Experts warn AI poses a ‘clear and present danger’

A report by leading experts calls on governments and businesses to address the “clear and present danger” posed by unregulated AI. The foreboding report is titled ‘The Malicious Use Of Artificial Intelligence’ and was co-authored by experts from Oxford University, The Centre For The Study of Existential Risk, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and more. Three primary areas of risk were identified: Digital security — The risk of AI being used for increasing the scale and efficiency...

21 February 2018 | Ethics

Sony is working on an AI-powered taxi system

Sony is leading an alliance of taxi companies to create an AI-powered hailing system. While Uber brought us on-demand taxi rides at the press of a button, Sony wants to use AI to further improve on the model. By studying conditions such as traffic, weather, and current events — taxis can be dispatched automatically where needed. One example, which many of us will have experienced, is the frustration of getting transport home after a concert. Sony’s algorithm would ensure a fleet of...

20 February 2018 | Connected Cars

Gartner argues how customer service is becoming more chatbot-centric

One in four customer service and support operations will integrate chatbot technology by 2020, according to the latest analysis from Gartner. The use of chatbots – or virtual customer assistants (VCA), as Gartner puts it – will go up from just under 2% of operations as of 2017. The figures come from Gartner’s Customer Experience Summit, taking place in Tokyo. Gene Alvarez, Gartner managing vice president, argues chatbots should be more than informative, and instead enrich the user...

19 February 2018 | Marketing

Leaders warn NATO is unprepared for AI warfare

Current and former European leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference to warn that NATO is unprepared for AI warfare. AI is set to revolutionise many industries and will bring a range of benefits to citizens and businesses around the world. Concerns about job losses have been prevalent, but AI’s inevitable use in a military capacity has been less discussed. Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia, believes there is a 50 percent chance an AI system capable of launching a lethal...

16 February 2018 | Ethics

Home Office unveils AI tool for tackling extremist content

Following impatience with technology leaders in delivering measures to fight the spread of extremist content, the Home Office has unveiled its own AI tool for detecting it with impressive accuracy. The UK government has long called on tech giants to ensure any extremist content is removed from their platforms quickly. A report from the Home Affairs Committee slammed the likes of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for "consciously failing" to remove terrorist propaganda. Most law-abiding...

13 February 2018 | Ethics

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

Emtech China: Warnings of AI causing job losses continue

This year’s EmTech China conference in Beijing was filled with exciting insights at where AI is heading, but it also carried the usual warnings of potential job losses. The three-day event is organised by MIT Technology Review and features some of the world’s most talented experts. In the past, we’ve heard from the likes of Elon Musk saying AI will mean a ‘universal basic income’ will become necessary as more jobs become automated. Others counter this argument by claiming AI...

29 January 2018 | Government

Morality algorithm proves AI can also be friendly

We’re used to seeing headlines of AI beating us at our own games in adversarial roles, but a new study has proven they can also excel when it comes to cooperation and compromise. The study, from an international team of computer scientists, found AI can be programmed with a higher degree of morality than humans. The researchers set out to build a new type of algorithm for playing games which requires working together rather than simply winning at all cost. Jacob Crandall, BYU Computer...

22 January 2018 | Ethics

Report: AI can help to keep the NHS alive

A report from think tank Reform has illustrated how artificial intelligence can help to keep the NHS alive in the face of tough conditions. The UK’s health service continues to be underfunded despite an increasing number of warnings from doctors and staff. Patients lined up in corridors are now a sight often seen in hospitals up and down the country. Reform highlights 16 areas where AI can be used to improve efficiency in the NHS. Without adequate funding in sight, the recommendations...

15 January 2018 | Healthcare

Nuance exhibits conversational AI-powered solutions at CES 2018

Nuance Communications is exhibiting a range of conversational AI-powered solutions for connected vehicles/devices and smart homes at CES 2018. Nuance’s artificially intelligent automotive assistant - Dragon Drive - which has won the CES Innovation Award -  is upgraded with new AI-powered features that diminish the gap between in-car and outside-the-car experiences and adds more human like experience to the automotive platform. Dragon Drive now incorporates conversational AI with...

12 January 2018 | Connected Cars