Within the next decade, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the power to transform the wine industry forever. Right now, applications of AI for the wine industry are limited – but AI promises to be one of those immersive technologies that are embedded in everything we do, one way or another. According to a growing number of wine experts, AI could impact everything from how we buy wine, to how we grow vines in the vineyard, to how we judge wine. Think of how the Internet has revolutionized the wine industry in just the past two decades. It impacts how we learn about wine, how we order and buy wine online, and how we market wine to end consumers via social media platforms.

There was plenty to behold at the National Retail Federation's Big Show, hosted at the Javits Center in New York City from Jan. 14-16. After years of "omnichannel" being the buzzword du jour, "artificial intelligence" (AI), "machine learning," "computer vision," and "chatbot" were the mantra for exhibitors and attendees alike. But there was evidence aplenty that other emerging technologies are further penetrating the enterprise and influencing not only the way business will get done in the years ahead but also how consumers will interact with brands. To date, IBM has invested $25 million in blockchain R&D, which has produced a real-world application focused on food safety and developed in partnership with heavyweights ranging from Tyson Foods and Unilever to Kroger, Nestlé and Dole. Walmart built its own food safety platform on the backbone of IBM's blockchain technology.