A colorful combination of companies--aerospace, retail, gaming, security, and telecommunications--have in recent years discovered the power of pairing artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) to help alleviate the complexities within their industries. A few years ago, both these innovations seemed almost foreign, even to the most advanced industries. Today, it's almost a critical mission for any business to maximize the capabilities of both AI and VR if they are looking to survive in the hyper-active and competitive marketplace. The build-up of the Internet-of-Things (IoT), mobile communication, and 5G tools have also now largely contributed to the rapid expansion of these technologies across multiple fields. While for a greater part many experts claimed that these developments would mainly form part of advanced businesses, especially in fields such as military, security, engineering, architecture and aviation, the need for state-of-the-art tools have quickly manifested itself within the healthcare and alternative medicine market in recent years.

In this global health emergency, the medical business is searching for new technologies to screen and control the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. Artificial intelligence is one of such innovations which can undoubtedly track the spread of this infection, identifies the high-risk patients, and is helpful in controlling this disease progressively. It can likewise anticipate mortality hazard by adequately analyzing the previous data of the patients. Artificial intelligence can assist us with fighting this infection by medical help, population screening, suggestions about the infection control, and medical notification. This technology can possibly improve the planning, treatment and reported outcomes of the COVID-19 patient, being an evidence-based medical tool.

Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) are rapidly expanding opportunities for teaching and learning, and they are giving college administrators new and different ways to track student outcomes. To learn more about the impact of these technologies, we attended a handful of panels on the topic led by higher education and technology leaders at Educause's annual conference in Denver this week. From teaching with VR to tracking student success with AI, we explore how colleges and universities are using new technologies to conduct research, teach students and create smarter campuses. Virtual and augmented reality tools can provide students with experiences that would be otherwise too expensive or even impossible to replicate in the real world, from exploring the inside of a cell to traversing faraway planets, said D. Christopher Brooks, director of research at the Educause Center for Analysis and Research. At Hamilton College, for example, these tools are changing the way the 1,850-student liberal arts institution teaches human anatomy.

Sweden's flatpack furniture giant is exploring how to make the best use of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Thursday, Jesper Brodin, CEO of Ikea, told CNBC: "(What) we haven't been able to do before is to find easier ways to connect with people so digital opens up massive opportunities for us." Brodin added a "major shift" in technology over recent years had prompted the furniture powerhouse to begin testing AI and virtual reality. Several retailers have been betting on AI as the tech becomes more sophisticated and as competition from the likes of Amazon grows even tougher.

From artificial intelligence to virtual reality, emerging technologies are rewriting the retail playbook at a rapid pace, suggests J. Walter Thompson Intelligence in a new report called Frontier(less) Retail. Launched in collaboration with WWD, the report explores the idea that brands and retailers are increasingly putting innovation at the core of their strategies. This relates to everything from digital integration through to the more future-looking technologies helping to shift their businesses forward. Rebecca Minkoff has boosted sales with smart mirrors in dressing rooms, it notes, while Kate Spade has had a hit with Everpurse, a smartphone-charging handbag. It also attributes the success of Under Armour in part to its positioning as a tech-forward brand, and references Topshop's new incubator program, Top Pitch, as a clever bid to achieve the same at a time when its young consumer base is more likely to spend on smartphones than splurge on streetwear. Within all this, however, it is keeping abreast of change that is proving one of the industry's biggest challenges.

Because the AI/VR system is all on the web, it is a 24/7 learning experience. School can be any time. Personalized learning becomes the norm and each student becomes an expert of their interests. From struggling learners to those that are exceptionally intelligent, the AI/VR education system will know their needs, and be able to work with them whenever they wish. Of course there will be required milestones and benchmark requirements.

From artificial intelligence to virtual reality, emerging technologies are rewriting the retail playbook at a rapid pace, suggests J. Walter Thompson Intelligence in a new report called Frontier(less) Retail. Launched in collaboration with WWD, the report explores the idea that brands and retailers are increasingly putting innovation at the core of their strategies. This relates to everything from digital integration through to the more future-looking technologies helping to shift their businesses forward. Rebecca Minkoff has boosted sales with smart mirrors in dressing rooms, it notes, while Kate Spade has had a hit with Everpurse, a smartphone-charging handbag. It also attributes the success of Under Armour in part to its positioning as a tech-forward brand, and references Topshop's new incubator program, Top Pitch, as a clever bid to achieve the same at a time when its young consumer base is more likely to spend on smartphones than splurge on streetwear. Within all this, however, it is keeping abreast of change that is proving one of the industry's biggest challenges.

The Managing Partner of Intergroup Partners AG, Montserrat Corominas, has recently been published in Inc Magazine. This is her article "Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality are about to transform business. Here's how to be prepared" KEY OBSERVATIONS Most business leaders are not quite sure yet how AI and VR are relevant to their companies and what is in it for them. To my understanding, these are only contemporary descriptions of state of the art technologies. The most important topic to discuss for boards, founders and management teams in regards to AI/VR is the inherent new way of communication through digitization.

Discussions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality ( VR) inevitably evoke descriptive images of a room full of gamers. But, AI and VR will change the way you communicate and do business. This post comes from the perspective of Montserrat Corominas Founder & Managing Partner at Intergroup Partners.Zürich, Switzerland Most business leaders are not quite sure yet how AI and VR are relevant to their companies and what is in it for them. To my understanding, these are only contemporary descriptions of state of the art technologies. The most important topic to discuss for boards, founders and management teams in regards to AI/VR is the inherent new way of communication through digitization.

From artificial intelligence to virtual reality, emerging technologies are rewriting the retail playbook at a rapid pace, suggests J. Walter Thompson Intelligence in a new report called Frontier(less) Retail. Launched in collaboration with WWD, the report explores the idea that brands and retailers are increasingly putting innovation at the core of their strategies. This relates to everything from digital integration through to the more future-looking technologies helping to shift their businesses forward. Rebecca Minkoff has boosted sales with smart mirrors in dressing rooms, it notes, while Kate Spade has had a hit with Everpurse, a smartphone-charging handbag. It also attributes the success of Under Armour in part to its positioning as a tech-forward brand, and references Topshop's new incubator program, Top Pitch, as a clever bid to achieve the same at a time when its young consumer base is more likely to spend on smartphones than splurge on streetwear. Within all this, however, it is keeping abreast of change that is proving one of the industry's biggest challenges.