IN a way, 2018 has been like the Ninja Warrior TV series for emerging technologies with AI, automation, data and blockchain the key competitors trying to surmount the many obstacles and challenges in their way. And, like the programme, so far these technologies have played hard and achieved much, but failed to win the big cash prize and become the overall winner.

So, which of these will become the overall champion in 2019? In fact, will there be an overall champion? Here are our predictions for the year.

AI, stealth adoption