking computers and self-driving cars are no longer a thing of the future -- but are we also at risk of developing computers so smart that they can replace humans? Influential tech figures such as Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking have cautioned the industry against diving head-on into AI because the technology's implementation could do more harm than good if we aren't careful. While there's no arguing that some of the cautionary tales around AI hold merit, our current reality is far from the robot-run society we've seen in the movies.

And upon that sand a new God will walk." It may not quite be that bad. But a wall won't keep them out, a new work permit scheme won't stop their freedom of movement. The rise of the robots could be next year's big story. Ever since the Luddites smashed their first loom, mechanisation has been putting people out of work. But the process is speeding up, accelerating all the time and the next wave could be crashing down, near you, soon.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going mainstream, captivating TV viewers, moviegoers and bookworms alike. One example of AI in pop culture is HBO's "Westworld." In the show, a futuristic amusement park allows visitors to live out their fantasies through AI-enhanced technology that personalizes each experience. For retail marketers, this idea should sound familiar – not because of the robot cowboys, but because the best retailers are taking a similar approach to customer engagement. Imagine a world where every interaction is tailored specifically to each unique customer, such as receiving a list of product recommendations through a simple retina scan. That's not as far off as it may seem.