10 Artificial Intelligence Technologies That Will Dominate In 2019

The implications of recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have spurred heated debate globally. As science fiction starts to become reality, AI products are slowly infiltrating homes and workplaces. This is raising concerns about the potential detrimental effects of AI on the job market, or even about the dangers of an AI singularity, where sentient robots take over the world and destroy humans.

While these are all valid discussions, I believe that the focus of AI should not be just on cool home gadgets or on process optimisation and automation. Instead, AI can be used to fundamentally rethink how we solve the world’s problems.

Let’s have a look at ten A.I. technologies to watch out in 2019.

1. Natural Language Generation

Natural language generation is an AI sub-discipline that converts data into text, enabling computers to communicate ideas with perfect accuracy.

It is used in customer service to generate detailed reports and market summaries and is offered by various companies like Attivio, Automated Insights, Cambridge Semantics, Digital Reasoning or Lucidworks.

2. Speech recognition

Alexa is just one of the systems that can understand you. Every day, more and more systems are created that can transcribe human language, reaching hundreds of thousands through voice-response interactive systems and mobile apps.

3. Virtual Agents

A Virtual Agent is an computer generated, animated, artificial intelligence virtual character (usually with anthropomorphic appearance) that serves as an online customer service representative. It leads a intelligent conversation with users, responds to their questions and performs adequate non-verbal behavior.

Virtual agents are currently being used mostly for customer service and support and as smart home managers.
Some of the companies that provide virtual agents include Amazon, Apple, Artificial Solutions, Assist AI, Creative Virtual, Google, IBM, IPsoft, Microsoft and Satisfi.

4. Machine Learning Platforms

These days, computers can also easily learn, and they can be incredibly intelligent! Machine learning (ML) is a subdiscipline of computer science and a branch of AI. Its goal is to develop techniques that allow computers to learn.

By providing algorithms, APIs (application programming interface), development and training tools, big data, applications and other machines, ML platforms are gaining more and more traction every day.
They are currently mainly being used for prediction and classification.

Some of the companies selling ML platforms include Amazon, Fractal Analytics, Google, H2O.ai, Microsoft, SAS, Skytree and Adext.

5. AI-Optimized Hardware

AI technology makes hardware much friendlier.

How?

Through new graphic and central processing units and processing devices specifically designed and structured to execute AI-oriented tasks.

And if you haven’t seen them already, expect the imminent appearance and wide acceptance of AI-optimized silicon chips that can be inserted right into your portable devices and elsewhere.
You can get access to this technology through Alluviate, Cray, Google, IBM, Intel, and Nvidia.

6. Decision Management

Intelligent machines are capable of introducing rules and logic to AI systems so you can use them for initial setup/training, ongoing maintenance, and tuning.

Decision management has already been incorporated into a variety of corporate applications to assist and execute automated decision, making your business as profitable as possible.

Check out Advanced Systems Concepts, Informatica, Maana, Pegasystems, and UiPath for additional options.

7. Deep Learning Platforms

Deep learning platforms use a unique form of ML that involves artificial neural circuits with various abstraction layers that can mimic the brain, processing data and creating patterns for decision making.
It is currently mainly being used to recognize patterns and classify applications that are only compatible with large-scale data sets.

Deep Instinct, Ersatz Labs, Fluid AI, MathWorks, Peltarion, Saffron Technology and Sentient Technologies all have deep learning options worthy of exploring.

8. Biometrics

This technology can identify, measure and analyze human behavior and physical aspects of the body’s structure and form. Systems like this can be used for example during the interrogations to detect If suspect is lying or telling the truth. Biometric “lie detector” would be able to monitor much more than only heart rate, breathing or blood pressure.

9. Image Recognition

Image recognition is the process of identifying and detecting an object or feature in a digital image or video, and AI is increasingly being stacked on top of this technology to great effect. AI can search social media platforms for photos and compare them to a wide range of data sets to decide which ones are most relevant during image searches.

Image recognition technology can also be used to detect license plates, diagnose disease, analyze clients and their opinions and verify users based on their face.

Clarifai provides image recognition systems for customers to detect near-duplicates and find similar uncategorized images.

