For decades, I have studied the impact of technology on the future of work. In my 2001 book, Work 2.0, I found that the future of work would be driven by our ability to deliver MyWorkMyWay -- tailored and deeply personalized info-flows and learning to each individual. Now, with AI, we are on the cusp of finally realizing this powerful capability. Since then, I have witnessed the battle for the soul of the future of work. One of my standard CIO presentations asks leaders to consider how far they will go with AI.

As the World Economic Forum unraveled last week in Davos, Switzerland, many leaders highlighted areas of future growth and how to shape the global economy – to promote an economy that will only serve to help improve our lives. Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM, was also there discussing how IBM can contribute to this starting with artificial intelligence – or augmented intelligence/cognitive as we say at IBM. Why does IBM choose to use "augmented intelligence" or "cognitive" over "artificial intelligence"? What we've witnessed during each of these stages is some form of mechanics or machinery developed to augment our performance, thereby improving our outcome. Automotive – The assembly line was created to help workers produce more cars and simultaneously made the car more affordable to the masses. Communication – telephone / telex / fax – Gives one the ability to transfer information faster rather than having a messenger or a trained bird fly there.

When my mother was dying 22 years ago, the hospital briefly lost track of her location. Its error cost my family 40 precious minutes that we could have spent with her at the end of her life. The culprit in this horrific situation was the hospital's own hierarchy of processes and procedures that its workforce struggled to navigate during this emergency. I've always been passionate about the need for simplicity in the workplace. Simplicity lies at the foundation of organizations' empathy--policies that prioritize customers' and employees' experiences over its own interests--and that plays a key role in the future of work. When it comes to our attitudes and beliefs about the value of other people's time, particularly our employees' time on the job, we're still in the Industrial Era.

Gloria Lombardi speaks with software startup advisor Steve Ardire to explore the state of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its implications for the future of work. In Part 1 of this post, we covered the meaning of AI vs. machine intelligence and how AI will affect the future of work. Now we turn our attention to what's going on in the AI market and what this technology could mean for healthcare in particular. AI technology is developing, fast. "In 2016," Ardire says, "we are already seeing the emergence of applications for human resources, marketing and communications, sales, customer service, market and risk intelligence and more."