Voice is a fast-growing channel, which aligns with consumer expectations for more instant task delivery and more integrated connectivity with devices, apps and channels. The opportunity for marketers is exciting and the scope for brand engagement with customers is huge. Crucially, AI assistants have the potential become new sources of data capture and rich hubs for behavior-based customer insights.

It's barely been five months since Google Home arrived to take over homes and there are already whispers of version 2.0. According to a report from The Information, Google's working on an upgraded version of Home that'll also double as a Wi-Fi router and mesh network. To put it in simpler terms, the next-gen Google Home could be half speaker/Google Assistant (what it currently is) and half Google Wifi. Instead of buying and setting up two devices, you'd only need one. By including Wi-Fi router capabilities, Google would be able to "make its Assistant service faster" the report claims.

If you're Google and you want the next Home speaker to clearly one-up the Amazon Echo, what do you do? A source speaking to the Information claims that an upcoming Home model will include a built-in WiFi router with mesh networking. You wouldn't need to buy a separate router (like, say, Google WiFi) just to connect devices around your household. And even if you already have a router, this would improve Home's performance by giving it a stronger connection in weak coverage areas. The tipster also maintains that the original version of Google WiFi had a microphone and speaker for Home-style interactions, but that Google axed it to avoid confusion.

Becoming a cloud-centric technology company is a given nowadays for companies that consider themselves future-ready. The question is hence, not whether a company is operating in the cloud, but what level of sophistication they have reached in their cloud endeavors. This is because the cloud is being enriched by incorporating other emerging technologies, especially machine learning. There is no doubt that contemporary cloud networks will be more intelligent than ever. And companies must harness the power of the intelligent cloud to realize value.

Add'smart lighting' to your home and never touch a switch again (Photo: Philips Hue) If you make a purchase by clicking one of our links, we may earn a small share of the revenue. Our picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives. The average light fixture can be pretty boring. Sometimes it has buttons, a toggle, or dimming features. Sometimes the wall plate comes in different colors.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1886 fictional "consulting detective," Sherlock Holmes, was a great mind renowned for his highly advanced powers of observation and reasoning. He was often assisted by Dr Watson, who was unfailingly loyal, if noticeably less bright. At the end of each thrilling tale starring the duo, the anxious reader would always be delighted to hear Sherlock announce that he had solved the latest mind-bending riddle, inevitably characterizing the solution to his trusty helper as, "Elementary, my dear Watson!" Sherlock, no doubt, would love today's hottest trend – Artificial Intelligence -- as he would be thrilled by its ability to execute or to make plain that which appears impossible or difficult to achieve. For the past few years, for example, we've grown to love streaming music providers like Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, etc, which get smarter about our musical preferences the more we use/teach them. More recently, fun and friendly assistants from Amazon and Google have become the coolest gadgets to have, as they quickly search the web and serve up answers in response to simple voice commands.

The use of AI assistants in healthcare is making alternative care models that improve patient engagement at home more relevant. However, AI assistants continue to struggle with fundamental issues around speech recognition, user identification, privacy, and data security. Designing a virtual care experience requires precision and a comprehensive understanding of the implications of malpractice for all parties involved, at all stages from software development to the delivery of care. Over time, AI assistants will evolve to become a key component of home-based healthcare, but until then, most will be limited to low-risk tasks that pose no threat to patients. The design, implementation, and management of voice experiences for AI assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant is key for companies interested in using voice as an interface for smart solutions.

Artificial intelligence or AI is encroaching on the sales process at an exciting rate, or alarming, depending on your side of the coin. Using machine learning, predictive analyses, and big data analytics, AI can now automate routine tasks, unearth insights off sales data, and assist sales reps in enhancing overall service. We see it integrated in CRM, salesforce automation, help desk solutions, and other B2B apps. Even as vendors are pushing the envelope for smarter solutions. The benefits of AI to sales efficiency are high, and the stakes, too.

Here's some good news for the day: life expectancy is continuing to increase, and shows no sign of slowing down. More people than ever before are reaching the milestone of 100 years of age. In fact if the Queen is still sending out telegrams to centenarians, she will soon need an industrial size mail house to keep up with demand! Sure, there are pockets around the world – called bluezones – where the prevailing lifestyles have seen concentrations of the world's oldest people. These zones include Sardinia in Italy and Okinawa in Japan, with research suggesting climate, diet and family structures have helped driven this phenomena.

Shepard "Shep" Rose recently opened up about courtship through dating apps. The "Southern Charm" star admitted that he used an online dating app to court a model. On Monday, Shep sat with Page Six for an interview where the bachelor revealed that he courted a Victoria's Secret model using Raya, a popular dating app among celebrities. However, he refused to name the celeb he pursued and explained that they never really dated. "No, I didn't go out with her," said Shep. "She ignored me but liked me initially. You both have to like each other [on the app] and then you can start talking."