The term "artificial intelligence" was only just coined about 60 years ago, but today, we have no shortage of experts pondering the future of AI. Chief amongst the topics considered is the technological singularity, a moment when machines reach a level of intelligence that exceeds that of humans. While currently confined to science fiction, the singularity no longer seems beyond the realm of possibility. From larger tech companies like Google and IBM to dozens of smaller startups, some of the smartest people in the world are dedicated to advancing the fields of AI and robotics. Now, we have human-looking robots that can hold a conversation, read emotions -- or at least try to -- and engage in one type of work or another.

Movies like Blade Runner and Her have popularised the idea of fully conscious computers, and with AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology like Apple's Siri or Amazon's Alexa increasingly present in our lives, it'd be easy to believe that what you see on the silver screen is just around the corner. Whilst I enjoy a Sci-Fi epic as much as the next person, in my dual role as Professor of Computer Science at the University of San Francisco and Chief Scientist at data integration software provider SnapLogic, I investigate the practical applications of AI and am tasked with explaining and teaching the realities of what can be achieved. In other words, I separate the fact from the fiction, which is what I aim to do today. While Alexa seems close to a computer that can interact like a person, the reality is that Alexa (and any computer program to date) is not what we'd call conscious. It's not self-aware or able to generate original thoughts.