Marketing technology has evolved rapidly over the past decade, with one of the most exciting developments being the creation of publicly-available, cost-effective cognitive APIs by companies like Microsoft, IBM, Alphabet, Amazon and others. These APIs make it possible for businesses and organizations to tap into artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology for both customer-facing solutions as well as internal operations. According to Stratistics MRC, the Machine Learning as a Service (MLaaS) market is expected to grow to 7.6 billion dollars by 2023. The impact AI/ML will have on businesses over the long-term promises to be revolutionary. The current application of AI and ML in content management is more akin to power-assisted steering than a self-driving car.

He answered that, of course, we would think of this as a time when technology had progressed very quickly, and we had discovered many things that made our lives more convenient. But in the future, he said, we will look back on "a feeling of being handcuffed to our devices." The need to access our computers or handheld devices in order to get what we're looking for will be remembered as a clunky nuisance, Berners-Lee predicted, and we can expect a time "when everything becomes more intuitive, and the things we want are more naturally embedded within our environments." I sat there thinking that most people are not imagining what the experience of AI and machine learning will bring to their lives. It reminded me of an earlier time -- the advent of the Internet, and then mobile and social platforms -- which changed our lives in ways we never expected.