Taking the first steps in an AI-enabled world

I have never been to Wuzhen or any of the other major internet conferences. Nor have I ever interacted with a "smart robot,""mined" virtual currencies or dabbled in chatbots. But increasingly, I am becoming resigned to the fact it's time to bite the bullet and get up to speed on what seems like a world changing in technological terms at a pace like never before.

Technology, in different guises, is here and right among us, intertwined with our daily lives and anyone who thinks they can successfully keep away from the growing tentacles of artificial intelligence and its like are fooling themselves.

And it's 'people of a certain age' - and I include myself in this - who are struggling most. Despite 50 years of life experience, this new avalanche of technical knowhow appears to be overwhelming people of my generation the most. I have tried my damndest to steer free of these new ways - but here and now, I announce I have decided to grit my teeth and embrace it.