AI is really, really good at automating repetitive tasks. Laika, the stop-motion animation studio best known for its feature films , , ,, and , captures and edits tens of thousands of frames for each of its movies. Needless to say, the company has plenty of repetitive tasks that could benefit from acceleration. So, Laika teamed up with Intel to create software tools able to save time and keep its…
From whistleblower laws to unions: How Google’s AI ethics meltdown could shape policy
December 16, 2020
It’s been two weeks since Google fired Timnit Gebru, a decision that still seems incomprehensible. Gebru is one of the most highly regarded AI ethics researchers in the world, a pioneer whose work has highlighted the ways tech fails marginalized communities when it comes…
Unity has acquired RestAR to enable AI-based 3D capture
December 16, 2020
Game engine maker Unity has acquired RestAR, a Tel Aviv-based computer vision and deep learning company that enables fashion brands, online retailers, and marketers to scan and render physical consumer products in high-quality 3D, using only a mobile device.
This acquisition…
AIStorm raises $16 million for low-powered AI edge computing chips
December 15, 2020
AIStorm, an AI startup developing chipsets that can directly process data from devices, has raised $16 million. The company says the funding will enable it to scale manufacturing to deploy its hardware for devices like handsets, notebooks, smart speakers, remote controls, TVs, earbuds, IoT, and wearables and for transport applications.
Edge computing is forecast to be a $6.72 billion market by…
In April 2020, Sony launched Sony AI, an organization with offices in Japan, the U.S., and Europe undertaking AI R&D with a focus on gaming, imaging, sensing, and more in collaboration with Sony’s other business units. Today, Sony AI unveiled its first major research…
Modulate’s ToxMod uses AI to scan game voice chat for toxic speech
December 14, 2020
Today, Modulate has launched ToxMod, a new service that uses AI to scan voice chat in video games for toxic speech or other bad behavior. It flags everything from racist speech to predatory behavior, taking into context the way in which the words are said to tell game…
Truera raises $12 million for its AI explainability platform
December 14, 2020
Truera, a startup developing a machine learning model intelligence platform, today announced it has raised $12 million. The company says it will put the funds toward product R&D and expanding its geographic footprint.
According to a McKinsey survey, while 39% of executives say their companies recognize the risks associated with lack of “explainability,” or the ability to explain how AI…
EU watchdog warns of using AI in predictive policing, medical diagnoses, and targeted advertising
December 14, 2020
(Reuters) — The European Union’s rights watchdog has warned of the risks of using artificial intelligence in predictive policing, medical diagnoses and targeted advertising as the bloc mulls rules next year to address the challenges posed by the technology.
While AI is…
Google used a 64-camera rig to train its portrait lighting AI
December 13, 2020
Google’s Portrait Light feature can make some of your more mediocre photos look a lot better by giving you a way to change their lighting direction and intensity. The tech giant launched the AI-based lighting feature in September for the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 before…
Netflix explains how it uses AI to sell you on a show
December 13, 2020
If Netflix’s decisions on marketing its hundreds of original shows seem highly calculated… that’s probably because they were. Netflix has outlined how it uses AI to market shows and predict their success in ways that conventional box office numbers and Nielsen ratings likely couldn’t match. Effectively, it comes down to finding connections and determining the likely audience sizes.
The…
