IBM’s AI will debate until you learn your mistakes, feeble human

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IBM has unveiled Project Debater, a conversational artificial intelligence which can hold a debate using information from journals and newspaper articles. Project Debater began its training six years ago but it could only hold a debate with people two years ago. A demo was held for journalists at IBM’s offices in San Francisco where the AI debated issues relating to healthcare and the subsidisation of space exploration. The company didn’t give its AI an easy time either – it was...

India: Report suggests AI collaboration with UK, Japan, and Germany

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A PwC-ASSOCHAM joint report suggests India should pursue cross-border collaboration with AI leaders including the UK, Japan, and Germany. The study believes government departments including the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) should take responsibility for building these relationships. “Exchanging best practices and learnings from prior initiatives is one way of strengthening cooperation,” noted the study. Collaboration between the...

Amnesty International warns of AI ‘nightmare scenarios’

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Human rights campaigners Amnesty International have warned of the potential ‘nightmare scenarios’ arising from AI if left unchecked. In a blog post, one scenario Amnesty foresees AI being used for is autonomous systems choosing military targets with little-to-no human oversight. Military AI Fears The development of AI has been likened to another arms race. Much like nuclear weapons, there is the argument if a nation doesn’t develop its capabilities then others will. Furthermore,...

Uber wants to develop an intoxication-detecting algorithm

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Uber has filed a patent for a machine learning algorithm which can predict whether a rider is sober or not to improve the safety of its service. The sobriety of a passenger is a big factor in the safety of both driver and rider. Drivers have been assaulted by inebriated passengers, and most of the sexual assaults conducted against Uber riders by drivers have been while they were intoxicated. According to a CNN investigation, at least 103 Uber drivers have been accused of sexually assaulting...

Don’t Be Evil: Google publishes its AI ethical principles following backlash

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Following the backlash over its Project Maven plans to develop AI for the US military, Google has since withdrawn and published its ethical principles. Project Maven was Google’s collaboration with the US Department of Defense. In March, leaks indicated that Google supplied AI technology to the Pentagon to help analyse drone footage. The following month, over 4,000 employees signed a petition demanding that Google's management cease work on Project Maven and promise to never again...

MIT created a psychopathic AI based on Norman Bates

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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...

Samsung partners with Babylon Health to offer AI consultations

Samsung has partnered with Babylon Health to offer AI-powered medical consultations to its smartphone users via the ‘GP at Hand’ service. AI News first covered GP at Hand in November last year. “GP at Hand is a window into what the NHS of the future will look like,” said Dr Howard Freeman MBE, senior GP. “When innovative NHS GPs embrace Babylon's technology to make life better for their patients, the sky is the limit.” The service uses AI to determine if a patient’s symptoms...

UK Businesses: AI will create jobs, not destroy

The majority of UK businesses are reporting that AI will create more jobs than it destroys, helping to quell one of critics’ biggest fears. While many are excited about the possibilities of artificial intelligence, just as many have concerns. Most agree that, whether it’s predominantly good or bad, AI will have a profound impact on society. “Business leaders need to arm the workforce for a new ‘machine age’ of increasing artificial intelligence and automation,” says Duncan...