Microsoft has announced the formation of its AI and Research Group, which it says will help the company democratize artificial intelligence use across individuals and organizations. The group unites Microsoft Research, which has been its own unit since 1991, with more than 5,000 computer scientists and engineers working on the company's artificial intelligence products. News of the Microsoft AI and Research Group came a day after the company announced the Partnership on AI with Amazon, Facebook, Google and IBM in an effort to "study and formulate best practices on AI technologies, to advance the public's understanding of AI, and to serve as an open platform for discussion and engagement about AI and its influences on people and society." AI and machine learning action at Microsoft has been going nonstop in recent years, in terms of internal development, acquisitions and industry efforts. In fact, Microsoft just bought an intelligent scheduling company called Genee.

The iPal from Avatarmind is a robot for your kids that looks like...well a kid. Standing at 1.05 meters tall and with big black camera eyes, it's supposed to look after and entertain your kids for hours at a time but it comes across as a little creepy. Its skills include answering kids' questions, playing games, and allowing parents to remotely videochat with thier children.

Le Holdings Ltd., better known commercially as LeEco, has announced the Oct. 19 launch date of its products in San Francisco, California. The China-based manufacturer will be expanding its services in the U.S. by making its streaming service and other hardware products available in the country. The company was formerly known as LeTV and was initially a Netflix-like streaming service in China. Over the past few years, the company has progressed to making its own hardware, like TVs and smartphones. The company even unveiled its own self-driving car concept back in April.

In recent weeks, Uber launched autonomous cars in Pittsburgh, Tesla updated its autopilot software and researchers in Amsterdam announced an initiative to explore driverless boats. And now, Nissan offers the world self-driving chairs. The Japanese automaker unveiled a high-tech, battery-powered autonomous chair it says is designed to make waiting in line "easy and fun." The ProPilot chair transports passengers along fixed paths without any instruction from the user. The ProPilot chair "drives" on a predetermined path.

But oh, this is just the beginning, according the management gurus at McKinsey. They issued a report outlining the strange new world of automotive data, and how lucrative it will be. That torrent of info streaming out of your ride as cars are increasingly connected to smartphones, smart infrastructure, and other smart cars? McKinsey says it will be worth as much as 750 billion by 2030. A hunk of metal and rubber may not look like a fertile ecosystem teeming with data, but it is.

The Partnership on AI consolidates control for a handful of corporations and their stakeholders, pitting them against Elon Musk's OpenAI open source, non-profit that is available to everyone. Both the Partnership on AI and Elon Musk's OpenAI were established to advance humanity through Artificial Intelligence. While Musk's OpenAI was devised to be open and available to the public, the Partnership on AI is more of a consolidation of power that benefits stakeholders whose findings will later be used to enact public policies. Google/DeepMind, Microsoft, Facebook, IBM, and Amazon have collaborated to form the Partnership on AI to "formulate best practices on the challenges and opportunities within the field." While third-party groups such as academics, non-profits, and policy specialists have been invited to be on the new Board of Directors, the Partnership on AI ultimately serves the private stakeholders, and whatever the stakeholders dictate will be relayed to the public.

It is hard to find any technology article these days that does not have some reference to artificial intelligence (AI). While one writer touts the amazing powers of AI for good, others are equally passionate with warnings of its potential to destroy the world. It is not often that one topic creates such polarized opinions from equally learned and visionary people. So what is a business leader to do when faced with the inevitable decisions about adopting AI in their enterprise? Like every major innovation, AI can be used for evil as well as for good. But for most businesses, bringing in AI based tools will not be a choice but a necessity.

Nasa has announced that it has found evidence of flowing water on Mars. Scientists have long speculated that Recurring Slope Lineae -- or dark patches -- on Mars were made up of briny water but the new findings prove that those patches are caused by liquid water, which it has established by finding hydrated salts. Several hundred camped outside the London store in Covent Garden. The 6s will have new features like a vastly improved camera and a pressure-sensitive "3D Touch" display

Nasa has announced that it has found evidence of flowing water on Mars. Scientists have long speculated that Recurring Slope Lineae -- or dark patches -- on Mars were made up of briny water but the new findings prove that those patches are caused by liquid water, which it has established by finding hydrated salts. Several hundred camped outside the London store in Covent Garden. The 6s will have new features like a vastly improved camera and a pressure-sensitive "3D Touch" display