Is Artificial Intelligence the Future of Advisory Work?

No doubt you've been hearing a bit lately about artificial intelligence (AI), but what relevance does AI and associated technologies have for business advisors, coaches, and professional service firms? Is AI a potential competitive advantage, just another distraction, or a replacement for the advisor over the coming years? First, let's look at the facts. Machine learning, cognitive computing, natural language processing, speech recognition, robotics ... the use of AI in business is accelerating, with the market expected to double from 2014 to $9.2 billion by 2019, according to IDC Worldwide Content Analytics, Discovery and Cognitive Systems Software Forecast 2015-2019. AI is also not a new field or technology. With foundations in the 1940s, programmable computers inspired scientists to discuss the potential of electronic brains.