The human questioner may not be sure "I'm good" is a fact. But artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) engineers claim that new technologies known as "emotion AI" can observe people and accurately assess how they're feeling. AI is all around us, whether we know it or not. It enables mainstream social media platforms to pitch smart personalization; virtual healthcare assistants to help nurses with burnout prevention; integrated smart assistants in electronic devices to perform various tasks, and much more. Artificial emotional intelligence systems go further.

Medallia, Inc., the global leader in customer and employee experience, announced that Travelodge, the UK's largest independent hotel brand, has implemented Medallia's experience management platform to power its new Voice of the Customer programme. Medallia's technology has been rolled out across 590 Travelodge hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, providing the hotel brand with a consolidated and real-time view into the customer experience. Travelodge (UK) has deployed the full suite of Medallia's experience management platform – implementing a combination of data analytics, artificial intelligence, and active listening. The platform also offers real-time integration with Travelodge's social channels and review sites, such as Tripadvisor and Google Reviews, as well as its hotel management tools, allowing it to cross-check customer feedback with quality processes such as room checks. Medallia's platform provides Travelodge with a comprehensive view into the customer voice across all channels in real-time, allowing its hotel managers and leadership team to proactively identify early warning signals.

Faced with disruption from the pandemic last year and ongoing uncertainty about shifting consumer trends, many businesses are in need of help. Artificial intelligence can add a much-needed shot of predictability, efficiency, and flexibility to business operations, making it a hot item in the software realm right now. As corporate budgets start to thaw this year along with a gradually reopening economy, AI applications are expected to receive plenty of attention. As an investor, if you want to get in on that increased attention, three names in AI worth considering in April are Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)(NASDAQ:GOOG), Invitae (NYSE:NVTA), and Medallia (NYSE:MDLA). Plenty of tech stocks got clobbered in March. Many of them were overdue for a pullback after rising double- or triple-digit percentages in 2020.

These days, artificial intelligence is showing up in all sorts of new services. There's a reason: The use of AI is growing fast, and businesses putting it to good use are unlocking efficiencies and delivering better experiences to their customers. According to tech researcher IDC, global spending on AI is expected to have increased more than 12% this year and to top $156 billion. That's impressive given the current state of world affairs, and AI is expected to continue its expansion for the foreseeable future. If investing in the artificial intelligence trend for the long-haul is your goal, Dynatrace (NYSE:DT), Marvell Technology Group (NASDAQ:MRVL), and Medallia (NYSE:MDLA) stocks are worth serious looks.

Two 40-year old robots returned to the big screen this year: handy mechanic droid R2-D2 of the Star Wars Rebel Alliance and the terrifying Terminator. The latter has been used by many headline writers as a metaphor for the perceived risk that automation will destroy human jobs. But in 2020, we will see that the real future of work lies with R2-D2, whose strength is his ability to work alongside humans and enhance their performance. Next year will be the year of augmentation technology. Our fears about automation come down to three factors: machines will execute tasks more efficiently; machine learning will enable artificial intelligence (AI) to make complex decisions more effectively; and technology companies will sell software and algorithms to replace slow and distractible people with fast and focused machines.

The rumors continue to swirl about Amazon's entry into the insurance space. Its first step appears to be developing a UK-focused insurance comparison site, according to Reuters. Given Amazon's deep capabilities as a marketplace, and its consumer reach, such a move is a reminder that even the insurance sector is not immune to the power of the Amazon effect. Amazon is already in the home with Alexa and top of mind with Prime, so it's a natural extension of its reach designed to benefit consumers. A few years ago, Google similarly tested an insurance comparison site that failed.