SenseTime is one of the leaders in this industry and develops face recognition technology that can be applied to payment and picture analysis for bank card verification and other applications. And GumGum’s mission is to unlock the value of images and videos produced across the web using AI technology.

10. Cyber Defense

Cyber defense is a computer network defense mechanism that focuses on preventing, detecting and providing timely responses to attacks or threats to infrastructure and information.
AI and ML are now being used to move cyberdefense into a new evolutionary phase in response to an increasingly hostile environment: Breach Level Index detected a total of over 2 billion breached records during 2017. Seventy-six percent of the records in the survey were lost accidentally, and 69% were an identity theft type of breach.

Recurrent neural networks, which are capable of processing sequences of inputs, can be used in combination with ML techniques to create supervised learning technologies, which uncover suspicious user activity and detect up to 85% of all cyber attacks.

Startups such as Darktrace, which pairs behavioral analytics with advanced mathematics to automatically detect abnormal behavior within organizations and Cylance, which applies AI algorithms to stop malware and mitigate damage from zero-day attacks, are both working in the area of AI-powered cyber defense.

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence is truly revolutionary. Its impact can be heard almost every section of our society. However, many experts think that it can lead to many job losses, increasing unemployment. Many prominent experts also believe that A.I. driven machines can be a threat to the whole human kind. For now, we can only focus on the positive aspects of A.I, and its role in changing our daily lives.

Five ways to protect yourself from hackers.

It goes without saying that smartphone usage has become increasingly popular in contemporary times. In fact, for most people around the world, smartphones have become their most important and most prized electronic gadget.

It is common knowledge that too many people, especially young ones, now own a smartphone and those who don’t have the gadget yet, keep striving really hard to lay hands on one. In fact it is estimated that no less than two billion people around the world now own a smartphone each. The number is expected to keep growing with each day.

A Target For Hackers

Apparently the growth and spread of smartphone usage has made the device one of the most sought pieces of technological gadgets available at the moment.

However, this has also made it one of the biggest targets of hackers who try by all means to get into people’s virtual private places just to gather sensitive information to use against them.

This is why it is very important to make your smartphone hack-proof in order to keep the bad people away.

How To Protect Your Smartphone

There are certain tips you should keep in mind when you are trying to protect your smartphone from hackers. Below are some of those ways.

1. Do Not Joke With Your Updates

This may come across as a no-brainer but it is very important and you should not joke with it at all. Those updates that you keep ignoring whenever they pop up on your phones may just be what you need to keep hackers away from you.

Most smartphones alert their users to update certain apps and features in them but even if your does not alert you to perform any update, it is highly advisable to visit an app store and install the important updates on your mobile just as soon as they are available.

This is because refusing to update your phone leaves it with a lot of vulnerabilities which hackers can exploit in breaking into your phone.

2. Make It Difficult For Intruders To Secure Access Into Your Phone

This is a good one. Do not make it easy for people to have access into your phone. Make sure you have it locked. This is because if a thief or hacker gets their hands physically on your phone, they can use it cause a lot of damage that may end up ruining you in the long run.

Your SMS, emails and other areas in your phone may contain too much information that should not be seen by anyone, not to talk of a hardened thief. So keep it locked.

Usually your smartphone allows you to have a six-digit passcode with which you can lock your phone. Other options are also available such as facial recognition or even fingerprints. Use any of them to keep your phone safe.

However, be warned that these methods are not altogether perfect. This is because any hacker determined to cause havoc can still gain access into your phone with these locks in place. But it goes a long way to get your phones locked up.

3. Be Very Careful With The Kind Of Things You Install On Your Phone

Many times when you install an app in your phone, you will get requests to allow it access sensitive areas of your device such as your camera, your files and even your microphone. This unhindered access to your phone, even though legitimate sometimes, can end up making it very prone to abuse.

It has been revealed that many malicious apps now appear on some app stores and remain there unnoticed for months. During this time, they can infiltrate a lot of phones by enticing users with their mouth-watering, yet malicious features.

The bottom line is that you must be very careful with the kind of things you allow into your phone by checking and reading everything that comes with it before letting it in your device. Also don’t download anything unless if it is from a familiar website.

