We've allowed artificial intelligence into our lives almost without even realising it. Alexa (or one of her competitors) will tell us what the weather will be like tomorrow from a barely distinct command. Netflix's algorithms suggest what we might like to watch based on viewing habits. Health apps are crunching data and drawing conclusions about our wellbeing as we go about our business. The CIPD's April 2019 report, People and Machines: From Hype to Reality, found that – despite the technology being in its relative infancy – 32 per cent of UK organisations had already invested in AI and automation, with 22 per cent introducing software to perform cognitive tasks. Many HR departments are already using text-based chatbots of the kind deployed by banks or retailers to handle customer service queries by mimicking natural conversations.

Futuristic predictions of artificial intelligence in healthcare depict robots serving as doctors and nurses. But that fantasy is far from what's possible today. Even Mayo Clinic CIO Cris Ross said as much at HIMSS this year, noting that AI is "still pretty dumb" and comparing it to a 2-year-old. Still, the power of machine learning in healthcare can be leveraged in simpler ways outside the imaginative wishes of society. One startup called Avaamo is bringing AI chatbots to the space.

Are your colleagues lousy at communicating with each other? A chatbot could help, specifically one called CoachBot. Developed by the London-based HR company Saberr, it asks about workplace dynamics and provides the team with reports. A unit within the UK's National Health Service is trialling it, as are 10 companies, including Unilever and Logitech. When Coachbot arrives in the workplace, staff have to introduce themselves to it.