5 Artificial Intelligence Predictions For 2018 Posted on : Dec 12 - 2017

In the original Blade Runner—set in 2019—technologists had already developed replicant humans and flying cars. Although I’m doubtful we’ll hit that mark in real life, I’d venture we’re not too far off. Indeed, artificial intelligence (AI) has already become an everyday part of life for most humans in 2017. We use it at work and at home—often without even realizing. As we close out the year, I’d say there isn’t much artificial intelligence hasn’t touched. The big question now is: how much farther will it go? Although some tech gurus like to focus on the big-time futuristic predictions of AI—machine learning robots and self-driving cars—I think we’re most likely to see AI growth in the following five areas throughout 2018. (Don’t worry—no blade runners required.)

Data-Driven Machines

It may not sexy, but it’s what most companies will be focusing on when it comes to AI this coming year. With the steady growth of data produced by the Internet of Things (IoT), businesses will be turning to machine learning to process, trend, and analyze the information. Indeed, machine learning AI isn’t just a nice-to-have in 2018; it’s a must-have. It’s the only way companies can make valuable sense of the flow of data—both structured and unstructured—coming in. In fact, I’d reckon that any company without an AI data strategy may well do away with their data lakes altogether.  It will simply be too much for any human to manage. (If you don’t yet have an AI strategy in place, don’t worry. Forrester predicts up to 80% of firms will rely on “insights-as-a-Service” in at least some capacity in 2018.)

More Human-like Help

Humans simply can’t keep up with the speed at which technology—and customer demands—are moving. That’s why more and more businesses are moving toward harnessing the power of conversational AI chatbots and other virtual assistants to manage the day-to-day flow of work. It is estimated that some 85% of customer interactions will be managed by AI by 2020.

In the near-term, we’ll likely see an increased focus on bot sensitivity training, which will allow humans to offload even more work on chatbot shoulders. And I’m not just talking about business. Amazon’s Alexa recently began syncing with Outlook and Google to help families keep up with their hectic schedules. Meanwhile, a new virtual assistant from X.ai called “Amy” can be trusted to respond to messages regarding meetings, meals, and calls without ever alerting the sender she’s a bot. We may not be ready for the Jetsons’ Rosie, but we’re getting closer. View More