The rise of messaging apps has changed how people want to communicate with brands, and while some companies are taking to social networks and chatbots, their offerings leave much to be desired. Enter Hero, an app that wants to make messaging brands as easy as chatting with friends.

Billboards are getting smarter as brands integrate interactive features into their adverts. But often the most effective adverts don't require a passerby to do anything but look at them. This was the thinking behind a Women's Aid's billboard campaign depicting a bruised woman.

With artificial intelligence becoming more intuitive and sophisticated, businesses are now using chatbots to help streamline customer interactions. But one app developer is harnessing them for the greater good, helping homeless people secure emergency housing.

The number of people using messaging apps is set to hit two billion by 2018, so it’s no wonder brands want to get in on the action. Major tech players are touting chatbots as the next big thing, but can they really revolutionise online interactions, or are they just part of an industry-driven pipe dream?