Inventions in AI, cloud and cyber security saw IBM best the likes of Samsung and Google to take the top patent spot in 2016. Pushes in AI, cognitive computing, cloud and cyber security saw IBM notch up 8,088 US patents, which works out to 22 patents per day in 2016. Setting a US patent record, IBM researchers, engineers, and designers generated more than 1,100 inventions in the cognitive computing space alone, with patents granted for inventions that help machines learn, reason, and efficiently process diverse data types while interacting with people in natural and familiar ways. Patent #9,384,661 saw IBM inventors develop a method of planning a trip route based on the state of travellers that affects driving risk the most: their state-of-mind. Had a long day or easily overwhelmed?

Although artificial intelligence (as a set of technologies, not in the sense of mimicking human intelligence) is here since a long time in many forms and ways, it's a term that quite some people, certainly IT vendors, don't like to use that much anymore – but artificial intelligence is real, for your business too. Instead of talking about artificial intelligence (AI) many describe the current wave of AI innovation and acceleration with – admittedly somewhat differently positioned – terms and concepts such as cognitive computing or focus on several real-life applications of artificial intelligence that often start with words such as "smart", "intelligent", "predictive" and, indeed, "cognitive", depending on the exact application – and vendor. Despite the term issues, artificial intelligence is essential for and in, among others, information management, medicine/healthcare, data analysis, digital transformation, security (cybersecurity and others), various consumer applications, scientific advances, FinTech, predictive systems and so much more. There are many reasons why several vendors doubt using the term artificial intelligence for AI solutions/innovations and often package them in another term (trust us, we've been there). Artificial intelligence (AI) is a term that has somewhat of a negative connotation in general perception but also in the perception of technology leaders and firms. One major issue is that artificial intelligence – which is really a broad concept/reality, covering many technologies and realities – has become like a thing we talk about and also seem to need to have an opinion/feeling about, with thanks to, among others, popular culture.

Dr. John Kelly is focused on the company's investments in several of the fastest-growing and most strategic parts of the information technology market, including IBM Watson. The Watson team is charged with accelerating a new class of cognitive software, services, and apps that fuel an ecosystem of enterprises, academic institutions, and entrepreneurs. Previously, he spent seven years as Director of IBM Research, which expanded its global footprint under his leadership by adding four new labs. He recently published the book Smart Machines: IBM's Watson and the Era of Cognitive Computing with writer Steve Hamm on Columbia University Press. Dr. Kelly holds a Ph.D. from RPI, and he has received three honorary doctorate degrees.

Cognitive computing is the ability to simulate human thought process in a computerized model. Thanks to cloud computing and Big Data, cognitive computing has become affordable and accessible to businesses. The availability of abundant compute and storage resources combined with the evolution of analytics is accelerating the adoption of cognitive computing. Cognitive computing systems depend on various aspects of artificial intelligence (AI) such as machine learning, reasoning, natural language processing, speech and vision, human-computer interaction, dialog and narrative generation, and more. The machine learning algorithms learn and acquire knowledge from the massive amount of data fed into to them.

During the busy holiday travel season, as both systems and staff are stretched to their limits, many travel industry executives contemplate the power that cognitive computing has to transform their industry. For the most part, however, they are adopting cognitive solutions in the form of chat-bots and robots, neither of which have matured enough to advance crucial strategies in the industry or demonstrate the technology's full capabilities. The IBM Institute for Business Value and the Economist Intelligence Unit interviewed 200 travel and 103 transportation executives for a new study, "Beyond Bots and Robots: Exploring the Unrealized Potential of Cognitive Computing in the Travel Industry." The study found that travel companies can create cognitive programs that improve the travel experience, streamline travel operations -- or do both. For now, most of the industry is in a wait-and-see mode, with just a few players conducting fairly, small-scale, low-risk cognitive projects.

Watch out Tesla and Google: the race for whom will build the car of the future is still far from over. German automakers are working hard to stay ahead of the pack and add new capabilities to their reliable, if sometimes unexciting, vehicles. Back in September BMW, Audi and Mercedes announced the launch of a project aimed at helping vehicles communicate with each other and help the driver gain a better understanding of traffic conditions. The BMW i8 is presented on the first day of the press days of Paris motor Show, on September 29, 2016. Today, BMW unveils yet another agreement, a partnership with American giant IBM.

Requirements that banks and financial institutions comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements is a global challenge which blockchain technologies hold significant potential to help address. However, NYSE-listed IBM may change this, given that earlier in November it announced an an announcement during the Singapore FinTech Festival about its blockchain project with Singapore fintech startup KYCK!. KYCK! is a startup, co-founded by three Singaporeans to provide users with information pertaining to the Southeast Asian exchanges and access to brokerage demo accounts with easy on-boarding opportunities. As former sales traders, the co-founders personally experienced the inefficiencies of the customer on-boarding process due to stringent financial compliance requirements. This gave them the idea of starting a business that focuses on improving the client on-boarding process and enhancing the overall customer experience by deploying secured and appropriate technology capabilities.

Recently popularized by IBM's highly intelligent Watson supercomputer, which competed on the hit game show Jeopardy, cognitive computing refers to machines that are capable of learning concepts and patterns through advanced language processing algorithms. A system that involves incredibly advanced artificial intelligence, cognitive computing is one facet of computer science that isn't for the faint of heart. Although much of the hype is centered on big business and big data processing, there are a number of consumer applications. Whereas business leaders might use the technology to increase their bottom line, streamline daily operations and achieve greater profitability, consumers can take advantage of computing to ease some of the burdens of everyday life. In fact, many consumers are using some form of it without realizing it.

The acquisition will bring Zementis' predictive analytics to Software AG's real-time streaming analytics platform. Software AG has acquired California-based Zementis for an undisclosed sum in a move designed to bolster its internet of things capability. Zementis offers software for'deep learning' which plays a crucial role in the development of machine learning, data science and fundamental technology that drives artificial intelligence (AI) development. According to Software AG, the advances in machine learning and AI are being applied in the next generation Internet of Things (IoT) such as self-driving cars, personal digital assistants, medical diagnosis, predictive maintenance and robotics. Software AG has already employed Adaptive Decision and Predictive Analytics (ADAPA) from Zementis into its Digital Business Platform to offer its clients with comprehensive insights for real time business analytics.

Provide a forum for information sharing and collaboration between federal, state, and local government agencies, academia, and industry participants seeking to evolve government use of cognitive computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and related technologies. Advise or recommend approaches to develop technical and process frameworks and capability maturity model assessments for cognitive computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in the public sector. Provide a forum for information sharing and collaboration between federal, state, and local government agencies, academia, and industry participants seeking to evolve government use of cognitive computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and related technologies. Advise or recommend approaches to develop technical and process frameworks and capability maturity model assessments for cognitive computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in the public sector.