"Alexa, help me find a job at McDonald's." That's how interested job seekers can start an application with the global fast-food company, McDonald's recently announced. Claiming it to be the world's first voice-initiated job application process, the company has launched McDonald's Apply Thru, which works on Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The app is currently available in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom and is expected to roll out to other countries in the coming months. Once Alexa or Google Assistant responds, users are asked to provide basic information, such as their name, contact information, job area of interest and location. Potential applicants then receive a text message with a link to the McDonald's careers site to continue their application process.

Northwell Health said it plans to use predictive artificial intelligence software from a Georgia-based company to help drive down patient readmissions. The software will be integrated into Northwell's electronic medical records at 15 of its hospitals. The software, created by healthcare artificial intelligence technology firm Jvion, will be used to identify at-risk patients and look for other metrics that contribute to an individual's increased risk, including social determinants such as a lack of access to transportation, as well as food and housing insecurity. Northwell said during the initial implementation, it will target readmissions and avoidable admissions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.