An elite group of powerful CEOs are obsessing about it. Sundar Pichai (Google), Tim Cook (Apple), Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), and Akio Toyoda (Toyota); they are all making huge bets on Artificial Intelligence. It may come to determine the future power and wealth of their corporations. Power and resources go hand in hand. The Oxford dictionary defines power as "the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events".

Infosys, a global leader in technology services and consulting, is aiming to reinvent the way people consume sport using extensive player data. The Indian firm, which had revenues of $9.5 billion in its last financial year, demonstrated its'Infosys Information Platform (IIP)' during the recent ATP Tennis tournament in London, of which it was a headline sponsor. Speaking to Access AI, the firm's head of energy and services for Europe Mohamed Anis, who joined in 2000, said Infosys uses machine learning to analyse historical data on player performance, which in turn is able to predict behaviour, shot selection, and even a probabilistic outcome of the match itself. Anis (pictured) said the data is delivered in real time and can be used to help spectators view the game/match on an entirely different level – comparable to that of the coach. "Tennis has been around for a very long time," explained Anis.

It's been 60 years since the term artificial intelligence was first coined by computer scientist John McCarthy, but it's only now the true benefits and potential are starting to truly be realised. Billed by some as the fourth industrial revolution, AI is no longer a subject of science-fiction, or one that only applies for future generations. Thanks to astronomical leaps in computing power, software and access to unthinkable amounts of data, intelligent machines are now a reality and set to have one of the biggest – if not the biggest – transformative impact on the business world ever seen. Some, like Intel, have even gone as far to describe AI as the most important breakthrough since the discovery of fire and the invention of the wheel. "When we look back and as we look forward, I believe we are now at the doorstep of yet another major revolution," said Intel SVP platform engineering Amir Faintuch during last month's Mobile World Congress.

PREDICTING HOW artificial intelligence technology will evolve in the following ten or 20 years, or even beyond, is very difficult to say the least. However, certain is the fact that there is much to be gained to go around for everyone. It is estimated that by the year 2018, robots will literally be supervising more than three million of us at work; and by 2020, smart machines will become a major investment priority amongst at least 30% of all CIOs. Right now, many different fields, spanning from customer service to journalism, are already being set aside by increasingly able AI that can replicate human abilities and experience. Already before our eyes is an aspect that we once thought only belonged in future technology.

That was the message from Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos who was speaking this week during a'Fireside Chat', at the Internet Association's annual gala in Washington, where he also described the world as entering a'golden age' of technology for solving problems. Bezos, who was answering questions from Internet Association President & CEO Michael Beckerman on stage, described AI as an "enabling layer" that will "improve every business." He also discussed Amazon in the early days of the internet, addressing success and failure in business, and his hopes for the future of humanity.Amazon's feelings towards AI and machine learning have never been in doubt. Amazon, described by the Association as a'pioneer' in AI, has made its feelings clear around the use of breakthrough technologies and machine learning, both from an operational and product point of view for more than a decade. Internally Amazon is said to have more than 45,000 robots in use across its global warehouses, operated various ways to fulfil orders and is already testing drones in the UK for future deliveries.It was also one of the first, if not the first, retailer to use AI and machine learning to provide predictive analytics on every individual customer, enabling its platform to predict what else the customer might want to buy – thus boosting sales.

PREDICTING HOW artificial intelligence technology will evolve in the following ten or 20 years, or even beyond, is very difficult to say the least. However, certain is the fact that there is much to be gained to go around for everyone. It is estimated that by the year 2018, robots will literally be supervising more than three million of us at work; and by 2020, smart machines will become a major investment priority amongst at least 30% of all CIOs. Right now, many different fields, spanning from customer service to journalism, are already being set aside by increasingly able AI that can replicate human abilities and experience. Already before our eyes is an aspect that we once thought only belonged in future technology.