Finance is integrating artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and predictive analytics at a striking rate for both customer-facing and back-end operations. As PWC has noted, 81% of banking CEOs are concerned about the rate of technological evolution in their industry – and Forbes reports more than $4 billion in newly funded ventures focused on financial services AI applications in the last two years. In one study, 32% of financial services executives were already using AI, and that number will only increase as technologies become more sophisticated. Accenture found that 76% of banking executives intend to deploy AI within the next three years to improve their customer interface. Every day, new technologies are emerging that help companies be more efficient with their operations and deliver a better customer experience.

As our population ages, these caregiver robots will also be useful for the old as well as the young. This is not a rhetorical question. So-called robot nannies are already a hit in Japan and China, and are now beginning to appear stateside. The numbers show why this is an attractive proposition. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 4 million babies are born annually in the United States. What's more, 62% percent of women who gave birth within the last year work outside of the home, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

It's hard to believe the first personal computer was introduced only 40 years ago. Captivated by the implications of this intelligent machine, the world began to speculate on the next big thing for IT. And while the idea of self-driving cars or the "smart" home seemed like science fiction back then, the future is now and these innovations are real. Fast forward to 2017 – technology is directly shaping how people live, work, and even think. State-of-the-art technology allows visions to become printed realities.

When it comes to running a small or mid-sized business, answering the phone is an essential part of the day-to-day. And even though a ringing telephone may distract from urgent tasks, it might not make financial sense to hire a full-time receptionist. Of course, letting the phone just ring or go to voice mail isn't a viable long-term solution, so what do you do? When it comes to running a small or mid-sized business, answering the phone is an essential part of the day-to-day. Interactive voice response (IVR) can be a lifesaver in such cases. Hosted IVR, which is IVR delivered via the cloud, by subscription, now makes a lot more sense for SMBs from a cost perspective.

If you've been following any of the latest business and technology headlines, you've no doubt heard how 2017 will be the year that ground-breaking technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence will create new paradigms in our healthcare systems, schools, universities, and enterprises. Even small and mid-sized businesses (SMB) stand to gain immeasurable benefits from these technological advancements, helping managers to understand, manage and measure businesses operations and customer interactions in ways that were never possible before. We'll have the opportunity to become more efficient, innovate faster and ultimately, make better decisions as long as we have the network foundation required to sustain this innovation. Here's a look at three types of technology that can help you establish the groundwork required to get ahead in 2017: Fiber Optics: Fiber is the foundation of any business technology stack with its inherent speed and scalability. With fiber, you're driving on a supersonic raceway; without it, your business will operate like the digital equivalent of driving on a dirt road.

The road trip from Massachusetts to California was going well for Alex Wyglinski -- until a 48-foot semi cut him off somewhere near Cleveland. Wyglinski, an autonomous vehicle expert who was traveling with his wife and dog, quickly disengaged cruise control and hit the brakes. Fortunately, for the couple and the pooch, the drivers in his rear-view mirror were paying attention, and an accident was avoided. "That required a split-second decision from me to slow down," he recalled. "I don't think the guy was in full control of his rig."

The smartphone revolution of just a few years ago redefined the need for wallets and credit cards, as well as desktop computers and film cameras. As much as this high-resolution, wireless and always-available device has changed consumer and business tech, it is not the end of the story. Post-mobile technology will extend business capabilities further by capitalizing on new content delivery models, payment structures and communication networks. The term "post-mobile" doesn't mean the end of the smartphone. Rather, as explained by Ben Bajarin of Creative Strategies, it means that the innovation curve of the smartphone is leveling off.

We all know how frustrating the experience of calling into a customer service department can be. Long hold times, the endless repetition of birth dates, previous addresses, maiden names... It's enough to make you want to avoid the whole process altogether. But the cloud--paired with technologies like speech recognition, biometrics, natural language, artificial intelligence and machine learning--is giving rise to intelligent virtual agents that are providing faster, more personalized service. Automated customer service solutions have been around for a while, but the cloud is drastically improving the model. Intelligent virtual agents can now crunch data about who you are and what you need, providing the kind of efficient feedback loop required to autonomously keep getting smarter.

Drivers over the next decade will increasingly realize that vehicles won't need them as much as they once did. Sensors and software are taking control, and they'll eventually make all driving decisions. Allowing technology to take the wheel will make ground transportation safer, proponents of autonomous vehicles say. But when roads contain both software-led and driver-controlled vehicles, some are bound to collide. The scenario raises an important question: How will we know who's responsible?

With continuing advances in technology, robots are likely to become more common in many types of workplaces, from manufacturing and food service providers to hospitality and healthcare. Whereas they were once limited to functions such as welding and painting in industrial environments, robots are now moving heavy items from place to place, packaging and shipping orders from warehouses, performing some types of surgeries, even greeting visitors at hotels. Shipping exemplifies where robotics has made significant progress, according to David Bourne, principal systems scientist in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. Bourne notes the massive use of robots to fetch products for workers who then package and ship those products. "This points to the new wave of robotic applications where people and robots work together on tasks according to their skills," he said.