4. Plan Ahead To Track And Lock Your Phone

This is a plan for remedy if you phone gets stolen. Apparently, no one knows when thieves can strike hard and disappear with your phone, leaving you dazed. So you can plan ahead on what to do when that happens.

As a Smartphone user, you can set your phone to automatically delete itself after a particular number of wrong attempts to type in your password by an outsider. You can activate this feature especially if the phone contains files that are super-sensitive.

However if you think that this method is too harsh, there are other things you can do. Remember that the two giants of mobile technology, Apple and Google, have services that will aid you in tracking your phone if it has been physically taken away by thieves. These services are called “find my devices” and you can set them up on your phone.

If you are an Apple user, you can access these services on the iCloud website and if you are using Android, you can access the service of Google at google.co.uk/android/devicemanager.

5. Stay Away From Public Wifi

You may not have realised it before, but it is a proven fact that wifi hotspots in public places are easy targets for hacking gurus.

These people who have great hacking skills can see exactly what you do online as you work. They can even see your emails, your financial data and even your login information with which they can log in into your social media accounts and then proceed to cause serious havoc. Beware!

These hackers are just everywhere and they have gotten more desperate by the day.

The best way to protect yourself from these menace is to just stay away from connecting into a public wifi. But if you feel you need it desperate for something you want to do online, make sure that you connect through a VPN tool which can encrypt your activity online. This is the best way to go online via a public wifi hotspot.

If your smartphone is up to date, you should have VPN apps available and you can use this to make it impossible for anyone to track you online.

All you need to know about Jeff Bezos who has a networth of $150 Billion.

With a net worth of roughly $150 billion, Jeff Bezos is the world's richest person, and the richest person in modern history. Here's how he rose from a hedge funder to the creator of one of the world's largest tech companies.

Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos.  (David Ryder/Getty Images)

It's been an eventful few months of Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.

In July, Bezos reached a new milestone: his net worth hit $150 billion, making him, as Bloomberg put it, the richest person in modern history.

And then on Tuesday, Bezos and Amazon hit another milestone: Amazon briefly became the second US company to achieve a valuation of more than $1 trillion — though its market cap sunk just under the threshhold thereafter.

That success hasn't come overnight, however. Bezos began his career in the hedge fund world in the 90s, then left a cushy job to launch his own startup.

Here's how Bezos got his start, and built one of the largest tech companies in the world.

Jillian D'Onfro and Eugene Kim contributed earlier versions of this story.

Jeff Bezos' mom, Jackie, was a teenager when she had him in January 1964. She had recently married Cuban immigrant Mike Bezos, who adopted Jeff. Jeff didn't learn that Mike wasn't his real father until he was 10, but says he was more fazed about learning he needed to get glasses than he was about the news.

Jeff Bezos' mom, Jackie, was a teenager when she had him in January 1964. She had recently married Cuban immigrant Mike Bezos, who adopted Jeff. Jeff didn't learn that Mike wasn't his real father until he was 10, but says he was more fazed about learning he needed to get glasses than he was about the news.  (Screenshot / Bio)

Source: Wired

When Bezos was 4, his mother told his biological father, who previously had worked as a circus performer, to stay out of their lives. When Brad Stone interviewed Bezos' biological father for Stone's book "The Everything Store," Bezos' dad had no idea who his son had become.

Not Jeff Bezos' father.  (Reuters/Eric Gaillard)

Bezos showed signs of brilliance from an early age. When he was a toddler, he took apart his crib with a screwdriver because he wanted to sleep in a real bed.

Bezos showed signs of brilliance from an early age. When he was a toddler, he took apart his crib with a screwdriver because he wanted to sleep in a real bed.  (Daniel Lobo/Flickr)

From ages 4 to 16, Bezos spent summers on his grandparents' ranch in Texas, doing things like repairing windmills and castrating bulls.

From ages 4 to 16, Bezos spent summers on his grandparents' ranch in Texas, doing things like repairing windmills and castrating bulls.  (Flickr / Big Grey Mare)

His grandfather, Preston Gise, was a huge inspiration for Bezos and helped kindle his passion for intellectual pursuits. At a commencement address in 2010, Bezos said Gise taught him "it's harder to be kind than clever."

