Google's acquisition of artificial intelligence firm DeepMind might prompt thoughts of self-aware robots and Skynet, especially since the London-based firm is shrouded in secrecy. But there are good, practical reasons for the search giant to pay a reported $500 million for the small startup.

The first is in your phone. Google Now is closing in on Siri, with both digital assistants hovering around 80 percent accuracy in understanding speech and providing answers. With AI behind it, Google Now could become the most intelligent of intelligent assistants and not only respond to what's asked of it but predict what its user wants.

As technology gets closer to successfully imitating real life, questions and concerns about ethics and morality inevitably arise. DeepMind reportedly considered these things, and made the acquisition partially contingent upon Google setting up an ethics board that will regulate how the technology is used, according to The Information.

While Google has not set out what it has planned for DeepMind, there are plenty of projects that Google has in the works that would benefit from a dose of advanced machine learning. Take a look at them in the slideshow.