"Computers are better than humans at things humans were never very good at," is how Matt Calkins, the chief executive of cloud software provider Appian, sums up artificial intelligence and machine learning. The remark drew appreciative laughter from a small group of journalists gathered to chat with Calkins over dinner in Manhattan a week ago. Calkins bears a vague resemblance to actor Hugo Weaving, who played "Agent Smith" in the Matrix trilogy. Coupled with a dry wit and a certain measured cadence, he has a way of delivering insightful and amusing quips that sneak up on you. Calkins's point at that moment in the dinner was not an idle, remark, however.