Google is leading the way in the global race to create human-level artificial intelligence, according to leading AI expert Nick Bostrom. Speaking at the IP Expo conference in London on Wednesday, October 5, Bostrom said that there are several companies and organizations that are currently focused on developing human-level AI, or artificial general intelligence. "There are different bets on what approach [to developing human-level AI] is most promising, and since we don't know what approach will ultimately work, there is some uncertainty there," Bostrom said in response to a question from Newsweek . "Baidu, Open AI, and all the large tech companies have various kinds of AI efforts that if they were to become specifically directed to this aim, they have a lot of resources." When pushed to back just one company that is currently leading the field, Bostrom said that Google's DeepMind was the clear frontrunner.

Food security is threatened by many things. In some regions, climate variability causes droughts that make vital resources scarce. In others, political turmoil creates logistical blockades for farming, harvesting, and shipping produce. But, practically everywhere, plant disease can wipe out entire crops with little warning. A team of researchers at Pennsylvania State University and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland have turned the keen eye of artificial intelligence toward agriculture, using deep learning algorithms to help detect crop disease before it spreads.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is using IBM Watson technology to provide a robot that will answer customer questions and pass requests on to the right agents. A collection of our most popular articles for IT leaders from the first few months of 2016, including: - Corporate giants recruit digitally-minded outsiders to drive transformation - Analytics platforms to drive strategy in 2016 - Next generation: The changing role of IT leaders. This email address is already registered. By submitting my Email address I confirm that I have read and accepted the Terms of Use and Declaration of Consent. By submitting your email address, you agree to receive emails regarding relevant topic offers from TechTarget and its partners. You can withdraw your consent at any time.

Customers at Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest may soon be sorting out issues with help from a virtual chatbot. Web-based Luvo will be able to answer simple queries such as how to order a replacement card. Designed using IBM Watson technology, the virtual agent is able to understand and learn from human interactions. In future, Luvo may be able to understand if a customer was feeling frustrated or unhappy and change its tone and actions accordingly, IBM said. The service will initially be rolled out to RBS and NatWest customers, starting in December with about 10% of RBS customers in Scotland.

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

A team including CNRS astrophysicists have calculated the size and surface properties of the planet dubbed Proxima b, and concluded it may be an'ocean planet' similar to Earth. Scientists announced Proxima b's discovery in August, and said it may be the first exoplanet--planet outside our Solar System--to one day be visited by robots from Earth. A team including CNRS astrophysicists have calculated the size and surface properties of the planet dubbed Proxima b, and concluded it may be an'ocean planet' similar to Earth. It is estimated to have a mass about 1.3 times that of Earth, and orbits about 7.5 million kilometres (4.6 million miles) from its star--about a tenth the distance of innermost planet Mercury from the Sun. 'Contrary to what one might expect, such proximity does not necessarily mean that Proxima b's surface is too hot' for water to exist in liquid form, said a CNRS statement.

When the engineers had at last finished their work, Eugenia Kuyda opened a console on her laptop and began to type. "This is your digital monument." It had been three months since Roman Mazurenko, Kuyda's closest friend, had died. Kuyda had spent that time gathering up his old text messages, setting aside the ones that felt too personal, and feeding the rest into a neural network built by developers at her artificial intelligence startup. She had struggled with whether she was doing the right thing by bringing him back this way. At times it had even given her nightmares. But ever since Mazurenko's death, Kuyda had wanted one more chance to speak with him. A message blinked onto the screen. "You have one of the most interesting puzzles in the world in your hands," it said. Born in Belarus in 1981, Roman Mazurenko was the only child of Sergei, an engineer, and Victoria, a landscape architect. They remember him as an unusually serious child; when he was 8 he wrote a letter to his descendents declaring his most cherished values: wisdom and justice. In family photos, Mazurenko roller-skates, sails a boat, and climbs trees. Average in height, with a mop of chestnut hair, he is almost always smiling.

Apple fans can now get the smell of a freshly unboxed Mac without having to shell out huge amounts of cash. For just 24 ( 19), aficionados of the Cupertino tech brand's products can get a candle made to smell like a'New Mac'. The bizarre product, which is available globally, is being sold by Apple accessory maker Twelve South. For just 24 ( 19), aficionados of the Cupertino tech brand's products can get a candle made to smell like a'New Mac'. In 2012, perfumiers from Air Aroma created a perfume called'Eau de MacBook Pro'.

There are many arguments surrounding whether or not marijuana should be grown and used for medical reasons. But the impact on the climate is one factor in the debate that may have been overlooked, - until now. A new report, by a clean energy policy research institute, has found growing marijuana makes up one per cent of energy use in states like Colorado and Washington. The impact on the climate is one factor in the debate that may have been overlooked, until now. A new report, by a clean energy policy research institute, has found growing marijuana makes up 1 per cent of energy use in states like Colorado and Washington.