Gartner: 'Smart machines' to become an enterprise staple

Almost one-third of large companies will employ smart machines by 2021, predicts analyst firm Gartner Inc. in a new report. Gartner defines "smart machines" as technologies that include artificial intelligence, machine learning, cognitive computing, deep learning and intelligent automation. Smart machine use will be especially transformative in the consulting and systems integration services space, predicts Gartner, where spending could reach $29 billion by 2021. "Smart machines will profoundly change the way work is done and how value is created," said Susan Tan, research vice president at Gartner. "From dynamic pricing models and fraud detection, to predictive policing and robotics, smart machines have broad applicability in all industries."