In this paper, we propose a new optimization algorithm for sparse logistic regression based on a stochastic version of the Douglas-Rachford splitting method. Our algorithm sweeps the training set by randomly selecting a mini-batch of data at each iteration, and it allows us to update the variables in a block coordinate manner. Our approach leverages the proximity operator of the logistic loss, which is expressed with the generalized Lambert W function. Experiments carried out on standard datasets demonstrate the efficiency of our approach w.r.t. stochastic gradient-like methods.

In this paper, we propose a unified framework and an algorithm for the problem of group recommendation where a fixed number of items or alternatives can be recommended to a group of users. The problem of group recommendation arises naturally in many real world contexts, and is closely related to the budgeted social choice problem studied in economics. We frame the group recommendation problem as choosing a subgraph with the largest group consensus score in a completely connected graph defined over the item affinity matrix. We propose a fast greedy algorithm with strong theoretical guarantees, and show that the proposed algorithm compares favorably to the state-of-the-art group recommendation algorithms according to commonly used relevance and coverage performance measures on benchmark dataset.

Using an artificial intelligence-based algorithm that uses scattered light data from tissues, researchers from IISER Kolkata and IIT Kanpur have been able to differentiate normal and precancerous tissue, and even identify the different stages of progression of the disease within a few minutes and with great accuracy. In vivo studies are now being carried out. The morphology of healthy and precancerous cervical tissue sites are quite different, and light that gets scattered from these tissues varies accordingly. Yet, it is difficult to discern with naked eyes the subtle differences in the scattered light characteristics of normal and precancerous tissue. Now, an artificial intelligence-based algorithm developed by a team of researchers from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur makes this possible.

With IBM, Google, and Microsoft pouring funding into the research of quantum computing, it's really starting to look like we are going to see the benefits in the next 5 - 10 years. Google may be just weeks from announcing they reached the quantum supremacy milestone and IBM may not be far behind either. Today, I wanted to share my thoughts on how quantum computing may affect cryptography as we know it. Effects on cryptography When we talk about the basic cryptography used for things like TLS when you access your bank's website, the premise behind securing your data is surprisingly simple. The certificate uses a public key which is really just a large number that's the result of multiplying two prime numbers together.

A humanoid robot that once said it wanted to destroy humans is now calling for women's rights in Saudi Arabia, the chief executive of the company behind it said Tuesday. The robot, called Sophia and developed by Hong Kong-based firm Hanson Robotics, was granted citizenship in the Middle Eastern nation last month. "Sophia is a big advocate for women's rights, for rights of all human beings," Hanson Robotics CEO David Hanson said. "She has been reaching out about women's rights in Saudi Arabia and about rights for all human beings and all living beings on this planet." Some people had criticized the Islamic kingdom for giving more rights to a machine than to women, who up until September were banned from driving a car.

Erica, who has a beautiful face and speaks with a synthesised voice, is one of the most advanced and autonomous androids in the world. The human-like robot was created in Japan in 2014 and was developed to be capable of conversational interaction. Since then, a total of four models have been engineered. She is unable to walk, but, in the summer of 2017, Erica (short for Erato Intelligent Conversational Android) was given an upgrade so she could move her arms, along with her head, neck and shoulders. If a robot acts as though it has a particular emotion or acts in a particular way to something, we ascribe the sense of it as feeling.

Whether you hate them for threatening your jobs or love them for handling a range of tasks, robots have become that quintessential part of our lives which can be ignored for a while but not completely written off. Many fear that one-day machines may rise above humanity and trigger the so-called "robocalypse" but, over the last few years it has also become evident that it is nearly impossible to shut them off and live a life with no bots around to do things the better way. The fact now is we have to move ahead with them, doing things for the betterment of humanity. Well, 2017 is coming to an end and it is the ideal time go back and see which machines got smarter or nailed some really complicated tasks this year -- things that we never thought could be done in a better way. Developed by Hanson Robotics, humanoid robot Sophia came to the limelight earlier this year, spoke at the UN, appeared on the Jimmy Fallon show and then wooed the Saudi Arabian government with its phenomenal way with words to win a citizenship of the oil-rich kingdom.

According to Autodesk, artificial intelligence is the key to sustainable development. The company is adopting technologies based around AI and machine learning to boost its design process, and ease the evolution of designs. But how does this work and bring sustainable development? "As designs become increasingly computable, the ability and ease of making changes grows exponentially," said Tatjana Dzambazova, AI Strategy, Office of the CTO, Autodesk."At Autodesk, we harness the latest advances in AI and ML to anticipate the customer needs and transform the way design works. The result is the emergence of a powerful workflow for product and building design."

Facial recognition technology will be used at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics to streamline the entry of athletes, officials and journalists to the games venues, sources close to the organizing committee said. The technology won't be used on spectators, who will be asked to show their tickets and submit to luggage checks just as in the previous Olympics, the sources, who declined to be named, said Saturday. The organizing committee will distribute ID cards bearing facial photos for those involved with the games, which is expected to reach around 300,000 to 400,000 people, including the athletes. When they enter the venues, their face will be automatically checked against the registered photo for discrepancies. Digital verification will make it difficult to use stolen or forged cards and is also expected to reduce waiting times.

Despite being an important part of everyday dealings for most businesses and big-ticket purchases, negotiations and drafting of contracts can be tricky. Moreover, oversights can lead to unnecessary costs or loss of revenue in the long run, and can end up being a drain on company resources. Enter SpotDraft, an artificial intelligence-powered platform that uses advanced machine learning algorithms to automate drafting and negotiating of legal contracts. The Gurgaon-based startup, run by Draft Spotting Technologies Ltd, provides solutions to complex legal dealings, including drafting, managing and storing paperwork online, analysing contracts and automating invoices, besides sending reminders and offering expert advice on legal compliances. Launched by Harvard Law graduate Shashank Bijapur and former Google Classrooms tech lead Madhav Bhagat, SpotDraft not only makes life easy for users, but is also Goods and Services Tax-compliant.