IMAGE: Researchers from U of T Engineering and Carnegie Mellon University are using electrolyzers like this one to convert waste CO2 into commercially valuable chemicals. Their latest catalyst, designed in part... view more Researchers at University of Toronto Engineering and Carnegie Mellon University are using artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate progress in transforming waste carbon into a commercially valuable product with record efficiency. They leveraged AI to speed up the search for the key material in a new catalyst that converts carbon dioxide (CO2) into ethylene -- a chemical precursor to a wide range of products, from plastics to dish detergent. The resulting electrocatalyst is the most efficient in its class. If run using wind or solar power, the system also provides an efficient way to store electricity from these renewable but intermittent sources.

Researchers at University of Toronto Engineering and Carnegie Mellon University are using artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate progress in transforming waste carbon into a commercially valuable product with record efficiency. They leveraged AI to speed up the search for the key material in a new catalyst that converts carbon dioxide (CO2) into ethylene--a chemical precursor to a wide range of products, from plastics to dish detergent. The resulting electrocatalyst is the most efficient in its class. If run using wind or solar power, the system also provides an efficient way to store electricity from these renewable but intermittent sources. "Using clean electricity to convert CO2 into ethylene, which has a $60 billion global market, can improve the economics of both carbon capture and clean energy storage," says Professor Ted Sargent, one of the senior authors on a new paper published today in Nature.

Brian Kenny: At the 1939 World's Fair in New York City General Motors unveiled Futurama, an exhibit spanning an entire acre that featured a model of what US roadways would look like 20 years into the future. Networks of streamlined motorways wound through a landscape of half a million buildings, a million trees, and 50,000 miniature cars traveling on a 14-lane, multi-speed highway. It struck a chord at a time when the country was just beginning to grapple with traffic congestion. In what might have been the boldest prediction of all, Futurama depicted a future where self-driving cars would communicate directly with the road moving passengers safely and swiftly to their destination. It seemed like science fiction, but by 1958 GM made this concept a reality with one of the first full-sized self-driving vehicles. Today on Cold Call, we're doubling down to look at two cases that each look at the future for autonomous vehicles. I'm your host, Brian Kenny, and you're listening to Cold Call, recorded in Klarman Hall Studio at Harvard Business School. Joining me in studio today is Professor Bill Kerr to discuss his case entitled, Autonomous Vehicles: The Rubber Hits the Road... but When? Also in studio is Professor Elie Ofek to discuss his case entitled, Autonomous Vehicles: Smooth or Bumpy Ride Ahead? Brian Kenny: It's great to have both of you here. I found out about Bill's case first and reached out to him to do that. Elie, you and I were going to do a completely different case, but somebody brought to my attention that you had also written a case on autonomous vehicles. The two cases are really complementary, and I think this will be a really rich discussion about a topic that is certainly something that's been in the headlines a lot, and I think it's one of these things... I know, speaking for me personally, I can't wait to get into a car and just open up my newspaper and let the car take me where I'm going. For people who are listening to this while they're driving in their cars, keep your hands on the wheel.

According to research by IDC, global spending on cognitive and AI systems will reach $57.6 billion by 2021! Artificial Intelligence has surrounded us with the most innovative tech inventions, and almost every critical sector or industry relies on AI to accomplish a specific task that is difficult for humans to achieve. In this run, AI is also driving the market for education, and helping to automate the process to increase profitability for educators and students as well. Today, users are expecting more customized content and unbeatable browsing experience. It has forced web development companies to think out-of-the-box rather than getting glued to old and conventional methods.

IN THE UK, essential workers are now among those being sent home testing kits for coronavirus. This involves swabbing the inside of your own nose and the back of your throat, but how useful are the results? Studies from early in the outbreak in China have suggested that swabs taken by healthcare professionals may give a 30 per cent "false negative" rate, where infected people are told they don't have the virus (NEJM, doi.org/ggmzsp; medRxiv, doi.org/dvfr). This has prompted claims that self-testing will give even more false negatives and could raise the risk of infected people spreading the virus. No test is perfect – swabbing technique and analysis errors can lead to inaccurate results.

Since the world began its battle against the outbreak of Covid-19, mobile apps have promised to do it all: pinpoint infections, predict who may be at highest risk, learn how long the virus survives on surfaces, estimate the fraction of asymptomatic carriers, target medical resources, prevent people from being exposed, the list goes on. And while some mobile apps can indeed be useful as we adapt to life with this virus, there is also evidence that by skewing our understanding of this disease, certain apps are more harmful than helpful. Kaiser Fung has been the data science lead at various companies. He is the author of Numbers Rule Your World. You can find all three installments of his comprehensive review of this study on his blog, Junk Charts.

Damien Patton, the CEO of the surveillance company Banjo, has resigned after an investigation last month revealed that he was a former neo-Nazi. In June 1990, when Patton was 17, he and a leader of the Dixie Knights of the Ku Klux Klan took a TEC-9 pistol and drove to a Nashville synagogue. Patton drove, while the Klan member fired on the religious building. No one was struck or killed during the shooting. Patton then hid on a white supremacist training camp before a second Klan member helped him flee the state, according to a report from One Zero. One Zero reviewed transcripts of courtroom testimony, sworn statements, and over 1,000 pages of records.

Advances in deep learning/AI is resulting in these technologies being increasingly utilised within machine vision solutions. Control Engineering Europe sought advice about how end users can ensure that they are able to implement successful AI-based machine vision applications.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has resulted in many advantages and disadvantages for companies in the Blue Prism Technology Services market. Research report of this Blue Prism Technology Services market is highlights key strategies that can help reduce the impact of COVID-19 on diverse business practices. Analysts of Fact.MR, in a recently published market study, shares important factors that are expected to shape the growth of the Blue Prism Technology Services market over the forecast period (20XX-20XX). The current trends, market drivers, strategic collaborations, and threats are thoroughly evaluated to provide a clear understanding of the current market landscape and the course the Blue Prism Technology Services market is likely to take over the upcoming decade. According to the report, the Blue Prism Technology Services market is poised to register a CAGR growth of XX% throughout the forecast period owing to several key factors including growing investments in the Blue Prism Technology Services space, innovations with a rise in the number of research and development projects.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has resulted in many advantages and disadvantages for companies in the Blue Prism Technology Services market. Research report of this Blue Prism Technology Services market is highlights key strategies that can help reduce the impact of COVID-19 on diverse business practices. Analysts of Fact.MR, in a recently published market study, shares important factors that are expected to shape the growth of the Blue Prism Technology Services market over the forecast period (20XX-20XX). The current trends, market drivers, strategic collaborations, and threats are thoroughly evaluated to provide a clear understanding of the current market landscape and the course the Blue Prism Technology Services market is likely to take over the upcoming decade. According to the report, the Blue Prism Technology Services market is poised to register a CAGR growth of XX% throughout the forecast period owing to several key factors including growing investments in the Blue Prism Technology Services space, innovations with a rise in the number of research and development projects.