Today's factories are easy to envision as futuristic-seeming hives of automation, where industrial robots mimic the movements and, seemingly, the intentionality of human workers. Today's robots are not only working faster and more reliably than their human counterparts but also performing tasks beyond human capability altogether, such as microscopically precise assembly. But many of those robots are dumber than they look. That is, they may be more dexterous than humans, but they are programmed to perform a limited range of tasks. Many robots can't safely work in close proximity to humans and literally have to be caged or regulated in ways that safeguard human coworkers.

The visualisation and its clusters forms the central part of an exhibition running at the Fondation EDF in Paris from May to September. Visitors will be able to navigate the map using a touch device as well as a physical joystick. Manual annotations help with identification of the main map areas - the larger themes linking clusters together. 'Data was instrumental in arranging these contents in a human digestible way. How else would one scan and assemble hundreds of thousands of images into a coherent whole?',

Sony Corp's entertainment robot "aibo" is pictured at its demonstration in Tokyo, Japan November 1, 2017. Sony's robotic pet is proving popular with dog-loving tech fans … or is that tech-loving dog fans? The latest version of Aibo launched in Japan in January, with the electronics company this week revealing the highly specific sales figure for the device -- 11,111 units -- for the first three months of this year. Aibo is currently only available in Japan, though Sony says it's considering taking it to the American and Chinese markets, too. It hopes the device can act as a companion for people who might not have the time or means to care for a real dog.

Porsche is establishing an "innovation office" in Israel, and investing eight figures in the effort, the German sports car manufacturer said in a statement released Thursday. "Porsche is a company that draws on innovation," the statement read. "And now it is establishing an'innovation office' in Israel."

China's ambitions in artificial intelligence are insatiable. Wary that the Middle Kingdom is trailing the United States (the current leader in the field), government officials outlined a blueprint last summer to make the country the world's uncontested AI power in the next decade. By a host of metrics, China is already tilting the scale. AI-related patent submissions in China almost tripled between 2010 and 2014 compared with the previous five years, while Chinese investments account for 48 percent of global AI startup funding. According to CB Insights, based on keyword searches of abstracts and titles in 2017, China has far outpaced America in AI-related patent publications: for "deep learning," 652 compared with 101; for "artificial intelligence," 641 to 130; for "machine learning," 882 to about 770.

Niki is the first and only fully-automated AI bot in India to handle end-to-end digital transactions. Talking about the concierge business of Niki, the process of discovering any service using recommendations based on your preferences becomes so convenient and simple on chat that even a grandmother can get her work done fast. That is what makes Niki stand apart from all other players – It is as easy as chatting with a friend. On the AI front, getting the AI bot (Niki) to understand the natural language of our users was a big challenge. This remains a big hurdle for all the players in the segment.

On October 25, Sophia, a delicate looking woman with doe-brown eyes and long fluttery eyelashes made international headlines. She'd just become a full citizen of Saudi Arabia -- the first robot in the world to achieve such a status. "I am very honored and proud of this unique distinction. This is historical to be the first robot in the world to be recognized with a citizenship," Sophia said, announcing her new status during the Future Investment Initiative Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Standing behind a podium as she spoke, to all effects, she presented a humanoid form -- excepting the shimmery metal cap of her head, where hair would be on a human head.

The UAE is all about innovation. So, it follows that the world is watching the Emirates when it comes to the future of healthcare– after all, it's hard to think of a sector that is growing more quickly with more technological advances, or a country that has taken more bold steps across so many industries. One of the key areas of advancement in healthcare is, of course, artificial intelligence (AI), which refers to intelligent applications that assist with diagnosis of disease, treatment recommendations, as well as data management, improving online consultations, speeding up drug development, and improving doctor and medical student training. The UAE is positioned to be the region leader on this, having already made huge strides in accumulating the knowledge, finances, and tools required to incorporate AI into daily healthcare practices. Let's take one example: the Dubai Future Foundation has invested millions into AI development initiatives, such as the UAE AI and Robotics Award for Good, which asks applicants from across the globe to develop and submit advanced uses for AI in healthcare. Furthermore, tech startups have soared in number in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region since 2010, and the UAE is leading the way– securing 50% of all MENA tech funding between 2014 and 2017.

LONDON – For a quarter century, the U.S. and its allies owned the skies, fighting wars secure in the knowledge that no opponent could compete in the air. Rapid technological progress in China's aerospace industry, particularly air-to-air missile systems fired from an aircraft, is changing the game for Western air forces and the global arms trade. Russia took the lead in modernizing its air force, and has been more willing to use it. In the longer term, however, China's roughly $13 trillion economy and growing wealth mean it is likely to pose the greater strategic challenge for the U.S. and its allies. In 2017, Chinese defense spending rose by 5.6 percent in constant U.S. dollar terms, while Russia's fell by 20 percent, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

NITI Aayog is partnering with tech giant Google to work on a range of initiatives to help build Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem across the country. Amitabh Kant, Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog, said in a statement: "India is embracing future technologies such as machine learning and AI to augment its capacity in healthcare, improve outcomes in education, develop innovative governance systems and improve overall economic productivity of the nation." "NITI's partnership with Google will unlock massive training initiatives, support start-ups and encourage AI research through Ph D scholarships, all of which contribute to the larger idea of a technologically-empowered New India," he added. Google and NITI Aayog will conduct hands-on training programmes that aim to sensitise policymakers and technical experts in governments about relevant AI tools and how they can be used to streamline governance. To help bolster the research ecosystem, one of the initiatives includes funding Indian researchers, scholars and university faculty for conducting AI-based research.