GP at Hand: AI enables the world’s first 24/7 free healthcare service

AI is a key enabler in the launch of GP at Hand, a free NHS service from babylon health which provides 24/7 access to healthcare from a mobile app. GP at Hand aims to reduce the burden on GPs while also cutting the waiting time it takes for a patient to see a doctor from the current average of two weeks, to just a matter of minutes. Dr Howard Freeman MBE, senior GP said: “GP at Hand is a window into what the NHS of the future will look like. When innovative NHS GPs embrace babylon...

6 November 2017 | Healthcare

Brain Drain: Universities are losing their best AI scientists

As if the AI skill shortage wasn’t bad enough, universities are losing teachers and students to companies offering unmatchable benefits. Last week, our sister publication Developer reported AI skills are in such high demand that companies are willing to offer six figure salaries. Universities are unable to match these benefits and it’s creating a brain drain preventing the current lack of AI talent problem from being addressed. The Guardian reports of a case from Imperial College...

1 November 2017 | Education

Acumos: Linux Foundation makes it easier to deploy AI apps

The Linux Foundation has introduced an open source project called Acumos which aims to make it easier to build, share, and deploy AI applications. By providing a common framework, Acumos intends to make artificial intelligence development more accessible. Acumos differs from TensorFlow, an existing popular framework, in that it will be offer a directory for sharing AI models in addition to working on them. “An open and connected AI platform will promote collaboration as developers and...

31 October 2017 | Applications

Don’t be a(nother) Joker, let AI create a unique Halloween costume

As Halloween approaches, we’ll be seeing many Joker and Harley Quinn costumes dragged back out the depths of closets. Pennywise the clown is another obvious choice for this year. If you want something a bit more unique for a costume idea, an AI could help. Research scientist Janelle Shane decided to build a neural network fed with data of 4,500 costume names she crowdsourced from the internet (which is always a safe bet*) Speaking to Business Insider, Shane claims the network’s...

30 October 2017 | Machine Learning

AI can now beat those pesky CAPTCHAs

We’ve all had to prove we’re not “a robot” at some point, but it turns out the robots can now fact beat those pesky CAPTCHA checks. Until now we’ve come to accept them as a necessary evil, but it seems CAPTCHAs are quickly becoming a waste of time. Whether it’s one that asks you to solve a simple math equation, copy a jumbled (and often utterly illegible) set of characters, or choose select blocks from a grid. At least, that’s according to research published in the journal...

27 October 2017 | Bots

LinkedIn is teaching all its engineers AI skills

Rather than pay its employees six-figure salaries, LinkedIn is teaching all its engineers valuable AI skills. Earlier today, our sister publication Developer reported on the AI skill shortage driving employers to offer six-figure salaries to candidates. Most companies do not like, or can afford, to offer their employees such a high salary. LinkedIn is in a better situation financially than a startup wanting to delve into AI, especially since the Microsoft acquisition, but it’s taking a...

25 October 2017 | Developers

Back to the future: How AI can empower personalisation at scale

Have you ever run into someone at a party who you've met a few times before, but you just can’t remember their name? Maybe you call her “Betty,” but it turns out her name is “Wilma”.  Ouch. This kind of thing happens to most of us at some point, and it’s always embarrassing. If you cannot even get the name, you will never move on to a meaningful, trusted relationship with that person. The same concept applies to your customers. Engaging them on a personal level is the best way...

24 October 2017 | Marketing

The BBC is using AI to improve its content

The BBC has announced a five-year partnership with eight universities in a bid to use machine learning to improve its content. The iconic broadcaster is going through a difficult period. It’s facing stiff competition in the entertainment sphere from streaming services, its news coverage has been subject to calls for investigations following claims of breaching impartiality rules, and it’s been at the center of controversial scandals. A difficult period Increasing adoption of streaming...

19 October 2017 | Machine Learning

Facebook is helping Intel with AI for the first Neural Network Processor

The CEO of Intel has revealed Facebook is providing its AI knowledge ahead of the launch of the world’s first Neural Network Processor. Brian Krzanich made the comment during an on-stage interview at the WSJD Live conference in Laguna Beach, California. The news Intel is working on its own AI chips is no surprise, but the choice of partner may be. "This is the first piece of silicon," Krzanich said. "We have a whole family planned for this, (Facebook) is helping us, along with others,...

18 October 2017 | Hardware

Research: One in three smartphones will feature dedicated AI chips by 2020

New research conducted by Counterpoint Research predicts that one in three smartphones will feature chipset-level AI by 2020. In an editorial last month, we predicted an invasion of mobile AI chips with a pace of adoption quicker than what Counterpoint is expecting. Recent announcements, such as the Huawei Mate 10 yesterday, certainly appear to indicate the start of a trend over the coming months. If you missed our coverage from Huawei’s event in Munich yesterday, we came away...

17 October 2017 | Smartphones