Apple's (AAPL) hiring of Google's former head of search technology and artificial intelligence is the latest sign that AI is becoming a major battleground for tech companies. Artificial intelligence and machine learning have become "a top 10 spending priority" for corporate chief information officers, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty said in a note to clients Friday. Apple's recent hiring of AI expert John Giannandrea "reinforces this view," she said. "With the hiring of Mr. Giannandrea, who will report directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook, Apple is telling the world they are aiming to become a more serious player in the AI/machine learning industry," she said. Deployment and evaluations of AI and machine learning systems have steadily increased over the last year, Huberty said.

Many people assume that their iPhone's lock screen prevents any creepy strangers from spying on their notifications and personal information. But a troubling security flaw was identified that shows just how easy it is to get around those privacy configurations. In some versions of Apple's mobile operating system, Siri will still read your hidden notifications aloud even if your phone is locked. A Twitter user recently gave a first-hand account of how simple it is to get access to a stranger's intimate data without them knowing. A recently discovered security flaw shows that Siri will still read your hidden notifications aloud even if your phone is locked.

Amazon has been working on its voice-enabled virtual assistant, Alexa, for years. It's how the company's Fire TV, its Echo smart speakers, and other Amazon devices are able to answer our questions--and know what we want. While we know Alexa is always listening, how does she think? And how much of what she hears does she "remember?" He's been at Amazon since 2004 and has led the Alexa team since 2011. In our interview, we discussed how Alexa understands our commands, what he makes of users' growing concerns over privacy, and why Alexa was laughing so creepily for some users recently.

Now available, Apple's smart speaker has integrated Siri support, so wake it up and ask a question or give a command. You probably know about Siri's funny responses to questions like "What's the meaning of life?" or "Are you alive?" And you may have complained when the assistant stumbles or can't follow your question. Spoiler alert: This column won't show you how to make Siri fault-proof. But it will help you get more out of it, particularly when you're in situations where you couldn't or shouldn't be using your hands.

From digital assistants like Siri to Tesla's self-driving cars, artificial intelligence and deep learning (a type of machine learning) are churning out today's tech breakthroughs. As new innovations are released, more doors open up to leverage them in existing fields, like integrating facial recognition in iPhones or iOS apps. That said, taking the time to understand how these innovations operate is a smart move -- whether you plan to implement them as an app developer or merely use them at work. Learn the foundations of these groundbreaking fields with the Pay What You Want: AI & Deep Learning Bundle, which nets you a host of e-books and training courses for a price that you get to pick. Here's how the deal works: Simply pay what you want, and you'll instantly unlock one of the collection's ten resources.

Microsoft's digital assistants and chatbots are getting a lot chattier. Microsoft today unveiled the ability for bots to have "session-oriented" back and forth conversations with humans, instead of the single question, single answer format seen in most digital assistants today. Microsoft believes it is the first company to release this technology, known as Full-Duplex Voice Sense, which allows digital assistants and chatbots to talk and listen at the same time. Microsoft said the longest conversation so far under the new technology lasted more than four hours, with 1,600 back and forth turns between human and bot. In addition to the longer conversations, Microsoft's new voice technology doesn't require the user to say the wake word constantly and the bots can predict what humans will say next to keep the discussion moving.

The relationship between humans and machines has evolved since the first time man put a wheel on an axle. From the Industrial Revolution to today, technology has improved both business productivity and the lives of the general population. As artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced apps and devices move into every area of our lives, the relationship moves from people interacting with products to products proactively interacting with people. While digital assistants like Amazon Echo, Cortana, Google Home and Siri use AI primarily for voice commands and connectivity, they are starting to learn based on past requests. As more advanced AI apps are added, the amount these assistants can actually assist will expand greatly.

Artificial intelligence barely left the headlines last year. If you believe everything said about AI, you'd probably be kept awake at night, worrying about impending job losses thanks to automation and perhaps even the robot apocalypse. The reality is perhaps a little less Hollywood blockbuster. Ultimately, jobs are going to change, however, instead of sweeping unemployment in all industries, there will be a shift in the way we work and the types of jobs that people will undertake. Instead of focussing on AI, businesses should be looking at augmented intelligence instead.

When it comes to standards wars, Jasco isn't taking any chances. The manufacturer builds in-wall dimmers and plug-in lamp controllers based on both the Z-Wave and ZigBee platforms, marketing them with GE branding under a licensing agreement. Both classes can be controlled with voice commands via Alexa or Google Assistant, but the Z-Wave products require a third-party hub. The ZigBee products require a third-party hub, too, unless you're connecting them to an Amazon Echo Plus (that smart speaker has a ZigBee controller built in). You'll need to look elsewhere if you're interested in Apple HomeKit compatibility.

That's what PCWorld wanted to know when we spoke with Microsoft's recently-minted Cortana czar, Javier Soltero, late last week. The digital assistant who made a splash in Windows 10 with her snappy comebacks and silly knock-knock jokes is still offering to help you with your calendar and search. But Cortana hasn't talked her way into our homes like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant have, making her staying power look uncertain. That's where Soltero comes in. We sat down with Cortana's new chief in the wake of a significant management shakeup that will see senior executive Terry Myerson leave, as well as the creation of a new "Experiences and Devices" team that seemingly downplays Windows.