4 Key AI Innovations That Made a Splash in 2018

As 2018 draws to a close, we're looking back at the year's biggest AI innovations. Companies have applied artificial intelligence and machine learning to everything from customer success programs to healthcare. This year, brands explored the right questions to assess AI readiness, as outlined in "Ready for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence? Being strategic about readiness and the value of artificial intelligence allowed brands to move forward with pioneering AI projects that generated sales, higher levels of customer service, and unforgettable experiences. Here's a closer look at key AI innovations that made a splash in 2018. According to Grand View Research, the global chatbot market will reach $1.25 billion by 2025. Chatbots are helping brands deliver better customer service, whether by addressing standard FAQs or pointing buyers toward the product they're seeking. Learn more about how chatbots are striking the balance between automation and human interaction and what steps brands are taking to win the race to build the perfect chatbot. Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence, and in 2018 brands used machine learning to work smarter. Using large datasets, machine learning programs find patterns to identify problems, explore solutions, and streamline operations. And for many brands, 2018 was the year of realizing that AI is only as good as the data it uses. As David Mingle, Principal of CXAdvisors Group, said in an interview for this piece: "I'm a big fan of AI, but AI is only as good as the data that goes into it.