Technology is poised to change the workplace. Soon you may have a robot for a co-worker or a microchip embedded under your skin that's a work ID. Some innovations are already making an impact. Virtual reality, for example, is going beyond gaming to serve as a powerful workplace training tool. One of the biggest areas where VR training can be useful is safety, according to J. P. Gownder, vice president at research firm Forrester.

The Weather Company, acquired by IBM in January, will begin rolling out digital ads that people can communicate with this fall. Powered by IBM Watson's artificial intelligence, consumers will be able to ask questions via voice or text and receive relevant information about the product or offering. The first companies to tap Watson ads will be Campbell Soup Company, GSK Consumer Healthcare and Unilever. Unlike ads tied to keyword searches, Watson Ads are able to pick up the nuances of natural language. For example, a consumer seeing a Campbell's digital ad may ask by voice interaction, "What can I make for dinner tonight?"