An AI can sniff out certain scents, giving us a glimpse of how our nose might work in detecting them. Thomas Cleland at Cornell University, New York, and Nabil Imam at tech firm Intel created an AI based on the mammalian olfactory bulb (MOB), the area of the brain that is responsible for processing odours. The algorithm mimics a part of the MOB that distinguishes between different smells that are usually present as a mixture of compounds in the air. This area of the MOB contains two key types of neuron: mitral cells, which are activated when an odour is present but don't identify it, and granule cells that learn to become specialised and pick out chemicals in the smell. The algorithm mimics these processes, says Imam. Cleland and Imam trained the AI to detect 10 different odours, including those of ammonia and carbon monoxide.

MANY cities in China normally experience dangerous levels of PM2.5, the tiny particulate matter linked to some of the worst health effects from air pollution. Now it seems artificial intelligence could help us avoid the stuff. Most air pollution forecasts are based on models that use maps of annual average air pollution emissions, the application of weather models and assumptions about chemical reactions.

The demand for people with knowledge and skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) hugely outstrips the supply. This means that learning and gaining qualifications in these subjects can be a great way to enhance your career prospects. However, not everyone has the spare time and money to spend years studying for a degree or other formal qualifications. Today, with the wealth of freely available educational content online, it may not be necessary. There are so many courses, tutorials, and guides available online that it is perfectly possible to gain a thorough grounding in these subjects without paying a penny.

South Korea is fighting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by relying on its technological forte. The country has an advanced digital platform for big-data mining, along with artificial intelligence (AI) and Koreans are leading the technological front, with Samsung competing closely with Apple.Inc of USA. Utilising big-data analysis, AI-powered advance warning systems, and intensive observation methodology, South Korea has already managed to bring the coronavirus situation in the country under control in a short time. South Korea is using the analysis, information and references provided by this integrated data -- all different real-time responses and information produced by the platform are promptly conveyed to people with different AI-based applications. Whenever someone is tested positive for COVID-19, all the people in the vicinity are provided with the infected person's travel details, activities, and commute maps for the previous two weeks through mobile notifications sent as a push system.

BlackLine, Inc. (Nasdaq: BL) announced today that Sophia Velastegui of Microsoft has joined the accounting automation software leader's board of directors, effective March 16th, 2020, bringing the number of female directors on BlackLine's board to three. A widely recognized technology industry leader and artificial intelligence (AI) expert, Ms. Velastegui will draw on her more than 20 years of experience at global technology trailblazers Microsoft, Google and Apple to help BlackLine maintain its leadership position and guide the company through its next phase of growth. "Sophia has an incredible technology background and is recognized as one of the foremost engineers in the field," said BlackLine CEO Therese Tucker. "She'll bring that experience and knowledge to our board and will help ensure that BlackLine utilizes the latest AI, machine learning and other predictive and emerging technologies to continue to innovate and serve our customers. And, she shares my passion, advocating for diversity in technology and leadership."

The World Health Organization believes Gilead Sciences Inc.'s remdesivir, a drug used to treat Ebola virus, might be effective against the new coronavirus, Dr. Lai noted. Chloroquine, used to prevent and treat malaria, also potentially could be useful, XtalPi computational research suggests. XtalPi is searching for other potential treatments and a vaccine. The company builds tools and platforms and conducts early-stage research that is carried further by pharmaceutical companies, according to communications director Ruyu Wang. It hopes the methods and workflows it developed for coronavirus research will help accelerate research in future pandemics.

Accelerate Estonia and Garage48 hosted an online hackathon „Hack the crisis", which was inspired by the global COVID-19 crisis. Over 1000 specialists and enthusiasts joined forces this past weekend to develop solutions that could help Estonia to recover from the pandemic quickly and gain an edge in the post-crisis world. And all of it was done in just 48 hours! AlphaBlues alongside with other AI enthusiasts developed and launched Coronabot, a virtual assistant that gives information about COVID-19 and crisis management to Estonian people. In tough times like these, mass media usually gets over-saturated with constant news and information noise, which makes it hard for an average person to act knowingly and maintain peace. As people struggle finding relevant and trustworthy information on their own, they turn to national to the National Health Board and doctors who already are occupied with numerous cases and cannot handle all of the enquiries.

A mushroom cloud explosion in the New Mexico desert on July 16, 1945 forever changed the nature of warfare. Science had given birth to weapons so powerful they could end humanity. To survive, the United States had to develop new strategies and policies that responsibly limited nuclear weapon proliferation and use. Warfare is again changing as modern militaries integrate autonomous and semiautonomous weapon systems into their arsenals. The United States must act swiftly to maximize the potential of these new technologies or risk losing its dominance.

Centralized state camera surveillance is but one component of a burgeoning practice of personal data collection paired with artificial intelligence (AI). Camera surveillance is not inherently unlawful and has long been used at border-crossings, airports, and other high-security areas. However, recent technological advances have contributed to the spread of a more intrusive form of video surveillance that includes powerful, if imperfect, facial recognition abilities and AI decision making. While the technology offers states the ability to, among other things, identify lost children, identify criminals, and monitor threats, the new capacity also raises significant human rights issues. The use of camera surveillance has grown with leaps in technology, including the introduction of videocassette recorders in the 1970s and the internet in the 1990s.