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 initiative in the Gastronomy Flagship Project, which aims to enhance the “creativity and techniques” of chefs around the…
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…
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 widely used by law enforcement agencies, rights groups say it is also abused by authoritarian regimes for mass and…
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…
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 refusing to review Google AI papers until grievances were resolved after firing Ethical AI team co-lead Timnit Gebru. Googlers…
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…
Teachable AI will help Alexa users set up preferences
December 11, 2020
Amazon today detailed a capability coming to Alexa called Teachable AI that will enable the assistant to ask questions to fill gaps in its understanding. First announced during the company’s September virtual press event, Teachable AI leverages machine learning to…
Hyundai acquires majority stake in robot maker Boston Dynamics
December 11, 2020
(Reuters) — Hyundai and its chairman have agreed to buy an 80% stake in robot maker Boston Dynamics from SoftBank, Hyundai said on Friday.
Hyundai said the deal values the robot firm at $1.1 billion, suggesting the automaker group offered $880 million for the 80% stake.
Hyundai can leverage robot technology to expand automation at its unionised car factories, as well as design autonomous…
