Alibaba says its deep neural network model has outscored humans in a global reading test, paving the way for the underlying technology to reduce the need for human input. The Chinese tech giant's research unit, Institute of Data Science of Technologies (IDST), said it had developed a deep-learning model that attained a score of 82.44 in Exact Match on the Stanford Question Answering Dataset (Squad). Humans had clocked a previous score of 82.304, it said. Squad comprised more than 100,000 question-and-answer sets based on more than 500 Wikipedia articles, in which participants were required to build machine-learning models to respond to the questions. These models would be evaluated by Squad, which then would run the model on the test set.

We'll see the latest revised set of guidelines for autonomous vehicles this summer, US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has revealed at the annual Detroit auto show. According to Chao, her agency has been preparing for the arrival of autonomous vehicles, conjuring up ways on how to regulate them to keep everyone safe while promoting innovation at the same time. She said the revised guidelines cover not just autonomous cars, but also "barriers to the safe integration of autonomous technology for motor carriers, transit, trucks, infrastructure and other modes." When the guidelines reached the Senate late last year, it reportedly didn't include trucks -- far from ideal, considering quite a few companies are already working on autonomous big rigs. Daimler tested a platoon of them in Oregon, while Toyota and Volkswagen joined a full-scale autonomous truck platooning trial in Singapore.

Ayesha Khanna, CEO of ADDO AI joined us in a conversation on the subject of artificial intelligence aka AI. We discussed the key technologies, major applications in fintech and manufacturing and at the same, discussed the major trends on AI dominating Asia Pacific. Last but not least, Ayesha discussed the implications of AI, particularly in how they will reshape traditional industries and the displacement of knowledge workers' jobs by AI. The show is hosted by Bernard Leong (@bernardleong & weibo) and are sponsored by Ideal Workspace (Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn) with their new Altizen Desk on Indiegogo (Twitter, Facebook, Medium).

Call it one giant leap for robot-kind. Alibaba BABA-0.51% said Monday that its artificial intelligence, or deep neural network model, used to help service customers in its billion-dollar'Singles Day' shopping events, beat out humans for the first time in a top reading comprehension test. Alibaba's Institute of Data Science and Technologies (iDST) said its AI model scored an 82.44 when it came to providing exact answers using the Stanford Question Answering Dataset (SQuAD) on Jan. 11. The machine reading-comprehension test has over 100,000 questions that an AI program -- or a human -- tries to answer after reading a related article on Wikipedia. The questions range from simple ones such as "Where did the Super Bowl 50 take place?" to posers such as "What is the primary purpose of chloroplasts?" Microsoft Research Asia's AI model scored even higher -- 82.650 -- on the reading test, putting it at joint first with Alibaba, according to the SQuAD ranking.

Danish toymaker Lego is teaming up with Chinese internet giant Tencent to jointly develop online games and potentially a social network aimed at Chinese children. Privately-owned Lego has seen a slowdown in sales growth in recent years, but the Chinese market has been a bright spot with sales growing 25-30 per cent in 2016. It is competing with Barbie maker Mattel and Hasbro, the firm behind My Little Pony, for a slice of the $31bn (£22bn) toys and games market in China. Lego said on Monday the partnership with Tencent, China's biggest social network and gaming company, aimed to create a safe online environment covering content, platforms, and experiences tailored for Chinese children. "What we are looking for now with Tencent is just to find more creative ways... (of) reaching children, and creating bespoke content with Tencent, in this case, video games," Jacob Kragh, head of Lego in China, told Reuters on Monday at joint event with Tencent in Beijing. The partnership includes developing a Lego video zone for children on the Tencent video platform, as well as developing and operating Lego branded licensed games, the toymaker said.

In my previous article, I wrote about the impact of Robotic Process Automation which drives Enterprise AI. In that article, I said: The first group of workers to feel the impact of RPA and AI as described above will be offshore workers (including offshore developers). Here is an extended prediction to that theme ...In 2018 AI will start to bring jobs back from offshore destinations to the West Before we proceed, the views expressed in this article are personal. They do not reflect the views of any organization, institution or company I have worked with. Also, I have not been involved in the IT Offshore services business (either as a customer or as a provider).

Artificial Intelligence software has beaten humans in one of the world's most-challenging reading comprehension tests. In a feat being hailed as a world first, a deep neural network scored higher than the average person on a Stanford University designed quiz. The breakthrough could lead to more advanced robots and automated systems, capable of solving complex problems and answering difficult questions. Future applications could range from customer service to helping tackle social and political issues, like climate change and conflicts over resources. Artificial Intelligence software has beaten humans in one of the world's most-challenging reading comprehension tests.

The fund is expected to announce their final close soon. Key contributors include Chairman of Hero Enterprise Sunil Kant Munjal, Electronic Development Fund (managed by Canbank Ventures), leading electronics company Hero Electronixs and leading HNIs and entrepreneurs. Earlier Limited Partners include India's top lender to small businesses, SIDBI, In Colour Capital from Canada, prominent family offices from USA, Canada, Singapore & India and leading entrepreneurs like Mohandas Pai, Binny Bansal, Deep Kalra, Sanjeev Bikchandani and Bhupen Shah among others. Co-founded by Manish Singhal and Umakant Soni, pi Ventures invests in early stage start-ups that focus on solving problems in healthcare, logistics, retail, fin-tech and enterprise sectors using applied AI, ML & IoT. The Bengaluru-based VC plans to invest in 18-20 start-ups from this fund over a 3-4 year time frame.

Not a day goes by without the announcement of the appointment of a new VP of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a Chief Data Scientist, or a Director of AI Research. While the enthusiasm is undeniable, the reality is that AI remains an early-stage technology application. The potential is vast, but how managers cut through the AI hyperbole to use its power to deliver growth? In our consulting work, we often encounter managers who struggle to convert AI experiments into strategic programs which can then be implemented. Michael Stern (not his real name), for instance, is the Head of Digital for a German Mittelstand office equipment company.

Mizuho Financial Group Inc. said Monday that President and CEO Yasuhiro Sato will be succeeded by Tatsufumi Sakai, head of the group's securities unit, effective April 1. Sato, 65, has headed Japan's third-largest banking group by assets since 2011. He will assume the vacant position of chairman. Sakai, who is Sato's junior by seven years, will be tasked with overhauling the group, including a reduction of 19,000 workers over the next nine years and ramping up the use of artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies. He sees "opportunity" in the changing financial landscape and will put his "heart and soul" into ensuring the group continues to thrive, he told a news conference in Tokyo.