The most buzzed-about disruptive technologies that are changing business landscapes today are Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Almost all of us have heard or read about them but do we actually know what the fuss is all about? The enterprises are trying to harness the explosion of digital data and computational power with advanced algorithms to enable collaborative and natural interactions between people and machines. However, there's still a lot of confusion within the public and the media regarding what is ML and AI. People prefer to write AL and ML technologies -- and not ML and AI -- and the argument goes that the former syncs well with the human mind.

It's pretty obvious that just about everyone uses a smartphone to help assist with their day to day activities. Smartphones have evolved from being just a communication tool to a highly effective business tool over the years. The importance of Mobile Apps in Business has grown significantly in the past few years. More specifically, the younger generation has more capability to interact with e-business. Mobile apps have made it easier for users to get any business's information with the touch of a finger and stay connected to their favorite brands.

Artificial intelligence was first thought of in the 1950s, but it was only since the 90s that any real progress was made. Today, AI has filtered through the market chain and is now available as a consumer product in the form of virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa. Despite the great interest in the field, AI hasn't grown as fast as other technologies over the decades.

The most buzzed-about disruptive technologies that are changing business landscapes today are Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Almost all of us have heard or read about them but do we actually know what the fuss is all about? The enterprises are trying to harness the explosion of digital data and computational power with advanced algorithms to enable collaborative and natural interactions between people and machines. However, there's still a lot of confusion within the public and the media regarding what is ML and AI. People prefer to write AL and ML technologies -- and not ML and AI -- and the argument goes that the former syncs well with the human mind.

Last week, Anki, creator of adorable robots that are part toy, part virtual assistant and part pet, went out of business. "It is with a heavy heart to inform you that Anki has ceased product development and we are no longer manufacturing robots," the company said in a statement, which promised to help owners keep enjoying their little mechanical pals for as long as possible. Why did Anki – a company that had attracted a huge amount of funding and interest in its earlier days – find itself so strapped for cash that it had to pull the plug? Vector's expressions were designed by a professional character artist (Image credit: Anki) Robot vacuum cleaners are one thing – we might feel a little affection towards them, but they're very utilitarian. When it comes to robots for fun and companionship, we're much more hesitant.

Last week, Anki, creator of adorable robots that are part toy, part virtual assistant and part pet, went out of business. "It is with a heavy heart to inform you that Anki has ceased product development and we are no longer manufacturing robots," the company said in a statement, which promised to help owners keep enjoying their little mechanical pals for as long as possible. Why did Anki – a company that had attracted a huge amount of funding and interest in its earlier days – find itself so strapped for cash that it had to pull the plug? Vector's expressions were designed by a professional character artist (Image credit: Anki) Robot vacuum cleaners are one thing – we might feel a little affection towards them, but they're very utilitarian. When it comes to robots for fun and companionship, we're much more hesitant.

After months of beta testing, Sonos is nearly ready to roll out Google Assistant to its Sonos One and Sonos Beam smart speakers. In today's quarterly earnings letter to shareholders, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence confirmed that the company is planning to launch Assistant next week. The functionality will launch in the US initially, "with more markets to come over the next few months," said Spence. "This feature will truly elevate the customer experience and marks the first time that consumers will be able to buy a single smart speaker and get to choose which voice assistant they want to use. We think giving consumers choice is always the right decision, and we anticipate this philosophy will be adopted in the industry over time," he said.

Amazon frequently receives credit for successfully employing machine learning to engage consumers and drive sales with its well-known recommendation engine, which generates 35% of the company's revenue, according to McKinsey . However, competitor Walmart has a surprising amount of machine learning activity going on behind the scenes. For instance, Walmart created a facial recognition system that allowed the company to pinpoint customers who were unhappy about waiting in line. The system alerted sales associates that new lanes needed to be opened, which increased customer satisfaction and helped the retailer to manage employee workflow more efficiently. While hotels are, in some ways, worlds away from retailers in terms of the scope of operations and product, the hospitality industry can learn from the experience of retailers when it comes to machine learning, positive customer service, and merchandising.

Last week it was reported by Bloomberg that our Alexa fears are true, that someone might be listening! Amazon came under scrutiny for having thousands of people around the world listening to Alexa commands to help improve the Alexa digital assistant powering its line of Echo speakers. According to Bloomberg the team listen to voice recordings captured in Echo owners' homes and offices. The recordings are transcribed, annotated and then fed back into the software to eliminate gaps in Alexa's understanding of human speech and help it better respond to commands. It is widely referenced that ComScore predicts that by 2020, voice will make up 50% of all searches, although criticisers of the trend cite the trust between the consumer and voice tech as a main barrier to growth.

As many as one billion people--15 per cent of the world's population--have some form of disability, with around three per cent suffering from severe disabilities, according to World Bank. For most of these people, accessing modern technology and all it has to offer presents a host of difficulties. Even something as simple as using a cell phone can be impossible. Global Accessibility Awareness Day (May 16) aims to combat that. Launched in 2015, the day is designed to get everyone thinking and talking about improving digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities.