Big Ideas in 2016: How 2016's tech trends are setting the stage for a smarter 2017

More than ever before, our day-to-day lives have become increasingly akin to something out of a sci-fi film, as the boundaries between real life and the digital world are increasingly blurred, and technology is ever more integrated into our lives. For example, the average person now has the ability to converse and work with artificial intelligence, while businesses are transforming the way they operate thanks to the advent of blockchain solutions. Some of these innovations have already been ramping up for the past few years, but they have secured their place as an increasingly integral part of our lives in 2016, making businesses more efficient and able to deepen their reach in key markets. Over the past year, computers have become smarter than ever. We've been talking to machines for decades, but in 2016, they now talk back, transforming how we work and play.