IoT and AI push tech ethics to the forefront of development

The shift in interface brought about According to Global Market Insights, the global intelligent virtual assistant market is poised for a 30% compound annual growth rate in the next five years. Conversational, always-personalizing and always-available bots are jumping from smartphones and speakers to toys, headphones, cars, workplaces and beyond. People clutch their smartphones today, but imagine if software agents were children’s earliest playmates, forgiving tutors, witty advocates in the search for a job or a date or the go-to for council. A digital companion would have years of individualized data, including every search, step, share, location, handshake, level of stimulation, breath, transaction and thousands of other data points.

What happens when humans become so empowered by virtual agents and robotics that they become emotionally, socially or occupationally reliant? People’s relationships with machines will shift as AI infuses both consumer products and enterprise decision-making, and as AI itself learns how humans respond, emote and work.