Gartner has a tool known as the "hype cycle." It shows where a technology stands on a curve that represents the lifecycle of that technology -- including the peak of its "hype," or inflated expectations, followed by the low point of missed expectations, or the "trough of disillusionment." The lifecycle finally ends as the technology achieves what they refer to as the "plateau of productivity." AI is currently at the top of this hype cycle, discussed in every tech news cycle and mentioned with predictions of dire consequences from some of the greatest minds today. So, the question I'm sometimes asked is, "Why now?" Aren't we headed toward that "trough of disillusionment" where we realize that Siri won't cook dinner and Alexa won't take out the trash next week like we'd hoped?

A handheld device that performs tasks upon voice command used to be a figment of science fiction. Today, however, voice-search enabled digital assistants have entered the consumer market one by one. Each tech brand, in turn, continues to develop more voice-activated personal devices like Google Home, Amazon Echo, as well as a variety of tablets and smartphones. According to Google, more than 50% of search queries around the world are done using mobile devices. Of that statistic, 20% are voice searches.

Artificial intelligence (AI), once a topic only explored in science fiction movies, TV shows, and books, is something that has quickly become a part of the world of today. In 1969, management consulting firm McKinsey & Company released an article claiming that computers were not smart enough to make any decisions, but rather the human's intelligence behind the devices was powering them. With modern computers replacing skilled human labor in such fields as medicine, agriculture, and education, it is fascinating to see how incorrect this claim turned out to be. Some may even argue that artificial intelligence is the way of the future. With buzzwords like "artificial intelligence," "machine learning," and "bots" being tossed around, sometimes incorrectly interchangeably, it can be confusing to keep up with what is going on in this booming industry.

Say artificial intelligence (AI) and your first thought may be of futuristic robots, but the future may actually be closer than you think. Whether it's voice activated home assistants or internet connected cars – and machine learning is getting better, and more accessible every day. For the past decade companies and marketers have been moving towards marketing automation and nowhere is that potential greater than with AI technology. Powerful new possibilities are emerging, allowing marketers to deliver more personal and relevant messaging at a greater scale, made possible by AI. Seven out of 10 marketing decision-makers are already implementing AI-powered technologies, or at least have concrete plans to do so (KRC Research).

Amazon's Echo devices are powered by its Alexa artificial intelligence. LOS ANGELES -- Hey, Alexa, which of the seven Echo speakers should I buy, and what's the difference between them? And OK Google, the new Home Mini is so affordable at $29 for the holidays. How does it stack up to the entry level Echo, Amazon's Dot? If you're shopping for a smart speaker, here's how to decide which model and brand fits your needs and some advice on what to do once you own one.

Apple on Monday confirmed it has bought Shazam, the music app that can identify a song by hearing just a snippet of it. The acquisition boosts Apple's position in the music world and advances its artificial intelligence efforts. Shazam, launched in 1999, claims that at least 1 billion people have downloaded its app and used it to identify songs at least 30 billion times. Its service was one of the first AI products to be used by a broad audience. As Apple faces other tech giants in this increasingly competitive arena, analysts say Shazam could add significant value not only with its own service but also by making Apple's AI products -- namely Siri -- smarter about music.

Smart homes can be tricky to manage, especially if you've invested in a bunch of different brands. If you have a Google Home, good news: You can now use the Google Assistant to clean up and "sync" any misbehaving devices. Let's say you have some Philips Hue lights in your living room -- you set them up and everything works great. A few months later, you buy some extra bulbs for the kitchen, but your Home doesn't seem to recognise them. You could, of course, start poking around the appropriate apps, but now there's a voice command that will do it for you: Sync My Lights.

Every BBC radio station and podcast is now accessible through Amazon's Alexa assistant. So if you have an Echo or Echo dot in your home (or any Alexa-enabled speaker, for that matter), you can now launch Radio 1, 6 Music, or an episode of Desert Island Discs with your voice. The new Alexa "skill" offers granular control too, including "play," "pause" and "resume." You can also skip back to the "previous" episode of a podcast at any time. It's not the first time the BBC has backed Alexa, however.

Google launched its high-quality Home Max speaker with Google Assistant in October, and the last we heard (via a Best Buy leak), it was set to arrive on December 11th. That date was spot on, it turns out, as the Home Max has indeed gone on sale at both Best Buy and Verizon. It's also live on Google's own online store. The Home Max speaker sports a pair of 4.5-inch high-excursion woofers and custom tweeters, putting it in the same class as serious audio products like the Sonos Play:5. We had a brief hands-on with it during the launch, under controlled conditions, and found it to be "extremely loud, well balanced and crystal clear, with well-defined bass."

One of the greatest perks of connected speakers is waking up to whatever music you like, not just a buzzer or the radio. However, that hasn't been an option for Alexa-equipped devices like the Echo -- until today, that is. Amazon has added a feature to Alexa that lets you wake up to the music of your choice from one of several streaming services, including its own options and Spotify. To begin with, your criteria can be as broad or narrow as you like. You can name a song, playlist or genre, or ask to play any kind of music if you're not picky.