Is it the stuff of flashy tech demos or a real technology that is already starting to transform the business world and the working lives of millions? Artificial intelligence has long been recognised as the most important new general-purpose technology for a generation. But it has been less clear how its impact will be felt in everyday business life.

This week’s annual developer events from some of the biggest US tech companies have been a good moment to take the temperature. Microsoft, Meta and Google’s cloud division each made a case to developers for why their tech platforms deserve attention, with prowess in AI very much at the centre.

“We are at a tipping point” for the technology, claimed Google chief executive Sundar Pichai. Not to be outdone, his counterpart at Microsoft, Satya Nadella, called this “a real inflection point”. The claims did not sound new, but the extent to which AI now suffuses many of their products and services was evident.