LG's deep collaboration with Google continues, as it just announced that Google Assistant is coming to ThinQ smart TVs in seven more markets and five languages. LG will also expand Amazon Alexa support to Australia and Canada. Google Assistant first arrived to ThinQ AI TVs in the US earlier this year. Google Assistant on LG ThinQ TVs lets you control smart lights, appliances, robotic vacuums and other home devices, check the weather, make a restaurant reservation and more. You can also shout at the TV (via the "mic" button on the remote) or Google Home devices to pause ThinQ TV programming, change channels, lower the volume, etc. Google Home support for ThinQ TVs works now in Canada, Australia and the UK, and non-English language support for France, Spain, South Korea and Germany will arrive by the end of 2018.

It's a dapper robot, wearing a bowtie even while it sits at home in its lab at the University of Washington. Its head is a camera, which it cranes up and down, taking in the view of a dimly lit corner where two computer monitors sit. All perfectly normal stuff for a robot--until the machine speaks: "Hello from the hackers." Clear across the country at Brown University, researchers have compromised Herb2. They've showed how they can scan for internet-connected research robots in labs and take command--with the blessing of the robot's owners at the University of Washington, of course.

The battle against propaganda bots is an arm's race for our democracy. It's one we may be about to lose. Bots--simple computer scripts--were originally designed to automate repetitive tasks like organizing content or conducting network maintenance, thus sparing humans hours of tedium. Companies and media outlets also use bots to operate social-media accounts, to instantly alert users of breaking news or promote newly published material. But they can also be used to operate large numbers of fake accounts, which makes them ideal for manipulating people.

Outside of work, many of us use our tablets and smartphones to shop, socialise and manage our personal finances. However, from Monday to Friday we go to work for a dinosaur of a firm that has not updated it's technology in the last 10 years. So why are these firms surprised they cannot retain their top talent? To counter this concern, the smart business leaders are introducing a modern, flexible and collaborative cloud-based IT strategy to their workplace. So what does it look like?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer merely of interest to tech start-ups and other technology-based segments. It only may be a matter of time, but the artificial intelligence revolution is imminent in many industries. The use of AI technology brings numerous commercial benefits: it makes it possible, for example, for repetitive but hazardous activities to be taken over by computers or robots. In some power plants, jobs without robots are inconceivable – the immensely high radiation levels would simply not be survivable for people. The qualified employee can, however, then focus on other important strategic tasks.

Level39 member DigitalGenius has been voted the most disruptive and innovative UK AI business from a shortlist of 51, earlier this month by BusinessCloud. The 51 AI Innovators list compiled of companies nominated by the public, details some of the UK's most disruptive and innovative companies selected to go through a public voting process to identifying who the tech world thought to be the best. Based on votes received it quickly became a three-horse race between London-based DigitalGenius, Oldham's EnergiMine and Liverpool firm LivingLens. Founded in 2013, DigitalGenius, uses AI to automatically organise and reply to incoming customers messages. The company aims to ensure their AI solutions are easy to use and are truly innovative solutions that deliver great results for their customers.

In early February, Aparajita Jain was standing in front of a blackboard in Bengaluru, brainstorming ideas on art and technology with two very creative minds--Lalitesh Katragadda, the creator of Google Maps India, and multidisciplinary artist and TED speaker Raghava K.K.--when it struck her: AI (Artificial Intelligence) had dipped its metaphoric toes into the realm of art. "We were working on a technological platform together in Raghava's home in Bengaluru. Right then he told me that AI was creating art," recalls Jain, who is the co-director of the Nature Morte gallery in Delhi. It seemed absurd at first, but as it began to sink in, a very real possibility in the future. "I thought, 'the creative space is supposed to belong to mankind, so where is the space for Artificial Intelligence? Machines are taking over jobs which are system-intensive, but how does creativity inform AI--something which is quintessentially human?'"

Java-wise, I sometimes pick up a medium decaf at the Pastry Chef, where I might also grab a plain croissant, though most days I have coffee and a toasted poppy bagel at Bella's Restaurant. I do not get the bagel hollowed out, viewing this as an affectation. I freely grant this information; all you data miners fooling around inside my car can do with your findings what you please. The deeply paranoid national obsession with hiding personal info from online snoops is misplaced and counterproductive. These guys are going to get it anyway, so why obsess about it?

The funded projects are expected to research the functionality and suitability of new artificial intelligence technologies (e.g. The solution must have a major positive impact on the applicants' international competitiveness. The solution can be based on open-source artificial intelligence frameworks, e.g. Google Tensorflow, Microsoft CNTK and Caffe, or closed platforms, e.g. The problem to be solved may involve adding value to an existing product/service OR an entirely new product or service concept.

As society has evolved, technology has as well, and there is a growing awareness that already-established police techniques -- if used exclusively -- are somewhat out-of-date and oftentimes quite expensive for what they offer. When departments sink valuable resources into maintaining old systems instead of investing into newer, more efficient, and cost-effective technologies -- especially in an era of budget cuts where law enforcement agencies are forced to make difficult decisions as to where to cut funding -- these agencies are missing out on a valuable source of information. One only needs to look at history to witness the evolution of criminal investigations. Fingerprinting, DNA analysis, and computer information systems such as CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) and NDIS (National DNA Index System) have improved investigatory efforts considerably; however, as technology continues to evolve -- and criminals are openly taking advantage of this new technology -- law enforcement agencies may be missing out on a valuable opportunity if they don't embrace more openly the tremendous benefits such new technology brings. The United States spends more than $100 billion annually on law enforcement and incarceration, and this figure does not even consider other economic impacts of crime in terms of victims' costs, property devaluation, and higher outlays for companies to ensure their security.