The outstanding scientist and academic Stephen Hawking once said, "The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race". When such high-profile intellects discuss AI in this manner, it often sparks fear among the public and drastically influences their opinions on AI. Although Stephen Hawking's statement could to some extent be true, the human race is still so far from achieving full artificial intelligence, and not to mention if/when we do, there will be strict regulations to ensure the application of AI is safe, responsible and beneficial to us. AI is pervading our personal lives in more ways than you realise. Increasingly, people are turning to chatbots such as Siri to carry out tasks for ease and simplicity, from emailing a colleague to getting directions to the nearest petrol station.

SANAA, Yemen – Yemeni tribal leaders say a suspected U.S. drone strike has killed seven alleged al-Qaida operatives in the central Marib province. They said Thursday's strike hit a house believed to have been used by the militants. The U.S. is believed to have carried out at least five drone strikes in Yemen since the beginning of March. The tribal leaders spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, as the Yemen affiliate is known, has long been seen as the global network's most dangerous branch.

Bebot is your AI guide based in Tokyo Station. Tokyo Station, the train hub of Japan's capital and home to the world famous Shinkanshen bullet trains, is one of the busiest railway station in the country and many tourists may need help to navigate it. Now they may not fear being lost in transit as Bebot, the AI chatbot concierge, has started working there as a'guide'. Bebot, built by Tokyo-based Bespoke Inc., acts as a personal concierge for travellers. It was launched in April last year, and is already providing services in Narita and Haneda international airports and hotels globally.

A new Journal of Internal Medicine article proposes that artificial intelligence tools, such as machine learning algorithms, have the potential for building predictive models for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases linked to imbalances in gut microbial communities, or microbiota. The article focuses mainly on patients with cancer, who often undergo treatments that can cause profound alterations in the gut microbiota and potentially contribute to the development of complications. Because research on the human microbiome is an emerging science and the application of artificial intelligence in medicine is in its infancy, it is important to consider ethical, legal, and social issues simultaneously with technical refinements required for applying these technologies to the clinic. "Artificial intelligence algorithms have the potential to change the everyday medical practices and offer the prospect of identifying new associations not yet detected by humans, which will be very useful for better understanding the complexity of the human microbiota," said author Dr. J. Luis Espinoza, of the Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, in Japan.

The world's second-largest economy, China, is en route to achieving great things in the next decade and a half. Projections suggest that by 2032, the Chinese Republic will overtake the United States and become the largest economy in the world. This is a far cry from the China of the '70s before which it was a largely agrarian society. After the introduction of economic reforms in 1978 by Deng Xiaoping and the reopening of Shanghai Stock Market in 1990, China evolved into an industrial powerhouse and its economy started expanding at a brisk pace, averaging growth rates of nearly 10 per cent for almost three decades. Though the benefits of growth in GDP did trickle down to the public as wages and subsequently living standards received a considerable bump, it was largely the Communist Party-controlled state machinery and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) that enjoyed the fruits of China's meteoric growth.

The world's second-largest economy, China, is en route to achieving great things in the next decade and a half. Projections suggest that by 2032, the Chinese Republic will overtake the United States and become the largest economy in the world. This is a far cry from the China of the '70s before which it was a largely agrarian society. After the introduction of economic reforms in 1978 by Deng Xiaoping and the reopening of Shanghai Stock Market in 1990, China evolved into an industrial powerhouse and its economy started expanding at a brisk pace, averaging growth rates of nearly 10 per cent for almost three decades. Though the benefits of growth in GDP did trickle down to the public as wages and subsequently living standards received a considerable bump, it was largely the Communist Party-controlled state machinery and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) that enjoyed the fruits of China's meteoric growth.

Hong Kong brokers prefer to use popular messaging apps such as WhatsAapp and WeChat to stay in touch with clients, even as artificial intelligence powered chatbots are being embraced by large financial institutions, according to a survey by the Hong Kong Securities Association. Banks such as HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank are leveraging AI-powered chatbot platforms to answer enquiries by customers, trhjoining a growing global trend which is seen as offering improved customer service and lower business costs. Many small and medium-sized brokerages, which make up most the city's 500 licensed securities dealers, have no intention of using the technology, the survey found. Of the 300 brokerages polled in January and February, 81 per cent said they had no plans to introduce a chatbot, while only 8 per cent said they currently use one. About a tenth of those surveyed said they plan to adopt the technology to support their customer service initiatives.

Owners of Sony Corp.'s Aibo robot dogs are asking the electronics maker to review its policy of discontinuing repairs seven years after a product is terminated, contending it will result in the toys' "deaths." Sony released a revamped Aibo model in January, marking its return to robotics after discontinuing the original Aibo in 2006 amid restructuring efforts prompted by losses in its mainstay TV business, among other problems. The latest batch of Aibo owners wants the same thing that thousands of other owners who bought its predecessor when it was on the market between 1999 and 2006 wanted: long companionship. The termination of repair services left owners of the original models grieving. Some even held funerals for their robotic canines when they could no longer walk or bark. Sony is asking consumers to understand its position on Aibo repairs by highlighting the features of the upgraded model, which is equipped with artificial intelligence.

Back in 2014, Sadanobu Takemasu was asked by his boss to go to Lawson, the convenience store chain known for its white milk can logo on a blue signboard. Takemasu thought Ken Kobayashi, then president of Japan's largest trading house, Mitsubishi Corp., was suggesting he go shop at a Lawson store in the basement of their Tokyo office building. Kobayashi had other staff on hand to take care of such mundane errands. "I replied, 'Me?'" Takemasu, 48, said in a recent interview with The Japan Times. Instead of going to the convenience store, however, he was appointed vice president of the national chain.

Google has started the Intelligent Taiwan initiative to help promote digital transformation of the country's economy and strengthen AI (artificial intelligence) capability of its companies, according to Google's Taiwan managing director Chien Lee-feng. With Intelligent Taiwan, Google hopes to realize its "AI first" concept in Taiwan, Chien indicated, adding Taiwan meets all Google's requirements for developing AI, including those for software, hardware and cloud computing infrastructure. In the initiative, Google will expand its manpower in Taiwan by recruiting over 300 software/hardware engineers and R&D staff, provide digital marketing training for over 50,000 local small- to medium-size businesses and students, and train over 5,000 local students in AI programming in 2018, Chien said. According to Chien, for digital marketing training, Google will provide a free and convenient online platform and facilities in Taichung and Tainan to cater to those who prefer face-to-face training. For AI training for students, Google will first give in-depth instruction to university and senior high school teachers, and seed instructors with government-sponsored Institute for Information Industry (III) using Google-developed Machine Learning Crash Course.