When investors think of artificial intelligence stocks, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) isn't usually the first name that comes to mind. Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) as the leader in at-home AI, due to the success of the company's Echo device, while "Watson" from International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) is arguably the top turn-key artificial intelligence solution for enterprise-level entities. Those investors who believe AI is the future, however, may want to put MSFT stock back on their radar as a way to play the movement. The software giant's recent acquisition of Maluuba speaks volumes about its artificial intelligence ambitions and what it actually wants to "do" with it. Maluuba isn't a household name, but within artificial intelligence circles (and these are VP of AI Research Harry Shum's words), "Maluuba's vision is to advance toward a more general artificial intelligence by creating literate machines that can think, reason and communicate like humans – a vision exactly in line with ours."

In a year of uncertainty and unpredictability, change strangely remained our only constant in 2016. Against a backdrop of unexpected political events – the outcome of the Brexit referendum, the election of Donald Trump and the Italy constitutional reform vote, for example – and an unsettled global economy, technological innovation has been developing at a dizzying pace. Nowhere has this been more notable than in the retail sector. Customer demand for convenience is driving change. Our Unfaithful Consumer research found that 55 percent of consumers see it as the most important factor when it comes to deciding where, and how, to shop. With the help of truly disruptive new technology, the focus in 2016 was on making the entire shopping experience more convenient for the consumer.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be understood as a science, engineering and deployment of machines, which perform tasks with intelligence as similar to humans. Since its inception 60 years ago, AI has observed significant growth in recent years. Initially, AI was considered as topic for academicians, though in recent years with development of various technologies, AI has turned into reality and is influencing many lives and businesses. Additionally, evolution of various other supplementary technologies such as cloud computing, machine learning and cognitive computing are collectively paving the growth of the market for AI. Many IT giants and start-ups are investing heavily in development of AI software solutions and hardware products. Some the prominent players in AI market in the recent times are Intel Corporation (U.S.), Google Inc. (U.S.), Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), Amazon.com,

Amazon has just launched a retail experience like no other. Customers are now, thanks to AI technology, able to walk in, grab what they want and walk out. And, while still in the beta phase of testing, Amazon Go is set to shake things up on a number of levels including business. Tim Dunlop of The Guardian says it's confirmation that we're moving from a globalized world of manufacturing giants to a networked one of technology giants. So just what does Amazon's Go mean for business?

Amazon's Alexa platform continues to be the go-to voice assistant not just for the home, but also vehicles. But it looks like the online-retailer's helper in a cylinder was just given its greatest feature ever: The wake word "computer." That's right, you can now pretend you're in the Star Trek universe. The new wake word joins, "Amazon," "Alexa" and "Echo" as things you can yell at the Alexa platform in order to get it to listen to you. Just don't expect the device to help you locate dilithium crystals to get your starship to travel faster than light.

Many retailers are scared of machine learning. This doesn't come from an unreasonable place. Marketers are afraid to trust technology to assist in making crucial marketing decisions as well. But while machine learning is certainly a game-changer, it doesn't fundamentally alter how businesses communicate with customers. It only better informs marketing decisions to empower smarter and more effective efforts.

This book is not an introductory text. Anyone interested in a particular topic should consult the preface of the text to find out what it is about. The negative reviewers were not fair to the authors on that score. Had they read the preface they would have found out (1) how the authors define data mining, (2) that they see it as a subject with an important mix of statistical methodology and computer science and (3) that it is intended as an advanced undergraduate or first year graduate text on the topic. They also provide a very well organized structure for the text that is well described in the preface.

From creating personalized shopping experiences to offering virtual buying assistants -- AI is improving the online shopping experience for consumers and retailers. Shoppers will be able to easily find the best price for an item and communicate with chatbots for quick customer service. For retailers, they'll be able to better analyze consumer data to predict future buying patterns, create autonomous replenishing systems and also save money and time on customer service by utilizing chatbots. Related: Has Artificial Intelligence Arrived At The Sales Function Yet? A number of companies already employ AI in their ecommerce processes today.

In 1994, Amazon set out to change the world. Its initial public offering three years later valued the company at just $461 million. Is it possible, though, that the company is just getting started? He believes the Seattle retailer is on the verge of explosive growth as it transforms its fast-growing Prime subscription service into the perfect, frictionless omni-channel retail experience. As investors realize the potential scale, Galloway posits Amazon shareholders will be rewarded with the first $1 trillion market valuation.

Wondering when your order from GameStop will be delivered? Simply open Facebook Messenger and ask. Looking for tips on how to pair that new jacket you're eagerly awaiting with jewellery? This is the new retail reality thanks to the emergence of chatbots. Consumers appreciate the level of personalization and convenience that chatbots deliver effortlessly -- and through the channels where they already spend time.