One of the oldest names in kitchen and bath fixtures is getting serious about the smart home. Kohler announced Friday that it will show seven new smart home products at CES 2018, including mirrors, faucets, toilets, and bath products in its Kohler Konnect line. The idea with Kohler Konnect is to automate and control all manner of common tasks such as filling or draining a bath or adjusting a mirror's lighting. Devices in the product family can recognize voice commands as well as gestures, and can be integrated with three of the major digital assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri via Apple HomeKit. Kohler mentioned only one specific Alexa integration in its announcement.

The New Year brings new opportunities for love and dating app users are logging in more often in January. Tony Spitz has the details. A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. The New Year brings new opportunities for love and dating app users are logging in more often in January. Tony Spitz has the details.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has undergone numerous Hype Cycles over the last five decades but, if the analysts are to be believed, we now find ourselves once again at the'Peak of Inflated Expectations' – with the impending'Trough of Disillusionment' ahead. The media has raised consumer expectations by proliferating visions of intelligent assistants and self-driving cars, but while these are some way off becoming reality, AI is still a critical technology, one which could contribute $15.7tr to the global economy by 2030. This potential means that we're seeing increased development of machine learning algorithms, the benefits of which are being felt across industries – from manufacturing to financial services. The opportunity presented by AI was also recognised in the recent Budget, which commits £20 million to supporting businesses working in AI and £9 million to the establishment of an AI advisory body. Organisations in the HCM space are taking great strides towards AI, particularly in the shared service function using smart software, but they also need to be vigilant, and ensure they're walking the walk before they talk the talk.

The Nvidia Shield TV streaming box just keeps getting cooler. In addition to doubling as a Plex server, an over-the-air DVR, and a hands-free Google Assistant, the Shield can also now serve as a smart home hub with the addition of a Samsung SmartThings Link. This $40 dongle plugs into one of the Shield's two USB ports, where it can control smart light bulbs, switches, plugs, and any other appliances and devices that work with the full-sized SmartThings hub (here's a list). Yet there is one crucial difference: A dedicated hub can reside anywhere in the house, but the SmartThings Link is inherently bound to wherever your TV lives. If that happens to be in the corner of your house, you might run into some range issues. The SmartThings Link also doesn't include a couple of minor offline and battery-backup features that the full-sized Hub offers.

Following the introduction of its commercial robots in 2017, LG Electronics continues to push the envelope with the unveiling of three new work robots at CES 2018. If CES is a guide, you'll soon be surrounded by a multitude of brainy things--not only smart speakers, electronics gear, and appliances, but eventually household robots, an intelligent car, and maybe even the very city you live in. All things smart is an underlying theme leading into the annual tech shindig that commences this weekend in Las Vegas, giving the public an early look at devices they may buy later this year or next. Thought you just successfully navigated the decision about whether to purchase an Amazon Dot vs. a Google Home Mini? Think you've got smart lighting figured out?

There's no doubt that 2017 was an exciting year for Intelligent Virtual Assistants (IVAs) and artificial intelligence. We conducted research showing that consumers' comfort with automated technology is increasing, and most are willing to try out new methods for resolving customer service issues. We also saw how the introduction and growth of new customer care channels such as social media have led to new challenges for enterprises looking to provide a consistent, omnichannel experience for their customers. And, finally, the integration of technology such as voice biometrics has increased the overall security of IVAs and expanded what they can be used to accomplish. Now that we're into a new year, we want to look ahead to what 2018 has in store for IVAs.

Jefferson Graham previews the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where new smart home products using technology from Google, Amazon and Apple will be unveiled. The annual consumer electronics show has been dominated by Asian tech giants Samsung, LG and Sony in recent years, along with a trade show floor featuring thousands of startups hoping lightning strikes with some Las Vegas-style luck. What you historically don't see at CES are the U.S.-based tech giants Apple, Amazon or Google, which tend to show off their new products at their own heavily produced media events later in the year. Google looks to make a big splash at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, touting the Google Assistant. But CES 2018, which kicks off with events Sunday, will have a big presence from Google as it continues its push to take on Amazon's Echo connected speaker.

Apple TV has grown up a lot since its iTV days. It's not just for iTunes rentals anymore--Apple TV handles just about anything we watch, from House of Cards to Game of Thrones and Major League Baseball games, and now that includes 4K content. Since Apple opened up its tiny streaming box to developers, it's gone from fun to indispensable. With an extensive library of apps, Siri support, and a drop-dead simple interface, Apple TV is one of the underrated players in Apple's lineup. Just like all those years ago, it's still the device that "completes the story" of Apple's entertainment ecosystem, and even without some of the bells and whistles of its competitors, Apple TV is still one of the best streaming boxes you can buy--from SD to HD to brilliant 4K.

The judge said 16 of Taylor's two dozen victims from New York to Atlanta lost from several hundred dollars to more than $50,000 after encountering his "quest for money, respect, admiration and control." She said some victims, who lost a total of more than $290,000, were left financially ruined while others had credit ratings ruined or were left suffering from fear, depression, anxiety and concern for their personal safety.

Artificial intelligence (AI) frequently made tech headlines in 2017, often for innovative new products and growth in the workplace. Multiple reports examined the technology's future and implications. An October Gartner report predicted that AI will create 2.3 million jobs by 2020. And China is now racing to AI world dominance, which may mean a global power shift. Experts predicted AI's growth and potential moral issues for business users and consumers.