Smart & Safe Tech: Amazon Echo has enabled voice control of smart security devices to keep your home safe. In the first week of 2018 we learned that "most of the computers in the world" have dangerous security flaws that make them vulnerable to hackers, criminals, authoritarian regimes, our own security services –you name it. For months the tech giants have been aware of fundamental design problems in the tiny microprocessors that power everything from smartphones to laptops to commercial servers. It means that pretty much anything you do online is at risk. We've been told there are actually two different problems with these processors.

Newer technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics and automation, 3D printing, mixed reality that combines virtual reality and augmented reality, and blockchain are not only disrupting and transforming business models and the lives of individuals, but also ushering in the so-called gig economy which envisages an environment in which temporary positions are common and organizations engage independent workers on short-term contracts. Lounge takes a look at how these technologies will affect us in the years to come. It was only in December that the US' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) announced that a solar system with as many planets as our own had been discovered with the help of its Kepler space telescope and AI. Closer home, Microsoft and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics are using an AI-based sowing app that is expected to help about 4,000 farmers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka during the kharif season. HDFC Bank's AI chatbot Eva, built by Senseforth AI Research, now works with the Google Assistant in Indian English.

With the majority of the holiday shopping season now behind us, we can take a high-level look to see how various companies performed during the season. Specifically, when it comes to digital assistants, app installs are generally a good benchmark of performance. Looking at both the iOS app store and Google Play, Amazon appears to have had a home run of a holiday season with its Alexa app topping charts for both platforms. Google has a Google Home app that is at the number 6 position for top free apps for iOS and number 2 position on Android, indicating that its hardware also sold well this year. There are also two other players, Microsoft and Apple and the story is quite clear here.

When people talk about creating an artificial intelligence, the conversation is often focused on human or superhuman AI -- systems that would equal or surpass us in intelligence. But what if we create an artificial intelligence that's deserving of respect, but don't recognize it as such? That's a question I've had bouncing around in my head for the past several months. Over the course of human history, we've proven very poor as a species at successfully evaluating the intelligence of other beings, whether they're human or non-human. Consider crows, who learn from their dead, recognize individuals, use tools, and even bring gifts to those they like -- are they … intelligent? Furthermore, if we were to create an AI that produced those characteristics, does it require the same sort of considerations that a crow does, with regards to its treatment at the hands of humanity?

The battle now raging between the big technology companies for consumer cash is focused on the voice-controlled smart speaker. Having already conquered the pocket with the ubiquitous smartphone, big tech has been struggling to come up with the next must-have gadget that will open up a potentially lucrative new market – the home. A pilot light was lit when Amazon's Echo launched in 2014 and became a sleeper hit. Now the voice controlled smart speaker is rapidly becoming the next big thing, capable of answering questions, setting timers, playing music, controlling other devices about the home, or even potentially selling products. "The last 12 months have been explosive for smart speakers, which have surged into the mass market for two reasons.

The battle now raging between the big technology companies for consumer cash is focused on the voice-controlled smart speaker. Having already conquered the pocket with the ubiquitous smartphone, big tech has been struggling to come up with the next must-have gadget that will open up a potentially lucrative new market – the home. A pilot light was lit when Amazon's Echo launched in 2014 and became a sleeper hit. Now the voice controlled smart speaker is rapidly becoming the next big thing, capable of answering questions, setting timers, playing music, controlling other devices about the home, or even potentially selling products. "The last 12 months have been explosive for smart speakers, which have surged into the mass market for two reasons. Firstly, smart speakers have become the central control hubs of the smart home ecosystem," said Ben Stanton, an analyst for Canalys.

USA TODAY's Ed Baig looks at the top Tech trends to watch for in 2018. Visitors walk past a 5G logo during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, on March 1, 2017. Blistering fast wireless networks, digital assistants that are, well, everywhere, and a coming out bash for augmented reality. These and other technologies mentioned here, some of which are already familiar but really just getting started, are worth keeping an eye on in 2018. You can bet we'll also learn about innovations in the months to come that are for now, completely under the radar.

Artificial intelligence sounds like some futuristic science fiction technology. But AI is already here. Smaller businesses should be thinking about it too. According to tech reporter Mary Catherine O'Connor, "If your company is not embracing artificial intelligence, it is going to suffer." And in the world of IT, nobody wants to be left behind.

As consumers flit between smartphones, web pages, call centres and stores, retailers struggle to keep track of them. Eight out 10 retailers say a single view of the customer is an issue for their current or future agenda, and only 8% have successfully achieved it, a study from SAP and PwC has found. Customer relationship management is a vital focus for many organisations. In this buyer's guide, Computer Weekly looks at co-ordinating data for effective CRM, how to reduce the risk of Salesforce, and what to choose in CRM software. You forgot to provide an Email Address.

Alexa could soon be coming to a lot more devices, from smart watches to Bluetooth headphones. Amazon announced its new Alexa Mobile Accessory Kit today, in a move to expand the voice assistant to'on-the-go' devices. While Alexa has appeared on wearables before, the new kit aims to make the process much simpler, so Bluetooth devices built with it can connect right to Alexa through the smartphone app. Alexa could soon be coming to a lot more devices, from smart watches to Bluetooth headphones. Amazon announced its new Alexa Mobile Accessory Kit today, in a move to expand the voice assistant to'on-the-go' devices.