Though businesses are adopting exponential technologies for automating redundant operations and efficiently utilizing enterprise data, HR (Human Resources) has been one of the most important support functions that was not known for espousing much of artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, reinforcement learning, robotics, virtual reality, augmented reality and other powerful tools until now. The impact of the new wave of change brought about by the fourth industrial revolution has been propelling and profound in HR practice too. For more than a decade, I have been involved in talent acquisition, skill building, corporate training and appraisal processes from technology as well as project management side. Though HR has always been an intriguing art for many, the science of it has been a forerunner in captivating my interest. Earlier when enterprises found their HR databases getting inundated with data, making it next to impossible to derive valuable insights necessary for business decisions, enterprises resorted to analytics.

Machine learning, virtual or augmented reality and the Internet of Things have captured the general public's attention (if not yet their pocketbooks), and developers are taking full advantage of all the new technology that will shape humanity's future. A quarterly survey of over 16,500 developers by VisionMobile said that 41% of software builders are now involved in data science or machine learning in one capacity or another. About 33% do so in a professional capacity. According to VisionMobile's State of the Developer Nation Q3 2016 report, developers are inspired by emerging technologies, irrespective of the level of media hype leveled at any one particular industry trend. Machine learning is slowly coming to the mainstream (think chat bots, natural language understanding and photo apps that understand what they see) but 67% of all developers see it as a viable side project, although they are still learning the ropes.

A few weeks ago Emma Sinclair (@ES_Entrepeneur) asked me if I would write a piece about new trends in technology (applied to the real-estate industry) for the annual PROPS Lunch Magazine published to help Variety, a children's charity in the UK. How could I possibly say no? This piece that I wrote was printed in a magazine (pictured at the end of this post) that was handed out at the 25th Props Lunch. This event raised more than 380,000 from the real estate industry to buy wheelchairs for disabled or disadvantaged kids -- bringing the total raised to date to 9.5m. I'm so glad I could contribute to an event miles away in my own little way.