The augmented reality wave is just around the corner, even though most people with a smartphone have yet to try it. The question of whether consumers would pay anything for AR features is now being explored, and it appears some would be willing to part with some cash for AR action.

Many people are ready to embrace artificial intelligence in the workplace and even are ready to take instructions from AI bots at work. Yet there appears to be a gap in how people use AI at home and at work.

Ownership of home digital assistants has been growing dramatically over the last year but it looks like there will be some holdouts in adopting the smart speakers. Digital assistants like Amazon Echo, Google Home and Apple HomePod are owned by 19% of people, according to a new global study.

Consumers were asked if they would trust a digital assistant to provide general information such as weather, news, research and product information, and results show that the trust level varies widely by country.

Conversations online about smart homes took off around 2013. By 2017 there were more than 250,000 posts related to smart homes, based on an analysis of online activity.

Marketers are becoming more innovative in how they get consumers to interact with smart home speakers. As a promo for "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," the projected blockbuster movie opening this weekend, an interactive "Jurassic Park Revealed" is being released for Amazon's line of smart home speakers.

Shipments of VR and AR headsets are down 30% from a year ago, primarily since they no longer come with many high-end smartphones, as they did during much of 2017.

Marriott is adding Amazon's Alexa to hotel rooms at select hotels as part of Amazon's new Alexa for Hospitality program. Marriott will be installing Amazon Echo devices in select properties at Marriott Hotels, Westin Hotels and Resorts, Aloft Hotels, St. Regis Hotels and Resorts and Autograph Collection Hotels.

The Internet of Things shows no sign of slowing on its way to becoming a trillion dollar market. Leading spending growth over the next few years will be the consumer segment, according to a new semiannual worldwide spending guide.

Amazon Go, the store without cashiers that automatically charges people for things they put in their bags, carts or pockets after they leave the store, is but one example of the automation of payments.