Parameter inference for stochastic differential equations is challenging due to the presence of a latent diffusion process. Working with an Euler-Maruyama discretisation for the diffusion, we use variational inference to jointly learn the parameters and the diffusion paths. We use a standard mean-field variational approximation of the parameter posterior, and introduce a recurrent neural network to approximate the posterior for the diffusion paths conditional on the parameters. This neural network learns how to provide Gaussian state transitions which bridge between observations in a very similar way to the conditioned diffusion process. The resulting black-box inference method can be applied to any SDE system with light tuning requirements. We illustrate the method on a Lotka-Volterra system and an epidemic model, producing accurate parameter estimates in a few hours.

Japan is answering the problem of too many wild boars creatively: by scaring them off with robotic wolves. The wolves, which have fangs, fur and red eyes, are being implemented to help farmers protect their crops from the growing wild boar population, Earther reports. The wolves were tested last summer, and the product will now be produced and available all over Japan. The wild boar population in Japan's northern regions has been increasing. Sometimes called the'Super Monster Wolf', the invention runs on batteries that are solar-rechargeable, and its range is greater than half a mile.

It's that time of year, when like you, we all look to the future and ponder what the next one, two, five or even 10 years will be like? Specifically this blog addresses the following topics and themes: RegTech; Artificial Intelligence (AI); Blockchain (wider distributed ledgers); Crypto-currencies inc. Bitcoin; Machine Learning; Big Data; Smart Data; AML, KYC, MiFIDII, GDPR in addition to some specific companies you may want to keep an eye on and more... We must not forget to mention the former Panama, Bahamas and more recent Paradise paper leaks (see my other LinkedIn pulse to explore that topic in more detail). In this LinkedIn pulse I aim to walk you through the many topics, themes, patterns that are taking place and what I think the future holds in particular for the #RegTech sector & regulatory risk (in addition to others).

Future Today Institute founder Amy Webb has released her annual tech trends report, and much of it focuses on the continuing impact of artificial intelligence. Other trends highlighted by the report include space travel, human gene editing, and a global shortage of data scientists. Webb, a quantitative futurist and professor of strategic foresight at the NYU Stern School of Business, released the report today in a presentation at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Now in its 11th year, the report identifies 225 trends across 20 industries, with roughly 70 of those trends related directly to AI. In 2018, Webb expects the AI cloud and marketplaces for algorithms will continue to grow and the first personal robots will come to market.

New concerns over how artificial intelligence videos could spread fake news and even prompt a war. Forget fake news for a moment. Artificial intelligence is now able to generate a convincing video of a celebrity or public figure. For illicit purposes, these videos are called deepfakes and show a celebrity superimposed into an adult movie. A programmer finds existing video and audio for a known figure, then the AI takes over and creates a brand new version.

Elon Musk, the founder of Space X, says humanity must colonize Mars so that our survival is insured after the onslaught of a third world war. Amid rising nuclear tension, humans must make the colonization of Mars a priority, says Musk. According to The Guardian, Musk believes getting to the Red Planet should be at the top of humanity's to do list. "If there's a third world war we want to make sure there's enough of a seed of human civilization somewhere else to bring it back and shorten the length of the dark ages," Musk said, responding to questions from his friend Jonah Nolan, co-creator of TV show Westworld. "It's important to get a self-sustaining base on Mars because it's far enough away from Earth that [in the event of a war] it's more likely to survive than a moon base," Musk said on stage at SXSW, just days after Donald Trump announced plans to meet the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un, in an attempt to defuse rising nuclear tension.

The glasses are being used to check people and registration plates against a centralized "blacklist" that the government compiles. Along with the facial recognition glasses, the government is also using facial scanners to monitor those entering the venue for the meeting. Many are concerned with the growing use of ever-more sophisticated surveillance technology throughout China and many worry that the blacklist will contain not only criminals, but political dissidents, journalists and human rights activists as well. "(China's) leadership once felt a degree of trepidation over the advancement of the internet and communication technologies," David Bandurski, co-director of the University of Hong Kong's China Media Project, told Reuters. "It now sees them as absolutely indispensable tools of social and political control."

Controversial plans to force people to prove their age before watching pornography online have been delayed by the Government. The decision comes amid continuing controversy and confusion over how the blocks will actually be implemented. The Government has long been hoping to introduce age checks to ensure that only over-18s can watch adult content. Those plans were due to go into force this April, and would see people who didn't properly check who was viewing their sites charged up to £250,000. The I.F.O. is fuelled by eight electric engines, which is able to push the flying object to an estimated top speed of about 120mph.

India should ban cryptocurrencies like bitcoin outright rather than even attempt to regulate them, one of the country's most influential financial experts has argued. The business of policing the ever-changing virtual currency market - now comprised of over 1,500 varieties of coin - and monitoring private and anonymous transactions is so fraught with complications that India would be better off prohibiting them altogether, ex-Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das has said. "Let us accept that it would not be possible to regulate it effectively. Because they will do transactions from their houses," he said in an interview with Quartz. "You cannot enter every home to check what transactions are going on. So, I think this is a serious challenge, and should not be allowed at all."

This is the second installment in a three-part series exploring the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on investment management. I want to thank the speakers at the AI and the Future of Financial Services Forum, hosted by CFA Institute and CFA Society Beijing, for inspiring this series. The first installment offered a primer on the AI technologies that are relevant to investment professionals. Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to the investment world. With the help of deep learning techniques, AI researchers have made significant strides in natural language processing (NLP), speech recognition, and image recognition.