In a wide range of industries, companies are deploying AI initiatives for a variety of purposes. Predictive analytics, pattern recognition systems, autonomous systems, conversational systems, hyper-personalization activities, and goal-driven systems are just a few examples of these applications. Each of these projects has one thing in common: they all require a grasp of the business challenge and the application of data and machine learning algorithms to the problem, resulting in a machine learning model that meets the project's requirements. Machine learning initiatives are often deployed and managed in a similar manner. Existing app development approaches, on the other hand, are inapplicable because AI initiatives are driven by data rather than programming code.

I have seen the future, and it is a world of unparalleled convenience, untold marketing opportunities, and zero privacy. IBM held an event in San Francisco Thursday to show off new capabilities in Watson, it's artificial intelligence system that's being made available to developers to let them build smarter, "cognitive" applications. To set the futuristic tone, IBM invited Peter Diamandis, founder of the nonprofit X Prize Foundation, which humbly describes itself as "a catalyst for the benefit of humanity." To give you an idea of Diamandis' interests, he said he is currently "prospecting" asteroids that he plans to mine for resources. He put the value of one asteroid at $5.4 trillion.

With great power comes the responsibility to discern when and how to use such power. As we enter an age where the stuff of speculative science fiction--specifically Artificial Intelligence (AI)--becomes reality, climbing the mountain "because it's there" is no longer a sufficient motivational and ethical framework for our future. In order to create a future where essential human values such as autonomy and personal privacy remain vital, we must act with awareness and forethought. Fortunately, the same tech giants who are dedicated to developing sophisticated AI recognize the potential for profound societal shifts the technology will produce. A recent article in The New York Times highlights how thought leaders from Alphabet, Amazon, Facebook, IBM, and Microsoft want "to ensure that A.I. research is focused on benefiting people, not hurting them."