Companies like Apple, Google, Samsung, and Microsoft have all vied for control over the phones we carry in our pockets, the computers at our desks, and even the watches on our wrists. But over the past year a new arms race has emerged in Silicon Valley: competing to develop the most sophisticated virtual assistant. That's the annual Las Vegas tech confab where gadget makers, auto manufacturers, and app developers gather to flaunt their latest and, they hope, greatest. Although Amazon didn't officially attend the conference, Alexa showed up in car infotainment systems, new smartphones, robots, lamps, and even laundry machines. Ford, Whirlpool, Lenovo, GE, and Dish are a few of the brands announcing plans to add Amazon's voice-activated helper to their hardware.

If you haven't started using artificial intelligence in your business, you're falling behind on the curve. Many business owners today are leveraging AI, whether they are aware of it or not. This is done through everyday business software suites that integrate machine learning and automation to carry out such functions as email communications, voice recognition and response and predictive analysis. The extent to which businesses employ AI solutions needs to be increased if they are to remain competitive within the current economic landscape. One survey involving 230 technology and business executives established that less than 30 percent have leveraged automate tools to carry out repetitive tasks.

Two years ago, I wrote about the concept of anticipatory design, arguing that consumers will come to expect intelligent products and services that eliminate unnecessary decisions from their lives. Now, the artificial intelligence (AI) required to bring intelligent experiences to life is becoming a reality and marketers need to prepare for a new leap forward in the digital revolution: the smart internet. After two decades of change – from the introduction of the web to mobile and social media – the coming smart internet era will require more business adaptation than anything else to date. In this world, companies will have to evolve into "smart brands" to survive. Artificial intelligence has been hyped as the answer to all of humanity's problems ever since AI was first conceived at Dartmouth College in 1956.

It already powers the brains in our phones, homes, and cars, and now it will be making the jump to our TVs and watches. While Nvidia's Android-based Shield TV console will be the first shipping model to bring Google Assistant to our televisions, Google has announced that its digital helper will in fact be coming to all Android TV devices via a software update in the coming months. Along with the previously announced Nvidia box, Assistant will work with all Android TVs in the US running Marshmallow or Nougat, including the Dish's new AirTV, Sharp Aquos, Sony Bravia, and Xiaomi Mi Box. By saying "OK Google," users will be able to summon Google Assistant to play movies, discover new content, control smart devices, and ask the usual questions. In addition to the Android TV integration, Google also promises that Google Assistant will be coming to "other new surfaces" in 2017, including smartwatches running Android Wear 2.0 and Android-powered in-car infotainment systems, like the one Fiat Chrysler Automobiles unveiled this week.

The vehicle is Toyota's Concept-I car, and it claims to represent a friendlier, people-focused approach to future mobility. While the car is only a concept and is not on sale, it gives a glimpse into the firm's vision for the future of automobiles. The vehicle is Toyota's Concept-i car, that represents a friendlier, people-focused appraoch to future mobility The Concept-I was unveiled at the CES technology show in Las Vegas, and was produced by the firm's CALTY design centre in California. The basic philosophy for the design is'kinetic warmth' - the belief that mobility technology should be warm, welcoming and fun. Bob Carter, Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations at Toyota, said: 'At Toyota we recognise that the important question isn't whether future vehicles will be equipped with automated or connected technologies, it is the experience of the people who engage with those vehicles. 'Thanks to Concept-i and the power of artificial intelligence, we think the future is a vehicle that can engage with people in return.'

Amazon doesn't have an official presence at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas but its Alexa voice control software seems to be everywhere. From trash cans you can tell to reorder food to cars you can talk to, the smart assistant seems destined to appear everywhere. Dozens of firms revealed they are adding Alexa capabilities to their gadget, as amazon itself revealed the smart speaker now has over 7,000 'skills'. Amazon also today added a new one - the ability to order takeaway food. LG revealed its new Asmart fridge will use Amazon's Alexa, and is one of dozens of firms that has added the smart tech as the CES show in Las Vegas Prime members can ask Alexa to reorder from Amazon Restaurants by saying a restaurant name or cuisine type, for example, 'Alexa, order sushi from Amazon Restaurants.'

John Melas-Kyriazi is a senior associate at Spark Capital interested in the AI and machine learning space. When I woke up this morning, I asked my assistant a simple question: "Siri, is it going to rain today?" Siri understood my intent, pulled the local weather data via an API and answered me in less than two seconds: "There's no rain in the forecast for today." In the not-too-distant past, this kind of human-computer interaction would have blown away technologists and delighted consumers -- but in 2016, it's nothing special. Conversations with Siri are commonplace, just like they are with Microsoft's Cortana and Amazon's Alexa.

Amazon doesn't have an official presence at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas but its Alexa voice control software seems to be everywhere. Whirlpool is adding Alexa voice control to its suite of smart-home appliances, including a stove and refrigerator, launching in 2017.

Huawei has made a name for itself by partnering with Google on the final Nexus phone and selling affordable, feature-packed handsets in China, but now the company is looking to stand on its own in the U.S. Not only is it finally launching its 6.9-inch Mate 9 phablet to the States, it's bringing along a new friend along for the trip: Alexa. Among the features of the Mate 9--aside from its giant 1080p display--are a 4,000 mAh battery, 5A fast charging through its SuperCharge technology, and a Leica-made dual-lens camera that combines a 12MP standard camera with a 20MP monochrome one to capture more depth and detail. Also on board is Huawei's Hybrid Zoom system that delivers 2x magnification, and a 4-in-1 hybrid auto-focus that combines "laser focus, phase detection focus, depth focus, and contrast focus." The Mate 9 is powered by Huawei's in-house Kirin 960 chipset, which features an ARM Cortex-A73/A53 Octa-core CPU and Mali G71 Octa-core GPU. The company boasts that the chip utilizes a "Machine Learning Algorithm that helps deliver a fast and smooth experience, even after 18 months of continuous use."

Lynx, a small white humanoid, gave yoga instructions as it slid its chunky leg back for the pose. A bright blue light flashed across the side of its round head to indicate activity. After a few more leg movements, it came back into standing position when Alexa's voice boomed: "Your next exercise is waist stretching." Ubtech Robotics, the Chinese company that launched the Alpha robot series and JIMU coding bots for kids, has partnered with Amazon to bring Alexa's voice-recognition capabilities to their latest robot called Lynx. Starting in Spring this year, you will be able to interact with the robot as if it were your personal assistant.