Tag: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

When it comes to AI, virtual assistants and chatbots are an immediate association for many. However, despite the growing importance of intelligent, programmed systems in relation to customer-facing interactions and hyper-personalised marketing, AI has other important uses for companies too – in fighting fraud.

Google search marketing saw an upswing in technologies such as chatbots, voice search, image searches and enhanced search engine results (SERP) features in 2018.

Exciting developments in enterprise resource planning provide us with a compelling snapshot of how the country is progressing with regards to digital transformation. Digital transformation was all anyone could talk about in 2018, a trend that will undoubtedly continue in the new year.

The world is undergoing its biggest transformation ever. As emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) enter workplaces, human talent is grappling with an existential crisis.

It’s no secret that the role of IT specialists and CIOs alike has changed drastically over the past few years, stemming from the need to get a better handle on the ever-evolving technologies integral to doing business in an age of disruption.

We don’t surf the internet like we used to because technology continues to evolve and drive our behaviour. Thanks to Google, search engine optimisation (SEO) is also changing.

New global weather forecasting system can crowdsource data from millions of previously untapped sources and will provide accurate, rapidly updated local forecasts worldwide.

Until now, our industry has spoken about innovative technologies somewhat theoretically, without providing a clear picture of how these powerful new innovations will be used. This has left people without a solid understanding of how they will ultimately manifest in our work and personal lives.

Businesses are, for a large part, uninformed and risk averse towards securing IoT. Enterprise, industrial and commercial IoT is a sticking point for business, particularly in South Africa, where boards of directors and senior executives are not yet knowledgeable about the benefits. This causes them to be exceptionally averse to risk, but this is changing as younger and more informed ‘tech-savvy’ executives are being appointed to boards.

While 2018 has certainly been a seesaw year for South African businesses, there have been significant – and very positive – developments on the IT and connectivity front.