Introduction to the Special Issue on Innovative Applications of Artificial Intelligence

In this editorial we introduce the articles published in this special AI Magazine issue on innovative applications of artificial intelligence. Discussed are a pick-pack-and-ship warehouse-management system, a neural network in the fishing industry, the use of AI to help mobile phone users, building business rules in the mortgage lending business, automating the processing of immigration forms, and the use of the semantic web to provide access to observational datasets. Pop culture often shows AI in clearly visible forms like a futuristic robot attempting to take over the earth. However, current applications of AI are often more difficult to detect because they are imbedded in existing products, processes, and services. We interact with and benefit from these AI applications in ways that most people never even notice.