The term "machine learning" might not mean much to you. You might imagine a computer playing chess, calculating the multitude of moves and the possible countermoves. But, when you hear the term "artificial intelligence" or "AI," however, it's more likely you have visions of Skynet and the rise of our inevitable robot overlords. But, the truth of artificial intelligence -- and particularly machine learning -- is far less sinister, and it's actually not something of the far-off future. It's here today, and it's shaping and simplifying the way we live, work, travel and communicate.

"Today, we are giving a boost to researchers so that they can develop the next generation of AI technologies and applications, and to companies, so that they can embrace and incorporate them." Other European countries such as France and Britain have also made AI investment a priority. French President Emmanuel Macron promised 1.5 billion euros of public money for AI in March. Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to.

Lt. Col. Stanislav Petrov settled into the commander's chair in a secret bunker outside Moscow. His job that night was simple: Monitor the computers that were sifting through satellite data, watching the United States for any sign of a missile launch. It was just after midnight, Sept. 26, 1983. A single word flashed on the screen in front of him. The fear that computers, by mistake or malice, might lead humanity to the brink of nuclear annihilation has haunted imaginations since the earliest days of the Cold War.

SenseTime, an AI-powered facial recognition company, is breaking funding records. The news: Bloomberg says that SenseTime has raised $600 million from Alibaba and other investors at a valuation of over $3 billion, making it the world's most valuable AI startup. I spy money: SenseTime's technology helps power China's massive surveillance networks. The firm will use some of the cash to build at least five supercomputers to help track many thousands of live video feeds, boost staffing, and fund a push into autonomous driving and augmented reality. And more money: Bloomberg reports that the firm is already in talks to raise more cash and is targeting a valuation of over $4.5 billion.

How do self-driving vehicles learn how to drive? How does artificial intelligence become smart in the first place? It all starts with data. An international company that applies data to a variety of practical uses has chosen to place its first U.S. "delivery center" in New Orleans and will hire 100 people within the next 12 to 18 months to staff it. The available jobs range from entry-level to more skilled positions.

The Automation Readiness Index ranks countries on how prepared they are in 2018 for the future impact of robotics and artificial intelligence. No country is fully prepared for the impact of robots powered by artificial intelligence. But South Korea, Singapore and Germany are the most prepared countries in the world in 2018, according to a new study. To get ready for automation, countries need to focus on retraining their workforce and shifting education strategies to center on the economy to come, the study's authors wrote. They can also build in an advantage by fostering the creation of AI-backed technology on their home turf. The report was released Monday by multinational company ABB and The Economist Intelligence Unit.

According to real estate data firm Co-Star, over 90 million square feet of retail space is slated to close this year, leading observers to point to an obvious truth: empathy matters in customer service. Getting it right is another story. When businesses are out of touch with consumer needs, consumers stop buying and stores start dying. Enter "affective computing," an area of research involving machines that can read and display emotional intelligence, with applications as far ranging from preventative medicine to music lessons and every commercial sector in between. The retail industry isn't the only one eying "emotion AI" as a potential savior from digital disruption, but the physical spaces that characterize the retail experience ares providing innovators with a ripe venue to demonstrate the power that capturing and understanding customer sentiment can have.

China's Didi Chuxing Technology Co. is holding discussions about a multibillion-dollar initial public offering as early as this year, a move that would vault the ride-hailing company into the public markets ahead of American rival Uber Technologies Inc., according to people familiar with the matter. Didi--which operates China's largest ride-sharing platform and is expanding in Latin America and other parts of Asia--is hoping to fetch a valuation of at least $70 billion to $80 billion if it goes public, one of the people added. That would make it one of the largest technology IPOs ever. The Beijing-based company in recent weeks has been in talks with bankers about the feasibility of tapping the public markets for cash in the second half of 2018. The discussions are in early stages, the people familiar with the matter said.

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing could create EUR 60 bn in additional value for German industry. According to the new study, "The Ghost in the Machine: Artificial Intelligence in the Factory of the Future", for which the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) surveyed manufacturing and technology managers from about 1100 industrial companies worldwide about their applications of and willingness to invest in AI. Almost 90 percent of executives say they aim to integrate AI in their processes in the next three years. Nonetheless, so far only 28 percent have created a clear strategy for AI in manufacturing. In Germany, only 23 percent, or one in four German industrial companies, have developed an AI strategy.

The process of discovering and developing a new drug typically costs $2-4 billion, takes 10-12 years and fails more than 95% of the time either in clinical trials or while going through the approval process.