There was a time when the idea of artificial intelligence was confined to the world of distant research labs and little-known technology whizzes. AI-based concepts have slipped into our everyday lives and the division between science fiction, blue sky thinking and billion-dollar start-ups is fast dissolving. It's an idea that has been recycled by Hollywood on many occasions, but for many of us it took on a new kind of realism with the 2013 Spike Jonze movie, Her. A generation that was already familiar with online AI chatboxes was suddenly invited to watch a romance between a man and a software package. Set in an age where half the population appears to be linked in by a sort of discrete device in their ear, Her begins to achieve a different kind of resonance. It remains, however, a movie about a sad and lonely man who is falling in love with an inanimate object.

Garry Kasparov never had a chance. In 1997, the world chess champion lost to Deep Blue, a computer powered by artificial intelligence (AI). In the match, Kasparov was evaluating three chess moves per second. In that same time, Deep Blue was plotting more than 200 million moves. Imagine you're an entrepreneur today.

The fear is so publicised that I was not surprised when I came across a website–Will Robots Take My Job?–that lets you search your job's relevancy against technology over time. Marketing is the latest to buzz with such apprehensions. Clearly, there is no dearth of examples of AI in action, with it being infused across all the four Ps of marketing, however, it is far from competing with marketers or replacing them. Instead, it is boosting our effectiveness and efficiency as it takes care of the mundane, leaving more time for thinking and creativity. And, whether AI remains a friend or becomes a foe really depends on how we use it.

The Air Force wants more extremely advanced unmanned drone fighter jets capable of high-speed aerial maneuvers, winning dogfights, and performing most if not all of the major missions performed by human pilots. At the same time, despite the rapid growth and promise of AI and computerized dog fighting prowess, human pilots are not likely to go anywhere anytime soon. "We are so multifaceted as human beings, yet machines will be specialists in certain areas," Air Force Chief Scientist Victoria Coleman told The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. "How do we have humans and machines operate together to get better outcomes? Experimentation is already taking place. The way to deploy more of these teams is through more and more experimentation. If we test a little, we can feel comfortable going to war," Coleman said.

Founder and CEO of DotData, Ryohei Fujimaki, explains how automation can help the data science industry become more efficient. Of the many technologies that will shape how we work in the future, automation is one of the most hotly debated. Some look forward to the new avenues it will open up while others fear it will make their skills redundant. Dr Ryohei Fujimaki, founder and CEO of data science company DotData, believes that data scientists are among those that will benefit the most. Fujimaki's team at DotData is helping companies accelerate their data science process.

As connected devices--anything from the computer built into a car or a fitness wearable to a smart gas meter or wind turbine--have become cheaper to manufacture, their use has grown rapidly. Some form of connected device or system is now in almost every industry and sector. This proliferation means that traditional maintenance models requiring engineers to have easy physical access to real-world devices and systems are often no longer viable. As such, the need for an alternative management model is growing, which is where "digital twin" AI technology has enormous potential for any enterprise doing business through connected devices. This report looks at the benefits companies can gain from digital twin technology, the options available on the market to take advantage of it, where digital twins are already in use, and what some industries stand to lose by ignoring this AI trend.

You've probably heard of a chatbot. It's being used so much now, in every industry, because the potential is enormous. Again and again, the statistics show us that in the next 30 years -- chatbots will be everywhere. "Chatbots represent a new trend in how people access information, make decisions, and communicate. We think that chatbots are the beginning of a new form of digital access, which centers on messaging. Messaging has become a huge component of how we interact with our devices, and how we stay connected with the people, businesses and the day-to-day activities of life. Chatbots bring commerce into this part of our lives, and will open up new opportunities."

Many organisations are focused on the "war for talent", with a skills shortage across numerous occupations meaning they face hyper-competition to secure the people they need to sustain and grow their activities. Simultaneously, these organisations are facing near-constant change as they seek to stay competitive and relevant. The emphasis has increased on having employees who embrace change, who withstand the pressures of the modern work environment and create a positive climate for others. Intrinsically linked is the acknowledgement of the benefits that having a diverse workforce can bring – from increased productivity to improved reputation, to the ability to better compete in global markets. In this context, workforce planning – knowing which skills are needed and how they will be engaged – and recruitment become critical activities.

As the ways to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) grow, so do the amount of people implementing this cutting-edge technology to their work. According to Statista, the rate of adoption is quite high -- global revenues from AI for enterprise applications is projected to grow from $1.62B in 2018 to $31.2B in 2025. Its popularity reaches every sector and is substantially affecting the legal space as well. The possibilities for lawyers to benefit from AI are endless. Many automated and machine-learning features enable lawyers to complete a number of tasks faster and cheaper.

The job of a customer service agent is not an easy job. In a typical contact center, agents are on the phone or communicating through other channels; email, text, web chat, Facebook Messenger, WeChat… When customers reach out to an agent, they need help and are often upset. They may be asking about a lost bag or debit card, a flight that was canceled or a delayed package. What's important to remember is customer service agents dedicate their daily professional career to helping people solve these problems. As a company's brand ambassadors, they are the guardians of a business's customer relationships.