Jeff Bezos  (AP Images)

Bezos fell in love with reruns of the original "Star Trek" and became a fan of later versions too. Early on, he considered naming Amazon MakeItSo.com, a reference to a line from Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

Bezos fell in love with reruns of the original "Star Trek" and became a fan of later versions too. Early on, he considered naming Amazon MakeItSo.com, a reference to a line from Captain Jean-Luc Picard.  (Star Trek)

In school, Bezos told teachers "the future of mankind is not on this planet." As a kid, he wanted to be a space entrepreneur. Now he owns a space-exploration company called Blue Origin.

In school, Bezos told teachers "the future of mankind is not on this planet." As a kid, he wanted to be a space entrepreneur. Now he owns a space-exploration company called Blue Origin.  (Blue Origin)

Source: Wired

After spending a miserable summer working at McDonald's as a teen, Bezos, together with his girlfriend, started the Dream Institute, a 10-day summer camp for kids. They charged $600 a kid and managed to sign up six students. The "Lord of the Rings" series made the required reading list.

After spending a miserable summer working at McDonald's as a teen, Bezos, together with his girlfriend, started the Dream Institute, a 10-day summer camp for kids. They charged $600 a kid and managed to sign up six students. The "Lord of the Rings" series made the required reading list.  (Flickr / Jessie Moore)

Source: Wired

Bezos eventually went to college at Princeton and majored in computer science. Upon graduation, he turned down job offers from Intel and Bell Labs to join a startup called Fitel.

A young Bezos at an early computer.  (Screenshot / Bio)

After he quit Fitel, Bezos considered partnering with Halsey Minor — who would later found CNET — to launch a startup that would deliver news by fax.

After he quit Fitel, Bezos considered partnering with Halsey Minor — who would later found CNET — to launch a startup that would deliver news by fax.  (Karl Baron/Flickr)

Source: Wired

Instead, he got a job at the hedge fund D.E. Shaw. He became a senior vice president after only four years.

Instead, he got a job at the hedge fund D.E. Shaw. He became a senior vice president after only four years.  (Reuters/Arko Datta)

Meanwhile, Bezos was taking ballroom dancing classes as part of a scheme to increase his "women flow." Just as Wall Streeters have a process for increasing their "deal flow," Bezos thought analytically about meeting women.

Meanwhile, Bezos was taking ballroom dancing classes as part of a scheme to increase his "women flow." Just as Wall Streeters have a process for increasing their "deal flow," Bezos thought analytically about meeting women.  (Lisi Niesner/Reuters)

He married MacKenzie Tuttle, a D.E. Shaw research associate, in 1993. She's now a novelist. The couple has four kids together.

He married MacKenzie Tuttle, a D.E. Shaw research associate, in 1993. She's now a novelist. The couple has four kids together.  (AP)

In 1994, Bezos read that the web had grown 2,300% in one year. This number astounded him, and he decided he needed to find some way to take advantage of its rapid growth. He made a list of 20 possible products to sell online and decided books were the best option.

In 1994, Bezos read that the web had grown 2,300% in one year. This number astounded him, and he decided he needed to find some way to take advantage of its rapid growth. He made a list of 20 possible products to sell online and decided books were the best option.  (Paul Falardeau)

Bezos decided to leave D.E. Shaw even though he had a great job.

Bezos decided to leave D.E. Shaw even though he had a great job.  (AP)

"When you are in the thick of things, you can get confused by small stuff," he said later. "I knew when I was 80 that I would never, for example, think about why I walked away from my 1994 Wall Street bonus right in the middle of the year at the worst possible time. That kind of thing just isn't something you worry about when you're 80 years old. At the same time, I knew that I might sincerely regret not having participated in this thing called the Internet that I thought was going to be a revolutionizing event. When I thought about it that way … it was incredibly easy to make the decision."

His boss at the firm, David E. Shaw, tried to persuade Bezos to stay. But Bezos was already determined to start his own company. He felt he'd rather try and fail at a startup than never try at all.

His boss at the firm, David E. Shaw, tried to persuade Bezos to stay. But Bezos was already determined to start his own company. He felt he'd rather try and fail at a startup than never try at all.  (REUTERS/Jason Redmond)

Source: Wired

And so Amazon was born. MacKenzie and Jeff flew to Texas to borrow a car from his father, and then they drove to Seattle. Bezos was making revenue projections in the passenger seat the whole way, though the couple did stop to watch the sunrise at the Grand Canyon.

