We're all familiar with the ways in which voice assistants like Siri and Alexa have become a staple of household life: harried cooks everywhere can relate to the question, "Alexa, how many tablespoons are in a cup?" But recent developments point to voice assistants doing more than answering straightforward questions. Technologies like Google Assistant can actually offer life advice. And according to researchers from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, it doesn't hurt to listen: they've done a study that indicates embracing life coaching from a voice assistant can improve well-being. What does that mean for AI? Human life coaches help people pinpoint their priorities and goals in life, from professional to personal, then work to identify what steps individuals can take to achieve those goals.

Localizing content delivers strong business benefits. According to white paper released by Pactera EDGE and Nimdzi Insights, companies that localize the user experience see a 100%–400% increase in sales, and by localizing into just 10 languages, a brand's message will effectively reach 90% of online customers. As brands appreciate the business benefits of localization, they are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to make localization more effective. This is true especially for large, complex, multinational businesses that need to adapt multiple products and services across hundreds of geographic markets and cultures. In fact, we believe AI can unlock hyperlocal and hyper-personalized experiences that are culturally aware, as my colleague Ilia Shifrin blogged recently.