"With its sensor technology, Bosch has taught things to feel. Now Bosch is teaching things to learn and act intelligently," explains Dr. Volkmar Denner, Chairman of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch and also responsible for research and advance development on the Bosch Board of Management. "In ten years' time, hardly any Bosch product will be conceivable without artificial intelligence. It will either have it itself or artificial intelligence will have played a key role in the development or manufacture of the product," said Denner. In just five years, products with artificial intelligence are expected to generate 10% of Bosch's sales. The BCAI will initially start with around 100 experts at the Bengaluru (India), Palo Alto (USA) and Renningen (Germany) locations. Bosch plans to invest 300 million euros in the expansion by 2021. The number of associates is set to multiply over the same period.

Intelligent digital assistants: a market worth billions

Bosch sees the personalization of the Internet of Things as the next stage in the development of connectivity. "Bosch will use artificial intelligence to turn things into intelligent assistants. Products will become partners, companions and personal assistants," said the Bosch CEO. According to forecasts by market researchers at Tractica, the number of users of digital assistants will increase by more than 350% by 2021. "Digital assistants are the interface to the customer. Bosch can stay in direct contact with customers with connected products. The better we know a user, the more personalized our service offering can be," Denner continues.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2017 in Las Vegas, Bosch presented the 'Kuri' home robot, among other things. The focus in the development of 'Kuri' was on personalization, i.e. the ability to interact with people. The company also showcased the 'Mykie' assistant, which is tailored to the requirements of the smart kitchen. For example, 'Mykie' knows the contents of the fridge, writes shopping lists independently and helps with cooking. At the CES, a concept car gave a preview of the personal assistant 'Auto'. According to a new study by Bosch and Prognos, users can use around 100 hours a year more efficiently and more relaxed by connecting their vehicle.