And so Amazon was born. MacKenzie and Jeff flew to Texas to borrow a car from his father, and then they drove to Seattle. Bezos was making revenue projections in the passenger seat the whole way, though the couple did stop to watch the sunrise at the Grand Canyon.  (Shutterstock/Galyna Andrushko)

Bezos started Amazon.com in a garage with a potbelly stove. He held most of his meetings at the neighborhood Barnes & Noble.

Bezos started Amazon.com in a garage with a potbelly stove. He held most of his meetings at the neighborhood Barnes & Noble.  (Mike Segar/Reuters)

Source: Wired

In the early days, a bell would ring in the office every time someone made a purchase, and everyone would gather around to see whether anyone knew the customer. It took only a few weeks before it was ringing so often they had to make it stop.

In the early days, a bell would ring in the office every time someone made a purchase, and everyone would gather around to see whether anyone knew the customer. It took only a few weeks before it was ringing so often they had to make it stop.  (Flickr / James Duncan Davidson)

Learn more about some of Amazon's early employees here.

In the first month of its launch, Amazon sold books to people in all 50 states and in 45 different countries. And it continued to grow. Amazon went public on May 15, 1997.

In the first month of its launch, Amazon sold books to people in all 50 states and in 45 different countries. And it continued to grow. Amazon went public on May 15, 1997.  (Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

When the dot-com crash came, analysts called the company "Amazon.bomb." But it weathered the storm and ended up being one of the few startups that wasn't wiped out by the dot-com bust.

When the dot-com crash came, analysts called the company "Amazon.bomb." But it weathered the storm and ended up being one of the few startups that wasn't wiped out by the dot-com bust.  (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Amazon shares have continued to go up since the crash (until the recent market correction). It has now gone beyond selling books to offering almost everything you can imagine, including appliances, clothing and even cloud computing services.

An Amazon warehouse.  (Shutterstock)

In the early days, Bezos was a demanding boss and could explode at employees. Rumor has it he hired a leadership coach to help him tone it down.

In the early days, Bezos was a demanding boss and could explode at employees. Rumor has it he hired a leadership coach to help him tone it down.  (Reuters)

Here are some of the strategies Bezos used in building his Amazon empire.

Bezos is known for banning PowerPoint presentations at Amazon. Instead, he requires his staff to turn in papers of a specific length on their proposals to encourage critical thinking over simplistic bullet points.

Bezos is known for banning PowerPoint presentations at Amazon. Instead, he requires his staff to turn in papers of a specific length on their proposals to encourage critical thinking over simplistic bullet points.  (Thomson Reuters)

Bezos is also known for creating a frugal company culture that doesn't offer perks like free food or massages.

An Amazon office.  (Business Insider)

In 1998, Bezos became an early investor in Google. He invested $250,000, which was worth about 3.3 million shares when the company went public in 2004. Those would be worth billions today (Bezos hasn't said whether he kept any of his stock after the initial public offering).

In 1998, Bezos became an early investor in Google. He invested $250,000, which was worth about 3.3 million shares when the company went public in 2004. Those would be worth billions today (Bezos hasn't said whether he kept any of his stock after the initial public offering).  (Bloomberg Game Changers)

What does Bezos do with all his money? In 2012, he donated $2.5 million to defend gay marriage in Washington.

Jeff Bezos  (REUTERS/Abhishek N. Chinnappa)

Bezos has also donated $42 million and part of his land in Texas to the construction of The Clock Of The Long Now, an underground timepiece designed to work for 10,000 years.

Bezos has also donated $42 million and part of his land in Texas to the construction of The Clock Of The Long Now, an underground timepiece designed to work for 10,000 years.  (The Long Now Foundation / Facebook)

In August 2013, Bezos bought The Washington Post for $250 million.

In August 2013, Bezos bought The Washington Post for $250 million.  (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

His space company Blue Origin made history in 2015 when it became one of the first commercial companies to successfully launch a reusable rocket.

