1 – Apple Acquires Artificial-Intelligence Startup VocalIQ
Apple announced its purchase of VocalIQ Ltd., the U.K.-based software developer that is working natural language AI for better interactions between humans and machines. Initial application is Apple’s virtual assistant Siri, which will help improve voice command learning and response. The technology could potentially be applied to future technologies such as autonomous cars; VocalIQ last year worked with General Motors Co. on a voice-control systems for cars’ navigation and entertainment systems.
(Read the full article on The Wall Street Journal)
2 – WIRED2015: Artificial intelligence is evolving, says Antoine Blondeau
Founder of Sentient Technologies Antoine Blondeau will be speaking at WIRED2015 on October 15 – 16, taking part in a roundtable session called “When Technology Gets Ambitious.” In this interview with Wired, Blondeau gave an idea of what he’ll talk about during the event – the role evolution has in creating new artificial intelligence, what he likes to call “evolutionary intelligence.” His goals include overcoming some of the “fearmongering” that has taken place around AI recently and shed light on some of the more positive aspects that intelligent AI can present in the near future.
(Read the full article on Wired)
3 – The Future of Work: The Three Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence
Frank Levy, professor at MIT, contributes his thoughts on the three dimensions of AI in the workforce i.e. depth, breadth, and media picture. Depth refers to the extent to which AI will achieve equal or rise past levels of human intelligence. This is not one of Levy’s greatest concerns. As he remarks,
Even deep learning image recognition software can be fooled by small rearrangements of pixels. Humans, by contrast, are highly flexible. They move easily from solving a problem to solving adjacent problems in part because they can draw correct inferences from very little data.
Breadth refers to the ability for software to enter the workforce and displace jobs. This is an area where Levy does have some more immediate concerns, and believes the continued loss of mid-skill jobs will pose potential issues. Lastly, he delves into media portrayal of AI, explaining why he believes its been taken to extremes in its political bents and is doing more harm than good to the development of solutions for a modernized workforce.
(Read the full article on Pacific Standard)
4 – US biotech to apply artificial intelligence to UK genome study
Boston-based Berg, a private company that specializes in integrating artificial intelligence with delivery of drugs and diagnostics, is partnering with the Genomics England 100,000 Genomes Project. Berg will help the project mine DNA and health data from British citizens for development of potential new drugs and treatments in a year-long industry trial. The company’s artificial intelligence supercomputer platform – known as ‘Betsy’ – takes an in-depth look at the insides and functions of cells. The company has worked since April with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to help develop treatments for pancreatic cancer, and a new experimental drug called BPM31510 is set for Phase 2 trials in early 2016.
(Read the full article on Reuters)
5 – Could Artificial Intelligence Help Treat Brain Cancer?
Two companies – Atomwise and Noteable Labs – are using artificial intelligence in the lab to find new drugs that could potentially treat fatal medical conditions such as brain cancer. Atomwise uses an intelligent algorithm to test chemical compounds artificially and come up with combinations to determine best treatment. Once these solutions are narrowed, Noteable Labs can then take those new drugs and test them on cancer patients. Noteable labs is hoping to expand its methods to the larger public within a year.
(Read the full article on BBC News)
