By Abdul Razack, SVP and head of platforms, big data and analytics at Infosys

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the business and consumer landscape, but has it reached its full potential?

With the wide adoption of automation and machine learning among organisations, we’re closer than ever before. And in 2016, we will continue this momentum and see artificial intelligence redefine the future of work, deliver on the promise of big data, and even transform consumers’ lives.

Artificial intelligence will define the future of work

The pace at which large-scale organisations more widely adopt artificial intelligence to replace manual, repetitive tasks will rapidly increase. 

We’re already seeing enormous investments from companies like Toyota to use artificial intelligence for more precise decision making. This is just one example of the many companies taking this approach to foster higher productivity and business profits, and also streamline responsibilities for high-skill jobs.

We’ll start to see the effects of artificial intelligence in the way we work, shifting from problem solving being one of the most coveted skills in organisations to problem finding becoming the way to rise within an organisation and drive innovation.

Automation will deliver on the promise of big data

Time and again, we’re seeing big data initiatives fail because of how companies are organising their data. In order to capitalise on big data investments, companies need to transform insights into actions.

We’re already seeing big data automation being used to streamline and eliminate processes, but in 2016, it will be more widely used to accentuate the unique human ability to take complex problems and deliver creative solutions to them.

Google open sourcing its AI engine TensorFlow is a big step in this direction, enabling more companies to apply automation to their big data.

Machine learning will invisibly transform our lives

In 2016, machine learning will make the leap from the workplace to the consumer. We’re already seeing it happen with self-driving cars from Tesla and Amazon Echo’s voice commands. Next year, machine learning will quietly find its way into the household, making the objects around us not just connected, but smarter every day.

As artificial intelligence becomes a reality, it will redefine our lives – from our offices to our homes – and eliminate menial and repetitive tasks that would otherwise burden us every day.