The Rise of the Machines

For years, we have been fed an almost constant diet of sci-fi prediction about the consequences of artificial intelligence and our deepening lack of self-reliance. Be it at the hands of vengeful robots, octopedal searcher drones or an omnipresent networked villainous super-brain; we are just fleshy victims waiting to be usurped. Well, the age of artificial intelligence is upon us and predictably, a debate rages on. Ironically, considering the warnings that assail us across the airwaves, one of the realms that is embracing AI is the financial services industry. In 2008, several small technology-oriented startups stole headlines with their move into fully automated investment services.