How to read this finding
This is a qualitative application map. It does not quantify adoption, revenue, clinical success, or labor displaced. Company examples in the original slides were illustrative.
Where was AI being applied commercially in 2018?
The report mapped applications including drug discovery and warehouse automation. It distinguished software that improved decisions from robots that performed physical tasks.
Evidence you can use
AI business in the 2018 report
Historical snapshot: June 2018. Dates and populations are specified per row.
| Measure | Reported value | Definition and source |
|---|---|---|
| Drug-discovery applications | Design and repurposing | Two application families discussed; not a count of approved therapies.2018 report, PDF page 75 |
| Warehouse software tasks | Inventory, picking, queues | Examples of operational decisions suited to optimization.2018 report, PDF page 92 |
| Warehouse robotics tasks | Picking, packing, inspection | Physical workflows described in the report.2018 report, PDF page 92 |
This is a qualitative application map. It does not quantify adoption, revenue, clinical success, or labor displaced. Company examples in the original slides were illustrative.
Sources and dates
Historical snapshot published June 29, 2018. This web edition was prepared on 2026-10-11 from the online deck and original launch posts. Findings and forecasts retain their original time frame.
- 2018 report, PDF page 75Original 2018 report. This edition has no printed slide numbers. References use one-based PDF pages.
- 2018 report, PDF page 92Original 2018 report. This edition has no printed slide numbers. References use one-based PDF pages.
- 2018 report, PDF page 100Original 2018 report. This edition has no printed slide numbers. References use one-based PDF pages.
- State of AI Report 2018: online slides
- Stories from Air Street launch essayJuly 29, 2018.
Cite this page
Benaich, Nathan, and Ian Hogarth. “Where was AI being applied commercially in 2018?” State of AI Report 2018. Historical report snapshot; web edition prepared 2026-10-11.