His space company Blue Origin made history in 2015 when it became one of the first commercial companies to successfully launch a reusable rocket.  (Isaiah J. Downing/Reuters)

Bezos' interest in flying has gotten him into trouble in the past. In 2003, Bezos almost died in a helicopter crash in Texas while scouting a site for a test-launch facility for Blue Origin.

This isn't Bezos' helicopter.  (NTSB)

Source: CNN

But in early 2016, he flew his personal jet to Germany to pick up and bring home the Washington Post reporter who had been detained by Iran.

But in early 2016, he flew his personal jet to Germany to pick up and bring home the Washington Post reporter who had been detained by Iran.  (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Bezos is said to own a 5.35-acre estate on Seattle's Lake Washington that includes 200 yards of shoreline.

An Amazon-branded Boeing 767 freighter, nicknamed Amazon One, flies over Lake Washington.  (Stephen Brashear/Getty)

He also bought a seven-bedroom, $24.5 million mansion in Beverly Hills in 2007. There's a greenhouse, tennis court, pool, and guest house on the property, and it neighbors Tom Cruise's estate.

Bezos' house in Beverly Hills.  (Dream Homes Magazine)

Source: Forbes

In January 2017, Bezos bought the Textile Museum, a pair of mansions in Washington, D.C.'s Kalorama neighborhood. The property sold for $23 million and is the largest in Washington. He's currently spending $12 million to renovate the place.

In January 2017, Bezos bought the Textile Museum, a pair of mansions in Washington, D.C.'s Kalorama neighborhood. The property sold for $23 million and is the largest in Washington. He's currently spending $12 million to renovate the place.  (AgnosticPreachersKid/Wikimedia Commons)

Here's another look at the mansions.

Here's another look at the mansions.  (Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider)

Bezos also owns three linked apartments totaling 10,000 square feet in New York City's Century Tower.

Bezos also owns three linked apartments totaling 10,000 square feet in New York City's Century Tower.  (iStock)

Source: Forbes

Now, more than 20 years after going public, Amazon has a market cap of over $900 billion. Barclays predicted Amazon could be the first trillion-dollar company.

Now, more than 20 years after going public, Amazon has a market cap of over $900 billion. Barclays predicted Amazon could be the first trillion-dollar company.  (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

In August 2017, Amazon officially acquired Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. Almost a year later, the changes to the popular grocery store are visible: Customers who are Amazon Prime subscribers can get 10% of sale prices, and you'll see some Amazon branded items offered, including tech products like the popular Amazon Echo line.

In August 2017, Amazon officially acquired Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. Almost a year later, the changes to the popular grocery store are visible: Customers who are Amazon Prime subscribers can get 10% of sale prices, and you'll see some Amazon branded items offered, including tech products like the popular Amazon Echo line.  (Kate Taylor/Business Insider)

In July 2017, Bezos became the world's richest person for the first time, surpassing Microsoft founder Bill Gates. At the time, his net worth was more than $90 billion. While Gates reclaimed his top spot shortly after, Bezos became No. 1 again after Amazon released its Q3 2017 earnings in late October. Now, he's holding steady as the richest person in modern history.

In July 2017, Bezos became the world's richest person for the first time, surpassing Microsoft founder Bill Gates. At the time, his net worth was more than $90 billion. While Gates reclaimed his top spot shortly after, Bezos became No. 1 again after Amazon released its Q3 2017 earnings in late October. Now, he's holding steady as the richest person in modern history.  (Getty Images)

Despite his high net worth, Bezos doesn't actually take home a high salary, comparatively speaking. His annual salary comes out to $81,840, according to Bloomberg.

Despite his high net worth, Bezos doesn't actually take home a high salary, comparatively speaking. His annual salary comes out to $81,840, according to Bloomberg.  (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Much of Bezos' wealth comes not from his salary but from the Amazon shares he owns. Bezos currently holds 78,893,033 shares in Amazon, accounting for a 16.3% ownership stake.

In August, Amazon became the second US company after Apple to reach a $1 trillion valuation after its stock gained 2% to hit the magic number of $2,050.27 per share. However, it quickly dipped below that magic threshold in intraday trading.

