Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a technology seen in futuristic Hollywood films involving AI-powered robots and super-intelligent machines -- it's now an increasingly mainstream technology that is being used by companies you probably interact with on a daily basis. Facebook, for example, uses AI for image recognition, while Netflix uses AI to make content recommendations. So it's perhaps no surprise that AI can also be used for a wide range of other functions, including business development and strategic partnerships. My company creates AI solutions including predictive analytics, natural language processing and virtual sales assistants. Here are some of the benefits and downsides I've noticed in these technologies -- and how to tell whether they have a place in your organization as either a built or bought solution.

Most of the prominent companies agree that Artificial Intelligence is the future for sales and marketing, as reported by Enrique Dans who wrote for Forbes recently. It shouldn't come as a surprise when the tech giants are already researching and improving their proprietary AI products. Its iconic "Google Brain" is a big deep learning research project that has been underway since 2011. It has been instrumental in improving the company's existing products such as image searching, Google assistant, etc. To showcase the power of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning the company has also provided many nifty AI experiments on their website for the users to interact with.

"Mandy Monroe" works relentlessly to reach out to customers of Lee Kia of Greenville in North Carolina to schedule service appointments. A consistent revenue generator, Mandy doesn't complain, gossip, make personal phone calls on company time or pop chewing gum. Mandy doesn't even take bathroom breaks. That's because Mandy is a cyberstaffer driven by artificial intelligence. The virtual assistant, created by the software provider Conversica, conducts email conversations with dealership service customers.