AI & RoboticsNews

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 is coming on the heels of the launch of Unity Forma, a new tool that enables marketers to create and publish interactive…
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AI & RoboticsNews

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 developers what needs their attention. Modulate says the service is the world’s first voice-native moderation service, allowing…
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AI & RoboticsNews

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 giving older Pixel phones access to it. Now, Google has published a post on its AI blog explaining the technology behind Portrait…
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AI & RoboticsNews

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…
AI & RoboticsNews

AI Weekly: NeurIPS 2020 and the hope for change

December 12, 2020
On Monday morning, organizers of NeurIPS, the largest annual gathering of AI researchers in the world, gave Best Paper awards to the authors of three pieces of research, including one detailing OpenAI’s GPT-3 language model. The week also started with AI researchers…
AI & RoboticsNews

Hyundai confirms its $1.1 billion acquisition of Boston Dynamics

December 12, 2020
Boston Dynamics is now officially part of Hyundai Motor Group. The Korean conglomerate has struck a deal with Softbank to acquire a controlling interest — an 80 percent stake — in the robotics company for $1.1 billion. Softbank will retain a 20 percent stake through one of its affiliates. The companies have been in talks since at least early November, and the deal is expected to be finalized…
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