Getting smart about the future of AI

Fast-forward to the 1980s, when digital electronics started having a deep impact on society--the dawning Digital Revolution. Building on that era is what's called the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Like its predecessors, it is centered on technological advancements--this time it's artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous machines, and the internet of things--but now the focus is on how technology will affect society and humanity's ability to communicate and remain connected. "In the first Industrial Revolution, we replaced brawn with steam. In the second, we replaced steam with electricity, and in the third, we introduced computers," says Guido Jouret, chief digital officer for Swiss industrial corporation ABB.