Picture this: Your smart refrigerator would soon be able to sense your groceries and milk supplies that need replenishment. This list will be automatically sent to your Smart Digital Assistant (Alexa, Google Home, etc.), which in turn will send it to an automated chatbot within the premise of your local departmental store.  

Result: Fresh supplies delivered, as required, without your intervention.  

The phrase “predictive analytics” holds a lot of promises—about solving problems before they occur, better service outcomes, targeting scarce resources, supporting decisions and improving responses in time critical situations.

With so much opportunity available, how can government start to consider the risks and benefits associated with this technology?

Only recently, the UK’s Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Hunt, wrote a letter to colleagues appealing for ideas on how to fund the future of the NHS, and he appears to be open to radical and innovative ideas.