The terms "analytics" and "artificial intelligence" get bandied about in the media as harbingers of the future. But until recently, it's been rare to see them discussed in a common context. We know that analytics drives many aspects of business strategy and decision-making nowadays, but only recently have researchers, computer scientists and data scientists begun to move in earnest on the notion that AI systems, with their ability to process disparate bits of information quickly and learn while they're doing so, can have a real impact on challenges faced in areas like healthcare, finance and engineering. Probably the most high-profile example of this was the creation of IBM's Cognitive Business Solutions Group earlier this year. The unit advises organizations on how to use IBM's AI solution Watson in ways that go beyond what was previously possible in research and analytics.