What were the most significant machine learning/AI advances in 2018?

We have been building models to follow historical trends and make predictions on what will happen based on past data. Now, we have machines that can observe the environment, learn the "unspoken rules" of the environment and adapt its actions to explore & exploit the environment like a human; just don't hold your breath for artificial general intelligence (yet). AI in 2018 is not just about games and we now see real-world applications. In healthcare, deep learning models can perform as well as a human expert in analyzing electron microscopy or in detecting eye diseases. For the environment and climate, AI is helping to build better climate models, mapping millions of solar roofs in the US, detecting hyperspectral signatures of underwater objects to monitor ocean health & many other animal conservation works.