Data and AI trends 2018: The year reality replaces hype

AI became a ubiquitous buzzword in 2017, but the promised rise of the machines has thus far failed to materialise. Despite the buzz, real-world use cases have remained somewhat limited, but this looks set to change in 2018. Companies are already ploughing cash into AI, but much of this investment is yet to reap rewards. According to research firm Forrester, 55 percent of firms have not yet achieved any tangible business outcomes from AI, and 43 percent of them say it's too soon to say whether their investment has been a success. "There's been a lot of pilots and a lot of proof of concepts, but the reality is not only what AI is and what AI can do, but also what is required to build these new intelligent systems is starting to be realised," says Michele Goetz, one of the authors of a Forrester report titled The Honeymoon For AI Is Over.