The bot revolution: How conversational interfaces will replace apps

We're at the cusp of a sharp rise in devices that have no screen but do have conversational voice controls, such as the Amazon Echo. Smart home and Internet-of-things (IoT) objects that respond to users' voices will improve and become more intuitive with further iterations and wider adoption. Already they can, for example, dim the lights in a room and play a favorite song. With practice, and, by the virtues of machine learning, these user experiences will become ever more intuitive, capable, and innate. Beyond the IoT, brands are seeing bots as a new type of media – one that can be harnessed to expand a company's reach to new customers and networks.