MIT created a psychopathic AI based on Norman Bates

mit ai psychopath norman media lab bias

While many researchers are calling for regulations to ensure safe and ethical AI development, MIT has created one with a psychopathic personality. The scientists, from MIT’s unconventional Media Lab, based their AI’s personality on serial killer Norman Bates from Hitchcock thriller Psycho. AI Norman is designed to caption images. Whereas most neural networks are trained on a range of images to reduce bias, poor Norman was exposed 'to the darkest corners of Reddit.' Anyone who has found...

6 June 2018 | Ethics

DSTL will run Ministry of Defence’s AI research lab

UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced the creation of an AI research lab based at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) in Porton Down, as part of an initiative by the Ministry of Defence. The lab will focus on advancing the use of AI for defence purposes to ensure the UK remains able to counter evolving threats. Dstl currently delivers more than £20 million of AI research. Specific focuses of the new facility will include autonomous vehicles, countering fake...

29 May 2018 | Government

Virtually Brainy: AI wires itself to navigate like mammals

Researchers have built an AI with virtual brain cells that wires itself to navigate an environment much like mammals do in nature. Fully understanding the ‘internal GPS’ used by humans and other mammals to navigate from point A to B has eluded neuroscientists for decades. By analysing a new AI, which developed ‘grid cells’ similar to our brains, researchers believe we could be closer than ever. The new AI was designed by a team from Google DeepMind and University College London to...

10 May 2018 | Machine Learning

Thousands of AI researchers are boycotting a science journal

Thousands of AI researchers are boycotting a popular science journal for a decision they believe is harmful to advancing developments. Science journal Nature recently announced it will be launching a dedicated section of its online publication to machine learning in January, 2019. That would normally be welcome, except the section is set to be put behind a paywall. Naturally, many AI researchers took umbrage at the plans. Much of the community are fierce advocates of open research — both to...

2 May 2018 | Machine Learning

AI Expo: ‘The answer to AI in sport is prediction’

During a panel at the AI Tech Expo in London, we heard from several figures from professional football clubs who are using AI to get the edge over their competition both on and off the field. The panelists included Newcastle FC Sports Scientist John Fitzpatrick, Sport Lisboa e Benfica CIO Joao Copeto, and Sport Lisboa e Benfica Head of Analysis Nuno Maurício. Fitzpatrick has been with Newcastle United for around five years and has witnessed the increasing demand for IoT and AI technologies....

19 April 2018 | Healthcare

House of Lords: The UK can lead in AI by putting ethics first

uk house of lords ai ethics report

A report published today by the House of Lords reveals the current outlook for AI in the United Kingdom and suggests practical measures to secure its place as a global leader. While the world faces a shortage of AI talent, the UK’s leading universities produce candidates who are often snapped up quickly. Some of the biggest players in the space invest heavily in UK companies — most notable, perhaps, is Google’s £400 million acquisition of Cambridge-based DeepMind. The Lords’ report...

16 April 2018 | Ethics

Samsung plans to open a huge AI research facility in France

Samsung has announced plans to open a huge AI research facility in France which is set to be its largest outside Korea and the US. The new facility will house more than 100 researchers and joins an expansion announcement from Fujitsu who are set to grow their own presence in the country. “Great progress on artificial intelligence is happening in France,” President Macron said in a Twitter message. “Samsung chooses France to locate its new research center on artificial intelligence,...

29 March 2018 | Research

Google CEO is (unsurprisingly) impressed with AI in China

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, has expressed how impressed he is with AI in China during a forum attended by senior government officials and leading executives in Beijing. “China is already playing a big part in how AI will shape our futures," said Pichai at the annual China Development Forum in Beijing. "When we build together, we get to better ideas faster." Google is known for the vast amount of data it collects, and the powerful services having access to such large pools of information...

26 March 2018 | Government

Finnish researchers to use AI to automate formulation of large information systems

A team of researchers from Aalto University aims to employ AI to automate the development of large information systems besides integrating all parts of software development under a single umbrella. The team, led by research fellow Jussi Rintanen, has received grants of €678,000 from Business Finland to work towards the commercialisation of the AI-based information system technology. Majority of the information systems projects often encounter the same primary issue – huge routine...

14 March 2018 | Research

AI defeats humans in predicting forex

Another day brings another story of AI beating humans. This time, AI has shown its ability to forecast exchange rates more accurately than we can. Nikkei has organised its ‘dollar-yen derby’ for over three decades. Readers and analysts try to predict the exchange rate for the following month. However, a new competitor has entered the ring. An AI developed by the Nikkei Group was able to deliver the most accurate forecast for the year-end exchange rate. Impressively, it beat around 400...

1 February 2018 | Research