The hype around Chatbots, AI-powered customer service software, is relentlessly gaining rapid momentum across the corporate world. These computer programs enabled by artificial intelligence simulate interactions with customers automatically based on a set of predefined conditions or events. As business applications of chatbots are growing rapidly, reports show that by 2020, 85 percent of brand-customer interactions will be done using chatbots and self-service options. Most businesses, especially those that operate in a changing market environment, always look for innovative technologies and solutions to address their customer's needs. With their ability to direct customers through the marketing funnel and keep them engaged with a brand, chatbots are adding new value to companies' responses to the customers' queries and interests.

The umbrella term for software and hardware it automates the human resources function in organization. One of the most discussed and debated trends of the contemporary times in the HR Technology is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As per recent predictions, AI is going to be the crunch point, in terms of productivity for HR professionals. It has been feared by many professionals that machine is going to take away their jobs. Basically there is no reason to be cautiously optimistic; this is quite early to predict the actual impact of AI in HR and Talent Acquisition.

About six weeks ago I received an email from somebody called Amy Ingram. It was a friendly, professional email to schedule a meeting with the CEO of an exciting new start-up I was writing about for my Future Proof column in Inc. Not Who I Thought She Was. After a couple of email exchanges the meeting was confirmed and I thanked Amy for her time. When I got to meet with the CEO in person later that week, he looked at me with a glint in his eye and asked, in a rather curious tone, "What did you think of Amy Ingram?"

X.ai's "Amy Ingram" aims to take the hassle out of arranging meetings. X.ai, the company behind the "Amy Ingram" personal assistant that helps eliminate the back-and-forth email exchange that comes with arranging meetings, is launching an enterprise edition. To use the virtual PA -- which also comes in an "Andrew Ingram" version and has been available to individuals since 2015 -- users link their calendars to the service and then CC amy@x.ai Amy or Andrew then take over and chat to the contact like a real PA in order to organize the most convenient rendezvous. As Business Insider has previously reported, many people on the receiving end of emails from the Ingrams have been fooled into thinking they were speaking to a real PA -- so much so that "Amy" has even been sent gifts.

For the last two years, the popular x.ai virtual personal assistant has been helping Google Calendar users manage their meetings. Today, x.ai is finally coming to Microsoft calendars, with support for Office 365 and Outlook.com, as the company moves closer to the release of its paid business edition later this year. "Microsoft pretty much owns the enterprise, and as we move towards the launch of our professional edition, this could not come at a better time. Getting market share and working with Microsoft somewhat rhymes," x.ai CEO and founder Dennis R. Mortensen says. Just copy "amy@x.ai" to your email, and "Amy Ingram," your personal AI assistant, will handle the annoying parts of finding a time that works for both parties.