Analytics play a critical role in digital transformation. Here's how to start.

Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and predictive analytics (PA) are current buzzwords eclipsing the tech industry hype curve. At this point, most tech savvy people are tired of hearing how these techniques will save the day. Let's eliminate some of the hype and paint a more realistic picture of what's happening with these technologies. All three are surprisingly old concepts. Predictive analytics can trace its origins back to Thomas Bayes, who laid the foundation to Bayesian probability theory in 1736. Nothing new here, except within the last 50 years, computers have made it much easier to work with the math.