In August, Amazon became the second US company after Apple to reach a $1 trillion valuation after its stock gained 2% to hit the magic number of $2,050.27 per share. However, it quickly dipped below that magic threshold in intraday trading.  (Reuters/Lindsey Wasson)

10 of the most expensive cars in the world updated 2018 List

Remember: if you have to ask about the price, you can’t afford it.

There are cars, there are luxury cars, and then there are vehicles of such outrageously-ostentatious opulence, you’d be forgiven for thinking a chauffeur was included in the deal.

But when it comes to the most expensive cars in the world, these elite driving machines are about so much more than just transportation. Like any good art, these rolling art pieces don’t come cheap and seem to highlight the priorities of the one percent – that pinnacle of society in which flamboyance and swagger take precedence.

So go on, have a geez at the most expensive machines to grace our roads in 2018. And remember: if you have to ask about the price…you can’t afford it.

Koenigsegg Agera – $2.1 million USD

If you haven’t heard of the Swedish manufacturer, there’s probably good reason for it – they focus exclusively on uber-expensive autos. The Agera pumps out over 900 horsepower, and its carbon fiber body makes it lightweight and aerodynamic. Oh and did we mention, it’s also very beautiful.

Koenigsegg’s website claims the Agera was built with a “less is more” philosophy. But that doesn’t seem to translate to the price, which will set you back $2.1 million.

Aston Martin One-77 – $1.8 million USD

The car of choice by superagents the world over, Aston Martin is known for their first-class rides. The One-77 is the pride of the pack, utilising all of Aston Martin’s technological skills and artistic design. The company only built a limited number, so expect to pay a bit of real estate for the privilege of owning one. As Aston Martin claims, this isn’t a car – it’s an “automotive art form” and like all good art, it doesn’t come cheap at $1.87 million.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport – $2 million USD

Italian manufacturers Bugatti are automotive artisans. They built the luxurious Veyron, the high-performance Grand Sport, and for their third endeavour they thought ‘what the heck’, and combined the two into one elite supercar.

Bugattis are for the wealthy and when you get two of their most prominent brands combined in one car, even the rich might be flailing in the money department. The cost? 2 million.

Maybach Landaulet – $1.4 million USD

Sometimes the insanely expensive rides aren’t necessarily the most practical, or comfortable. Thankfully, Maybach built the Landaulet for those who want their ride to be comfortable rather than speedy. Think of it as a yacht on wheels, with a spacious leather interior and only the finest luxuries and a convertible rear roof so you can wave at the commoners you overtake on the streets.

That said, comfort doesn’t come cheap with the Landaulet setting you back $1.4 million.

Pagani Zonda F Roadster – $1.4 million USD

Italian manufacturer Pagani makes a variety of uber-expensive sports cars. The Zonda F Roadster has all the luxury and performance you’d expect from an Italian supercar and a price that might just exceed expectations.

For the least known of the Italian manufacturers, Pagani aren’t shy of demanding a hefty price of $1.4 million for the Zonda F Roadster. And yet it isn’t even the most expensive car Pagani makes.

Koenigsegg Trevita – $2.21 million USD

Again, Koenigsegg makes the list with another hugely-expensive elite car. The carbon diamond-weave Trevite is one of only three ever made, making it possibly the most exclusive car on the planet (as well as one of the most expensive).

To have the bragging rights of owning this rare automotive beast that has all the precision of a Koenigsegg, you’ll need $2.21 million. If it helps to seal the deal, Jay Leno reportedly owns one.

W Motors Lykan Hypersport – $3.4 million USD

Right off the bat, if a vehicle had a starring role in the blockbuster Furious 7, you know it ain’t going to be cheap. This Lebanese supercar did just that, crashing through not one, not two, but three skyscrapers in Dubai. In a franchise filled with high-end exotics and one-off custom creations, the fact that the Hypersport garnered so much attention is a testament to its beauty and makes the $3.4 million price tag almost reasonable…almost.

Ferrari F60 America – $2.5 million USD

Ferrari is renowned for high-performance and high prices. This supercar is mechanically identical to the F12 and with a 6.2-litre V12, it churns out 740 glorious horsepower, enough to propel the car to 60mph in only 3.1 seconds.

The ultra-rare flag-waver harks back to Ferrari’s bespoke past, as the company built several region-specific sports cars in the 1950s and 1960s.