Think Conference 2018 highlights: Cognitive apps, extended reality, building digital trust and more
The past four days have been filled with activity at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas for Think Conference 2018, a first-of-its-kind business and technology event. The event drew over 30,000 global attendees for labs, demos, sessions and more.
It’s simply impossible to catch even a fraction of the thousands of educational sessions, networking opportunities or live entertainment at Think 2018, which took place from March 19-22, 2018. Luckily, you can watch Think 2018 replays of content and announcements online.
Attendees have learned about an exciting new era in cognitive apps, how extended reality could define mobile value in the near future, building digital trust with consumers and much more.
Think Conference 2018: Cognitive apps transform the enterprise via the IBM–Apple partnership
On day two of Think 2018, the session “Go Mobile with Apple and IBM: Transforming Industries and Professions” focused on an exciting new aspect of the IBM–Apple partnership: IBM Watson Services for Core ML. This product represents a new era for the smart enterprise where developers are empowered to build apps with cognitive intelligence for Apple devices.
"We're really excited to see the power and performance of IBM Watson Services for Core ML. It can inspire a whole new generation of smart enterprise apps that get smarter and smarter the more we use them." – Brian Croll, @Apple #Think2018 https://t.co/a0tpqGz0Z4 pic.twitter.com/eZVTEDYopY
— IBM Mobile (@ibmmobile) March 20, 2018
“We are changing the way people work — focusing on professions and bringing those capabilities to the industry,” says Mahmoud Naghshineh, General Manager of the Apple Partnership at IBM. With Watson for Core ML, “the more you use your apps, the more background information you provide, and that is used to train IBM Watson. The more you use the app, the better it gets.”
"The more you use your apps, the more background information you provide, and that is used to train @IBMWatson – the more you use the app the better it gets." says Mahmoud Naghshineh, @IBM #Think2018 https://t.co/Qgwz4k4RDr pic.twitter.com/uIbOHLV9uM
— IBM Mobile (@ibmmobile) March 20, 2018
Maximizing mobile value with XR
“Emerging tech is no longer emerging,” said Armando Ortiz, IBM Digital Strategy and iX North America Mobile and Apple Partnership Leader. On the third day of Think 2018, Ortiz joined with several other experts for a discussion titled “Maximizing Mobile Value through Emerging Tech.”
“Digital reinvention can start with a single app. For the airline industry, it can start with a passenger app.” —Armando Ortiz, @IBM_iX Mobile Leader, at #Think2018 https://t.co/O9D4Khm2MG pic.twitter.com/hk3NxRG9ll
— IBM Mobile (@ibmmobile) March 20, 2018
At Think Conference 2018, there’s been a huge theme around organizations are learning how to innovate and integrate emerging tech across the technology ecosystem. Real organizations are learning how to get the most value possible out of mobile by integrating AI, IoT, the cloud, blockchain and extended reality (XR) — defined as the convergence of AR, VR and mixed reality.
By 2020, the XR market is predicted to be $162 billion. Ortiz says, “This is going to disrupt a lot of the way we use technology and how we interact with the real world.” As consumer expectations evolve to include more enhanced reality, organizations with an ecosystem for innovation will be positioned to win.
Digital transformation is all about me
What is digital transformation, anyway? According to Jason Keenaghan, director, offering management at IBM Security, “Digital transformation is about me.”
He continues: “In the new world, you have to put the user at the center of the universe.” Simply having mobile innovations with AI or XR isn’t enough unless it’s coupled with a secure, personalized user experience that builds digital trust.
“In this new world, you have to put the user at the center of the universe. It’s about the user.” – @jkeenagh on the importance of user experience within a digital transformation. #think2018 Watch live: https://t.co/R8VUO3oYjc pic.twitter.com/ryZz5QvyGT
— IBM Security (@IBMSecurity) March 21, 2018
This means ditching traditional authentication methods, according to Keenaghan, and adopting new methods of authentication that focus on user knowledge (such as questions), device or biometrics. From the user’s perspective, these smarter methods of digital trust-building should result in fewer frustrating attempts to create an account and more trust that the enterprise is dealing with their data securely.
Mobile innovation for a better future
Mobile innovation as a driver for social change and a better future for everyone was a major theme at the recent Mobile World Congress 2018, and it’s also been a huge focal point at Think Conference 2018. The event was kicked off with a “Science Slam,” where attendees learned how AI-powered robot microscopes could clean dirty ocean waters.
Other highlights from the intersection of mobile innovation and social change included a talk by Emmy award–winning journalist Lisa Ling on “Global Realities and Societal Resiliency.” Predoctoral researcher Cecilia Borschini also shared some inspiring insight into how lattice cryptography could one day offer new defenses against hackers.
The transformative mobile innovations on display in demos, sessions and other content at Think Conference 2018 have left attendees feeling inspired. With new tools for cognitive apps, extending reality and building consumer trust, the near future of enterprise mobility is more user-focused than ever.