**1. Introduction**

Artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive computing (CC) are subject of increased attention of both academia and industry today [1] The understanding is that AI- and CCenhanced methods and techniques create a variety of opportunities relating to improving basic and advanced business functions, including production processes, logistics, financial management and others. AI-enhanced tools and methods tend to offer more precise results in the field of engineering, financial accounting, tourism, air-pollution management and many more. The objective of this special issue was to bring together diverse communities of scholars and engage in a broad discussion on the role of AI and CC in today's society, including the process of policy-making. A great number of submissions was received in response to the initial call for papers. Out of these, 14 papers were eventually selected for inclusion in this volume. These papers have been organized in three thematic groups: focusing on the use of AI-enhanced tools in the broadly understood field of engineering; exploring the value of AI- and CC-based techniques in the assembly line, internet of things (IoT), etc.; and querying the uses of AI-enhanced methods in the fields of tourism, safety and security, and policy-making.
