One of the largest economic revolutions of our time is unfolding around us. Technology, innovation and automation are redrawing the career paths of millions of people. Most headlines focus on the negative, i.e. machines taking our jobs. But in reality, these developments are opening up a world of opportunity for people who can make the move to a STEM career or upskill in their current job. There's also another part to this story: How AI can help boost the economy by improving how we learn.

Although every country should look for ways to respond to the effects of automation, it's especially critical for developing nations, which will be hit hardest and have the fewest resources to cushion the blows. This article is part of an MIT SMR initiative exploring how technology is reshaping the practice of management. Much has been written about the rise of automation in developed countries. Economists have been busily creating models seeking to quantify the likely impact of automation on employment.1 However, far less has been written about the potential effects on work in developing nations.

An algorithm deployed across the United States is now known to underestimate the health needs of black patients1. The algorithm uses health-care costs as a proxy for health needs. But black patients' health-care costs have historically been lower because systemic racism has impeded their access to treatment -- not because they are healthier. This example illustrates how machine learning and artificial intelligence can maintain and amplify inequity. Most algorithms exploit crude correlations in data.

Taiwanese bubble-tea chain Happy Lemon has teamed up with Koubei, Alibaba Group's local-services app, to upgrade its in-store technology, including a new drink-making robot. At its pilot "smart store" in Shanghai, customers have the option of buying their drinks at a counter manned by employees or, for a fully automated experience, purchasing via their smartphones for service by the robot. Customers scan a QR code with the Koubei app, tick a few boxes to customize their drink, then wait for a text notification to pick up their tea at a smart locker, which opens when they tap a "pick-up" button on the app. WATCH: Robotic arm mixing "handmade" bubble tea. The robot can make eight types of drinks with about 40 variations based on customer preferences for different amounts of ice and sugar – each taking about 90 seconds, Koubei said.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published an interim final rule on 6 January 2020 imposing licensing requirements on certain artificial intelligence software specially designed to automate the analysis of geospatial imagery. Effective immediately, licenses are required for exports and re-exports of such software to all countries, except Canada. The deadline for submitting comments to BIS regarding the rule is 6 March 2020. Read More: U.S. imposes strict export controls on certain artificial intelligence software for automating the analysis of geospatial imagery

Accenture will soon acquire Mudano, a strategic data consultancy to UK financial services firms. While the terms of the transaction have not been disclosed, the intent of the acquisition is to enhance Accenture's analytics, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) transformation capabilities. After the acquisition, Mudano's team of data professionals will join Accenture Applied Intelligence, which employs more than 20,000 professionals worldwide who help clients scale artificial intelligence, including 6,000 data scientists, data engineers, and artificial intelligence professionals. Ed Broussard, Mudano CEO, said, "Accenture's reputation for excellence and large-scale delivery will enable us to help clients realize the benefits of data transformation -- from setting the strategy and building the culture to leveraging the game-changing insights that data analytics can bring. We are excited to become part of one of the world's leading companies and look forward to the opportunities this will bring for our employees and clients."

Google's chief Canadian spokesman is leaving to become a partner with Radical Ventures, a Toronto venture-capital firm that has emerged as a leading backer of domestic artificial intelligence startups. Aaron Brindle, who has led public affairs for Google Canada for more than eight years – a period that has seen the Silicon Valley search giant establish its leadership in the global AI field in part by hiring renowned University of Toronto scientist Geoffrey Hinton – will join Radical at the end of February. He will oversee public affairs for the firm and help companies in its portfolio craft their communications. "I'm very familiar with the AI space and recognize there's fear and a lot of hype around the technology," Mr. Brindle said in an interview. "My job is to help nurture and support the AI narrative in the country. There's a capacity to effect real change around how we talk about this technology," not just around privacy and ethical concerns, but around its commercial potential.

Fexco has opened a €21 million research and development facility in Killorglin, Co Kerry. Dedicated to Stanford University computer scientist John McCarthy, the 57,000 sq ft building houses Fexco's Research Development and Innovation Centre, and digital innovation centre RDI Hub, a not-for-profit public private partnership focused on the commercialisation of innovation and research and backed by Fexco, IT Tralee and Kerry County Council. Some 125 Fexco staff will be located at the building, replacing a manufacturing facility that was closed in 2012. Fexco said the operation is aimed at driving its continuing development as a leading global fintech company. "This new building signals our commitment to providing world-class innovative fintech solutions to a global audience as well as supporting our local community, through job creation and local investment," said Denis McCarthy, chief executive of Fexco.

SAN FRANCISCO – A top U.S. partner at SoftBank Group Corp.'s technology fund is stepping down, after the company posted declining returns on its investments and struggled to raise capital for the next Vision Fund. Michael Ronen, the outgoing managing partner, expressed concerns about "issues" at SoftBank in an interview with the Financial Times, which earlier reported his departure. Since joining in 2017 from Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Ronen led a series of investments, most notably a $2.25 billion deal for General Motors Co.'s Cruise self-driving unit. He's at least the second managing partner to leave in the last couple of months. SoftBank bid up the valuation of WeWork parent company The We Co. to $47 billion before a failed attempt at an initial public offering sent the value plummeting and forced the conglomerate to bail out the coworking startup.

Japanese authorities are introducing a variety of measures to prevent the wrongful use of drones, which has been increasing due to many people being unfamiliar with regulations, especially tourists from abroad. Under the civil aeronautics law, a drone of 200 grams or more cannot be operated in airspace around airports or residential areas without permission from the government. In addition, the law regulating the use of drones bans flights in airspace near designated important places such as the Prime Minister's Office, the Imperial Palace and nuclear power plants. Foreign tourists and others unfamiliar with the laws continue to violate them. In 2019, 14 foreign nationals had their cases sent to prosecutors, as of Nov. 20.