Toyota is in talks to buy two robotics businesses from Google June 1, 2016 Motor company Toyota is in talks to buy two robotics divisions from Google's parent company, Alphabet. The Japanese firm is interested in buying Boston Dynamics – the firm behind Cheetah, said to be the fastest-legged robot in the world – and Schaft, according to a report from Nikkei. Alphabet is reported to be interested in [...]
This is how worried Brits are about robots taking their jobs May 31, 2016 A quarter of Brits believe robots are coming to take their jobs – and soon. Some 25 per cent of 2,000 people surveyed by OpenText said they believe they could be replaced by robot technology in the next 10 years. Read more: Meet Zenbo, Asus's Wall.E style home robot Meanwhile, 42 per cent say this could [...]
Forget negative interest rate gloom. In robotics Japan has a ¥9.7 trillion opportunity May 26, 2016 A negative interest rate and the perceived failure of Abenomics have undermined investor confidence in Japan, stealing attention from robust fundamentals and an untapped growth story. Strong company earnings and structural reforms combined with improving governance are creating real value in innovative sectors of Japan’s equity market, such as robotics. Japan has always been seen [...]
The power of emotional intelligence: Why AI and robots will never compete with human creativity May 24, 2016 There have been an increasing number of reports about the rapidly developing world of AI, where computers can learn to use big data independently. Most recently, Google yesterday announced it would begin exploring whether automated machines are capable of creativity and producing original artwork and music. Many people's gut reaction to this is that nothing, not even the [...]
Can AI be creative? Google wants to find out May 23, 2016 First they came for the manual tasks, now they're eyeing up the careers of musicians, art directors and other creative types – will robots and artificial intelligence leave any jobs for us humans? Google's latest project, Magenta, will explore the possibility of machines learning creativity, leaving anyone thinking the rise of the robots would give us all time [...]
The Chinese town where robots replaced 60,000 workers May 23, 2016 A Chinese manufacturing hub enlisted a fleet of robots to help overhaul its growth strategy. Kunshan, in Jiangsu province of China, used to be one of the country’s best performing economies. But its reputation was dented after an industrial explosion killed 146 people in 2014. At the time, it was blamed on poor safety standards [...]
Here’s how your brain works on the Tube (and what it can teach AI) May 19, 2016 Our brains work harder when we have to switch lines on the Underground, even if there are fewer stops than a longer journey which requires no changes, new research reveals. Scientists have identified how our brains work when we're navigating the London Underground which could help artificial intelligence learn things more efficiently. Read more: Accenture's launching an [...]
Google just launched a personal assistant that can control your home, book movies and search the internet May 18, 2016 How would you like to run your whole house by using just your voice? Google just made that possible by cashing in on the Internet of Things trend. The tech giant today launched Google Assistant, a digital Man Friday, at its annual developer conference in Mountain View, California The new device, similar to Apple's Siri, allows users [...]
Accenture’s launching an artificial intelligence practice with IPsoft’s Amelia May 16, 2016 No sooner than one global consulting giant has jumped on board with the latest technology trend, another follows suit. Accenture is launching an artificial intelligence practice just a week after PwC did the same with drones, in a bid for a share of the multi-billion dollar and fast growing industry. The Amelia practice, named after the AI software [...]
Ryan Bertrand’s secret second career as a fintech entrepreneur – and John Terry is backing his latest venture May 11, 2016 The history of football’s relationship with technology is a chequered one, from the game’s long resistance to implementing goal-line gadgetry to the tale of former Aston Villa striker Darius Vassell taking a power drill to his toenail in the misguided belief that it would relieve pain. Ryan Bertrand hopes to change that perception. When he is [...]