There is a tendency to see artificial intelligence as the latest technology fad, either a buzzword that canny entrepreneurs exploit or the starting point for dystopian nightmares. Both are potentially accurate descriptions of much of the discussion surrounding AI, but both miss the most important point: AI is almost certain to become the most critical feature of the digital economy, assuming a role akin to electricity in the industrial revolution. If that prediction is correct -- and few disagree -- then mastery of AI and leadership in the field could determine the future economic and military balance of power. AI is shorthand for an amalgam of computer processes that permit machines to evaluate and learn about their environment on their own. It includes automated intelligence, assisted intelligence, augmented intelligence and autonomous intelligence.

The latest release from Artesian Solutions builds on its leading enterprise engagement platform to establish the foundations of an Artificial Intelligence future that promises a revolution in the effectiveness of sales and commercial teams. Launched today, the latest release includes an Artificially Intelligent'Insight Agent' - the first step in a series of intelligent chat bots aimed at automating many of the tasks carried out by B2B professionals daily. With the use of Artificial Intelligence techniques such as advanced natural language processing and behavioural analytics, Insight Agent monitors an individuals or company opportunity pipeline, continually looking for triggers from over 1 billion news and commercially relevant social media articles every year, learning and filtering based on individual user requirements. This allows it to deliver commercially valuable and immediately actionable insights, telling the user what they need to know and what action they need to take. The result is a step change in commercial productivity and customer engagement resulting in improved sales forecasting and increased pipeline velocity.