According to research conducted by Harvard Business School, digital leaders -- enterprises that embraced Digital Transformation -- saw their three-year average gross margins at 55%, compared to only 37% for digital laggards -- the companies that were not prepared to transform their businesses digitally. And when it came to earnings, digital leaders posted an average net income of 11% while digital laggards only had 7% net income. In today's highly competitive business environment, Digital Transformation is no longer optional -- it is an imperative, a necessity in order for enterprises to remain competitive or even just to stay afloat. To keep up with Digital Transformation, enterprises must understand where it is going. In this post, we explore five important trends that will help enterprises discern where the digital revolution is heading this 2018.

Artificial intelligence is presented as the opposite of natural intelligence, which is demonstrated by animals. By that definition, AI would appear to be free from the social neuroses and discriminations that can plague humans. But machine learning originates from human makers, meaning those shortcomings can be passed along via algorithms and data input. AI is increasingly customer-facing: It includes asking Siri details about an upcoming trip or turning on Netflix and seeing recommendations based on viewing habits. AI touches numerous points along the customer journey, meaning its limitations can have organization-wide consequences.

Recommender systems relying on latent factor models often appear as black boxes to their users. Semantic descriptions for the factors might help to mitigate this problem. Achieving this automatically is, however, a non-straightforward task due to the models' statistical nature. We present an output-agreement game that represents factors by means of sample items and motivates players to create such descriptions. A user study shows that the collected output actually reflects real-world characteristics of the factors.

Intel already has a wide variety of eight-generation laptop processors targeting performance and gaming. But with its latest round of chips -- a new batch of U-series CPUs for mainstream laptops, and the debut of Y-series processors for very thin machines -- the company is focused on improving the ultraportable laptop experience. For one, they all feature integrated gigabit Wi-Fi, which will vastly improve your networking performance on modern AC routers. There's also a quad-core audio DSP, which will make it easier for laptops to recognize voice commands for multiple virtual assistants. Even better, it lets you shout commands while your computer is asleep.

Artificial Intelligence ("AI") is a megatrend that all technology companies are paying attention to. Gartner estimates the value businesses derive from AI will reach $1.2 trillion this year (Source: Gartner Says Global Artificial Intelligence Business Value to Reach $1.2 Trillion in 2018). When most investors think about ways to invest along this AI theme, common ideas are to invest in AI chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA), the intelligence search engine/everyday research assistant Google (GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG), or the everything store that is gathering data on everyone's shopping behavior Amazon (AMZN). Microsoft (MSFT) doesn't often come up in this conversion, but it probably should. Since taking over as CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella has made AI a major focus.

If you haven't added a talking speaker to your home yet and you've thought about buying an Amazon Echo but are stumped with the choices, we're here to help. There are seven varieties of Echo speakers, which let you use the Alexa personal assistant to play music, check on the weather, find local restaurants and answer trivia questions. The easiest way to get in is with a Dot. This is the smallest and cheapest, currently selling for $39.99. The speaker quality is tinny and not as good as the original Echo, which currently sells for $89.99.

You'd think the Nest x Yale Lock would support Google Assistant from the outset given its pedigree, but not so -- you've had to use the app. As of August 29th, you can use Google Assistant to control the Nest x Yale Lock with your voice. You can lock the door or check its status whether or not you're at home, including as part of Assistant's Routines. If you're ready to pack it in for the night, you can lock the door as you're shutting off the lights. The feature works on both smartphones as well as Assistant-equipped smart speakers like the Google Home series.

Voice assistants don't seem to be going anywhere. Case in point: Bose's new line of soundbars and speakers with Alexa and other smarts built in. Out of the box, the Home Speaker 500, Soundbar 500 and Soundbar 700 will react when you start shouting commands at Amazon's digital assistant this October. Bose promises that other voice assistants will follow at some ambiguous point, and early next year there will be an update that adds AirPlay 2 streaming. The company thinks what will set its products apart from the competition its mic system carried over from its smart headphones, which launched with Google Assistant before adding Alexa earlier this month.

Rotten Tomatoes, the internet's most influential review aggregator, has updated its critics policy, broadening the scope of whose views can be counted toward its make-or-break Tomatometer score. The Tomatometer score is the percentage of the reviews that have been positive, supposedly reflecting the "collective opinion" of critics, but critics have so far been limited to those who write for established publications, a group that, according to numerous studies, is heavily slanted toward critics who are white and male. Reviews from established publications will still be included automatically, regardless of who wrote them, but the new rules allow for the inclusion of individual critics, regardless of where they publish. The difference between reviews from respected publications and respected critics will be more or less tomato, tomahto. Individual critics will need to apply to be "Tomatometer-approved" and will have to meet set criteria: namely that they have written consistently for at least two years about film or TV at a non-self-published site.

Add some smarts to your home lighting system today with Amazon deals on a few essential lighting items. First is a two-pack of Wemo dimmer switches; usually $80 apiece, you can get the pair for $100. The Wemo dimmer switches give you control over your lights from anywhere, hub-free. Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, you'll be able to use your voice to adjust lighting conditions. You can also create schedules, dim lights, and set Night Mode to keep lights low as it gets dark.